Hi there, just call me by my middle name, Dave.

Here's my "Ronco Hot Dog Skewer" Small-Lot Micro-Tower for 75 & 160m hamstick dipoles arrayed with 2m/440, 6m

& 40-10m HF antennas

discussed on the LIMARC TechNet on Jan 29, 2012

Anybody got marshmellows?

~~

Antennas are mounted for 6m, 2m, 70cm, a discone, and 2 pairs of 75 & 160m hamstick vertical dipoles with choke baluns.

The array has a fiberglass gaff for a G5RV 40-10m. This rig's then getting mounted to a motorized telescopic main mast for 35' AGL which I willnow put up on the roof when my wife is not around.

Remote controlled from the shack, the rotator takes advantage of inherent structural reflections and nulls when steering the array.

A tuner is essential on HF, and VHF/UHF all seem to work fine.

When retracted, nothing is too visible from the street since the antennas nest down behind the roof ridge. -(the "peek-a-boo" effect).

At 10' AGL testing, results provide consistant 200-300 mile NVIS type performance on the 2 low bands @ <100w transmit, and far greater distances on receive.

For hams with limited lot space for conventional wire antennas or tall verticals, this may be a possible solution, albeit limited in range and band width on the lower HF bands.

~~

But it sure beats doing nothing at all on 75 or 160m, it keeps the neighbors from barking, the rig out of high winds, & I've managed 5 continents & 30 states so far.

It's a regular Swiss Army knife of antennas.

There's a lot of misinformation online, and I'm glad I didn't read all the cranky blogs before I assembled this array because I probably wouldn't have after reading them.

And that would have been be a shame because then I would have missed out on using at least some of the low bands.

I've learned that when you're "doing it wrong", or the equivalent of "tuning lightbulbs", or hear, "Life's too short for QRP", don't buy it. They're tired, parroted mantras.

Go seek guidance from experienced hams in your local clubs, and then continue with your experiments. This is ~Amateur~ Radio. You're Licensed to have some fun with it!

How cool is that?

~~

I received my Tech, General, Extra & VE in 2011.

Being new to ham radio, starting from scratch, and somewhat clueless, I recognized that I had the advantage of possessing no preconceived notions or

"radio absolut-isms".

I like new challenges, and I've design-built everything from UL Listed institutional lock hardware to Sailboats, K-class high power multi-stage rockets

to architecturally published homes.

So I figured I should join GSBARC, LIMARC, LITHARC and ARES to confront my "new-ham diagnosis" and to seek intervention.

And sure thing, some club Elmers gratiously led me toward the light.

Thanks guys!

~~

Shown above is the new radio shack I carved out of an unfinished area in my basement, and below are some rig & antenna projects I finished in 2011.

I configured the shack for my LAN and it runs HRD & CommCat concurrently with several other applications, including iPhone interfaces.

More importantly, everything here is assembled for total independence from the "Matrix" during emergencies or outages.

I like the to play internet, use radio software, and rely on the power grid but I'm sure not married to it.

This self-suffiency approach was validated once again during Hurricane Irene's ensuing power outages and the ARES response.

~~

~

2 portable EmComm Rigs are configured for phone, digital and CW on HF, VHF/UHF, and Marine bands.

Also included are a SignaLink, LDG auto-tuner, FRS/GMRS/11m transceivers and 2 triple-trunk scanners.There are 2 manual tuners, and multi function coax switches.

~~

Below left, my HF/VHF/UHF EmComm is a complete15-band grab-and-go transceiver/triple-trunk scanner station, with carry handles and quick disconnects. It's 12"x12"x15".

Below right, is the HT/Cellular EmComm I made that doubles as a portable 2m/marine VHF & 440 35w station. The brass keys there are over 100 years old and work perfectly.

~~~

UPS / Power Supply project to get off the Grid

During normal use, a SEC switching power supply runs the shack's low voltage requirements.

In a blackout, this portable UPS uses a Grp. 27M 675 CCA marine battery for 12VDC and the inverter supplies 120vac @ 1200w.

I then added onboard LED flood lights, several power take offs and a line voltage relay. An outdoor 5.25 Kw gas generator fills in the gaps.

~~UPS~~~

The shack has 5 Macs & PC's, 8 monitors, uses FIOS for internet, TV, fax and phone and there is emergency standby lighting.

~~~

There's also a fridge and a sink, so my wife just throws meat down the stairs now and I don't get interupted anymore.

ANTENNAS

Configured for 160-10m, Null, 6m, 2m, 70cm, doppler quad and a mult-band discone. Two masts are motorized and retractable.

~~~

Above Left~ The obnoxiously "correct" antennas I'm now Deleting from my roof and condensing into 2 retractable arrays.

Cente~Just a horizontal hamstick dipole test. These things seem to work better when vertically oriented. Maybe a "L" orientation is better? If somebody says that won't work, I'll definitely give it a try.

Above Right~Here I gaff-rigged 3 masts to operate like an elevator car using a motor and counterweight.

I then made 2 quick change mounts for easy antenna swaps and the system delivers smooth 12VDC lifting to 30' AGL.

Shown carrying a MFJ1796 40-10m vertical dipole, it all tucks down below the AC when fully lowered. The MFJ performs OK. Just tune it properly during assembly.

Below: 2m quad mobile antenna array for doppler fox hunts.

This antenna is designed to match the contours of my Kia's roof and works with a KN2C Doppler system.

STATION GROUNDING

There are 4 ground rods outdoors, and all coax passes thru individual Alpha-Delta transi-traps before entering the house.

Shack grounding indoors is done thru a copper bus bar, ground straps and a RF isolator. All coax is color and ID coded.

The gizmo on the lower right is a powered tester I made to work with the analyzer. It checks coax for shorts & opens, saves wear on the analyzer & has a dummy load.

~ ~

Radio Attack Yak

Hobie stealth kayak

Hull # 007

Fish tremble at the sound of my Call Sign

Rigged for 35w 2m/440, marine VHF, GPS, mp3 stereo, Fish Finder, antenna in mast, Hobie turbo drive,electric cigar lighter, and of course,

two Martini holders.

Thanks for visiting,

73,

~ Dave

"Think outside the box"

Member:

(Long Island organizations) LIMARC, GSBARC, ARES, LITHARC

(Inter-Galactic organizations) ARRL, CQ100, HamSphere

Thank you, to the membership of these outstanding Long Island, NY groups, for your excellent guidance and camaraderie.

Some of the smartest gents I've ever had the pleasure to associate with.