N4LA ... Testing a wire buddipole

Backpacking with my Wire Buddipole

We had a spring like day in North Carolina on Sunday ... 

So I decided to put the little Elecraft KX1 to good use.

As I was packing for a short hike ... 

I was trying to decide what antenna I should take with me.

Of course, I needed something that was small ... 

easy to pack, and most of all light weight.

I decided on my Buddipole ...but in order to reduce size and weight... 

I switched my shock cord vertical radiator to a 12 ft wire radiator.

I had never tried this ... and had no idea if it would work ... 

but in theory it should work just fine.

So... what I did was take my rig expert antenna analyzer along 

to do some testing.

From top to bottom in the picture above ... here is the parts list.

1. 12 ft piece of 24 guage wire

2. Buddipole shorty coil

3. Buddipole versatee

4. TRSB Balun

5. One radial / elevated

6. Small telescoping painter pole .... 

I use this a both a antenna base and hiking staff

7. tent stake ... to secure painters pole antenna base.

8. 6 ft of small coax

As you can see in the 2nd picture...  

I also take a ultra light stool and table as well.

I picked both these items up at REI .... 

they are super small and extremely light weight.

The entire station including table and stool ...

will easily fit in a small Walmart backpack 

The entire set-up including backpack weighs in at only 10 pounds !!

It will be a little more if you add snacks and water of course.

I like to take a clipboard along as well .... 

I use it upside down. 

That way it secures my notepad .. 

and the pages don't flap around in the wind.

I also put Velcro on the top to secure my CW keyer ... 

or any other items I choose.

Well I guess you are wondering if the wire Buddipole worked ?

Yes it did

After a little tweaking ...

My SWR was perfect on 20 meters ...

 and I did make a couple of contacts at only 2 watts.

If you need a resonant multi-band antenna...

and don't want to take a tuner along ...

this set-up works quite well.

plus

It's smaller and lighter than the traditional Buddipole 

and in my opinion ... has a smaller footprint.

downside ...

You will need a support for the wire radiator...

a tree limb at 20 ft 

or 

20 ft fishing pole works well.

I haven't tried tis set-up on 30 or 40 meters yet ... 

but, you'll probably need the regular Buddipole loading coil 

instead of the smaller shorty coil.

I also plan to experiment with a longer radiator ( 16 ft ) soon.

Have Fun and get 

"Radio-Active"

73 de N4LA