Ham Radio/Antenna recomendations

[GaryM565]

Hello to everyone, I'm going to be studying to be a Ham Operator in very near future. I already have a Yeasu FT 857D mobile and a Yeasu Mark V in great shape. I'm looking for a recomendation on a antenna. I'm looking for a 4 element on the flat side also with traps. Something that will give me 4-5 bands. It will be on a standalone 50' tower. Any help would be appreciated thanks. Gary

[nosaj]

Really depends on what bands you want, here is what I just got an am happy with it. I'm using a TS-480SAT. This antenna covers 160m-10m and 6m. Chameleon emcomm II
nosaj

[MDYoungblood]

Most of the yagi beam's for HF are only a couple of bands, 10,15, and 20m, Mosley is a brand that comes to mind. I would look into a spider or hex type beam. They can use a smaller rotor and cover more bands, usually 6 to 20m and I think MFJ has one that goes to 40m. Check them out.

3's

Greg

[GaryM565]

Thanks for your response. I have looked at some Mosely's. They are pricey. I really don't want to get to elaberate though. Even the four element antenas are pricey.

[MDYoungblood]

I've been a ham for quite a while and have found nothing "cheap" price wise about the hobby. Just starting out make your own antennas, wire antennas are very effective, I have a few still today. If you have the property look at the multi band verticals, they are usually ground mounted with a radial system (this is where the property comes in).

3's

Greg

[GaryM565]

Hi Greg, I'm trying to stay away from vertical antennas because it picks up to much garbage. I had a a Joe Gunn smoking gun II it was verticle and horizontal. I found when I talked to someone on side band that was running on the flat side the noise level was way down and it would talk alot further to me. That's my opinion. Thanks for the feed back. Have a great day.

[KOA4705]

Hello to everyone, I'm going to be studying to be a Ham Operator in very near future. I already have a Yeasu FT 857D mobile and a Yeasu Mark V in great shape. I'm looking for a recomendation on a antenna. I'm looking for a 4 element on the flat side also with traps. Something that will give me 4-5 bands. It will be on a standalone 50' tower. Any help would be appreciated thanks. Gary

Gary,
Putting up a tower is a major undertaking. Planning, digging a hole for 3 yards of concrete, building a rebar cage, pouring and leveling. Getting the correct hardware that you can't just buy at Home Depot. Concrete requires at least month to cure, a small crane to lower the tower on to the foundation to secure to the anchor bolts. Then used a bucket truck to mount the antenna to the mast. Use a Witch ditch to bury 140 feet of coax and rotor cable running to the tower. In the meantime just put up a 75 meter doublet antenna and operate 75-10 meters. The only caveat is a balanced antenna tuner is required. It's a efficient antenna system, inexpensive and easy to install. After you get yagi in the air the doublet is there for the bands your yagi doesn't cover.

[GaryM565]

KOA4705, Thanks. Yeah I know it's a big undertaking. I plan on having the tower so it tilts at the bottom plate so it can be lowered, the third bolt would act as a pin. It will be a 50' aluminum free standing tower. As far as the hole it will be 4'x4'x4' and yes it will take quite a bit of concrete and some rebar. Good old ditchwitch will make the trench so I can lay 2"conduit that will house the wiring and coax. I will probably use a Yeasu G 800 DXA rotor which will sit inside the tower for the added strength. Thanks for the idea of the 10-75 meter antenna.

[KOA4705]

KOA4705, Thanks. Yeah I know it's a big undertaking. I plan on having the tower so it tilts at the bottom plate so it can be lowered, the third bolt would act as a pin. It will be a 50' aluminum free standing tower. As far as the hole it will be 4'x4'x4' and yes it will take quite a bit of concrete and some rebar. Good old ditchwitch will make the trench so I can lay 2"conduit that will house the wiring and coax. I will probably use a Yeasu G 800 DXA rotor which will sit inside the tower for the added strength. Thanks for the idea of the 10-75 meter antenna.

That Yeasu G 800 DXA rotor is bullet proof. My install was a 52 foot galvanized steel crank up tilt over tower built in the 1970s. I place the tower in the clear so it can't fall on any building and to keep RFI out of the shack.

[GaryM565]

KOA4705, thanks for for the feed back. I have enough property so as the tower and antenna won't hit anything but the ground ha ha ! Have a good rest of your weekend.

[De_Wildfire]

I have a Hex Beam ready to go up soon. I talk to hams all over the world using a Hex Beam and some of them only have it on a 20 foot pole. It is small. From the signals I have been picking up, they are doing well on the Hex Beam.

[GaryM565]

De_Wildfire, thanks for the feed back

[ik04]

Get an end fed 80m wire antenna and throw it over a tree or anything available above ground.
It will work on just about any band and will work better with a simple tuner.
It's cheap and you can either make it yourself or get an MFJ.
Plus it's portable!

[GaryM565]

ik04,
Thanks for your input.

[Plumber-G]

I have a Hex beam made by K4KIO and it works very well talked all over the globe. antenna sits on top of a 20 foot galvanized pipe strapped to my house with a yaesu G-800 rotator on top. 2nd best antenna is a simple dipole made with wire from the local home store.

[Bombero]

Hey ..

I had that antenna on my former 2 story QTH with a Yaesu 400 rotator.

Won many a DX contests and yes…it is an awesome antenna.

Bombero

[GaryM565]

Really depends on what bands you want, here is what I just got an am happy with it. I'm using a TS-480SAT. This antenna covers 160m-10m and 6m. Chameleon emcomm II
nosaj

Thanks for your time. Gary