HF mobile operation

[Donald Watson]

Congratulations as well on the upgrade!

Loading HF while in motion can be interesting with a lot of variables.
Years ago I ran HF from a Peterbilt tractor while hauling steel with a
flatbed. I used a Hustler mast with separate loading coils for each band.
When in motion, the wind would push the heavy spring mounted mast back at a
30 degree angle from the sleeper. Surprisingly, it worked and I would run
40 meter cw at night on long stretches of highway.

The newer automatic antenna tuners are reasonably priced and work extremely
well. I use two tuners in a marine installation, but plan to install one in
my bus. As Marv mentioned, an antenna mount and vertical antenna attached
to the goat rail would be an excellent choice for stationary use only due to
the height. In this application, a steel ¼ wave 108" CB antenna works well.
The screwdriver antenna Marv mentions does not require an antenna tuner, but
rather a close watch on a thru-line wattmeter to insure that the antenna is
manually tuned properly.

I have considered a horizontal long wire on top of the bus, supported by
several inch long spring loaded non-metallic stubs, but this is far from
ideal because of the close proximity to the metal coach roof and goat rail.
If you wanted to operate while moving, you certainly could attach a vertical
to a trailer hitch. If you plan on using an automatic tuner, it would be
best to mount the tuner as close to the antenna and feed it with either
GTO-15 high voltage wire or non-grounded RG213, RG-8 or 8X.

This past year, I have logged eleven Wanderlodge hams in a spreadsheet,
amateurs discovered via QST or Wanderlodge related forums. If anyone would
like to share and update this list, please email me.

Donn
KW2G
76FC33
South Kingstown, RI
dwatson(at)oceaninlay(dot)com

PS: I once knew a W1JTB


From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mrkane1952
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 9:38 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] HF mobile operation

Greetings:

I recently upgraded my amateur radio license to Extra: Anybody
operating HF mobile from their coach? Any tips about antennas or other
issues such as conductive body panels?

Thanks--

M.R.Kane
KB1JTB
1985 PT40
currently Sanger, TX
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