Deployable Antenna Support Systems
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We've spent a lot of time discussing training for deployment, what personal supplies we'd bring to a deployment, and what radio gear we would bring along, but what to do for antennas?
Yes, roll-up or J-pole antennas have been discussed often for years; to a lesser extent we have discussed low-flying HF (NVIS) antennas. We never know where our deployments may send us, and in many cases trees or other antenna supports may be some distance away, so extra coax and/or rope will be handy in those instances.
But there may be times where we don't have a tree or pole or other support to hang an antenna on, so other options for supporting antennas may be necessary. A few options will be presented here, but it would be interesting to hear of any others as well.
Tripods
These may not allow for a lot of elevation, but a tripod can certainly provide a good base for a VHF antenna or as a support for a NVIS HF antenna. The do have the disadvantage of being easily tipped if not anchored or guyed. Simple metal or plastic tent stakes can be used to anchor the tripod or provide attachment points for guy wires.
Weighted Buckets
A bucket filled with concrete, with a piece of pipe (or center-hole to slide a pipe into) can be used to insert a mast, may actually provide better support and balance than a tripod, and is cheap to make. Three could be used in conjunction to act as a tripod base.
Guyed Masts
While a tripod is handy, it isn't entirely necessary if you're willing to put a little more effort into setting up. You can stand the mast using guys, although I've had poor luck with this method myself. Tent or other anchors act as tie-downs for three or more guys attached to the mast. This would probably be my last choice.
Hitch/Receiver Mounts
Variations of these have been around for decades. Towing Receivers are great for this, as your vehicle's weight, the strength of the hitch, and the range of mounting options combine to create a flexible and robust system for erecting antennas.
A variety of designs use the receiver natively, using the appropriately sized square tubing, while others use receiver attachments that allow masts or other hardware to be mounted. Either method works well, and it's unlikely you'll exceed the capacity of the receiver!
The Mast itself
There are a variety of options for the actual mast, ranging from military surplus fiberglass in sections, PVC, wood, to telescoping aluminum masts. One ingenious individual proposed using a $99 Harbor Freight Telescoping Flag Pole!
Additional Resources
https://km1ndy.com/tow-hitch-mast-support-for-ham-radio-beam-antennas/
https://www.eham.net/article/26744
https://www.instructables.com/Portable-PVC-Conduit-Antenna-Mast/
https://swling.com/blog/tag/low-profile-ham-radio-antenna/
Standardized Radio Memories
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ARES, RACES, SATERN, MARS, and virtually every other Amateur Radio organization will have a plan for nets and tactical activities, including a range of frequencies (spanning several bands) to be used for different modes of operation.
Just as there are a range of entities using a range of frequencies across many bands implementing multiple modes, a typical Amateur Radio Operator will own a collection of radios with a variety of differing capabilities. While not all radios will operate across all the bands and operate in all the modes, there is often quite a bit of overlap of functionality.
Prowords
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Like the use of standard phonetics, the use of standard Procedure Words (usually referred to as PROWORDS) helps to ensure the clear conveyance of information between radio operators.
Like phonetics, there is a standard set of prowords used in communications, increasing the probability of understanding even when hearing only a part of the proword during noisy conditions.
Some prowords are more commonly used than others, and some prowords, while more expedient, can be a little confusing because they aren't commonly used in Amateur Radio.
Here are some of the most common prowords you'll hear on formal nets, especially when passing formal traffic:
QRP And Amateur Radio
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While many operators tend to operate using the 100W or 200W their radio provides, and yet others use external amplifiers to run hundreds, even more than 1KW, there are others who operate at the other end of the spectrum, 5-10 Watts.
QRP operation is often practiced by operators participating in Parks On The Air (POTA) or Summits On The Air (SOTA), who are often hiking or backpacking their equipment to the operating location, carrying their power source with them. Naturally, packing a Marine Battery would be a bit of a challenge, so smaller and lighter batteries with lower power capacity are used.
Due to limitations in available power the operators naturally run less power, usually 20W or less. QRP is generally considered 5-10W, but even 20W is possible with more efficient modern equipment and Lithium batteries.
Wilderness Protocol and LiTZ
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The Wilderness Protocol, like many Amateur Radio practices, is not part of FCC regulations or law, merely a generally agreed upon practice. The purpose of the protocol is to provide a way for operators outside of repeater range and in need of assistance to make contact with other operators to request assistance.
Although it could, and should, be practiced under any conditions, it was originally designed as a tool for hikers, campers, and those who work in wilderness areas.
Operators, especially those in wilderness areas, would monitor calling frequencies on various bands (146.52 MHz, 52.525, 223.5, 446.0 and 1294.5 MHz) at the top of the hour. Ideally listeners would monitor from a few minutes before
Vanity Call Signs
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Amateur radio operators are issued call signs by the FCC upon qualifying for their Technician license, and have the option to be issued new call signs that reflect their new class when they upgrade to General or Extra. The form of call sign is limited by license class, where higher class of licenses allow simpler/smaller call signs. For instance, a Technician class licensee may be issued something like KX4XTT (often referred to as a two by three, two letters before the number and three after); however an Extra class licensee may have a call sign like W4BK (often referred to as a one by two). There are various call sign formats between these extremes, often limited by license class. You can view the "rules" by going to this link and clicking on "Sequential Call Sign System".
Handheld Radios As Go-Kit
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The most basic “go-kit” item in the Amateur Radio Operator's bag of tricks is the Handheld Transceiver (HT). No, HT doesn't stand for handy-talky. While most of us own several HTs, and they are useful tools, especially when near repeaters, we also know that the HT, out of the box, makes for a pretty poor emergency station. The rubber-ducky antenna and lower voltage batteries often supplied with the radios, along with the lower power output HTs have are challenges to be overcome.
Let's take a look at some things that can improve HT performance:
- Purchase a higher gain antenna for the HT. The original manufacturers equipment (OEM) antenna that came with your HT is little more than a dummy load. Many aftermarket antenna manufacturers make replacement antennas for just about every HT. Talk to others with the same HT as yours and find out what they are using. A step up from that is a mobile antenna or even a base station antenna on a push-up pole. Antenna gain and height are the keys to overcoming marginal operations.
Power Connectors
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One of the interesting things about Amateur Radio is the nearly universal use of PL-259 connectors for base and mobile radio gear, at least that at or below the UHF end of the frequency spectrum. We typically utilize 50ohm cable, even if there are variations of loss across the frequency spectrum, diameter, etc.
One area we see very little standardization, especially across brands, is power connections. Almost all mobile and base gear runs off 12 volts, yet there are a multitude of connectors, having little more than the red for hot and black for ground color coding.
In addition, we will connect that equipment to a variety of sources, some making it obvious which connector is hot and which connector is ground. Others, like car batteries, often require a close look. Also, in some instances the wires are always properly color coded.
Because of these variables we can almost be certain, that if we tinker, change, or rearrange our radio gear very much, we WILL accidentally hook the wires up wrong and let the smoke out of some valuable piece of radio gear.
Anderson Powerpole Connectors
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Setting up ad-hoc operating locations can be a challenge, especially when a variety of different radios and peripherals are going to be utilized. Seldom are components interchangeable between brands, and often not even amongst radios from the same manufacturer. Microphone, antenna, and power connectors often vary. Seldom is there a reason to interchange microphones, and most all of us have the stash of adapters to convert antenna connections from PL-239 to N or SMA or BNC. But power connections can present more of an issue.
Different radio manufacturers use different power connectors. Power supplies, while newer ones have Anderson Powerpole (APP) connectors built in, often just have posts with thumbscrews, banana plugs, and a variety of others.
In the hustle of setting up radios, the greatest challenge, and potential hazard, is hooking up power.
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