[amsat-bb] Re: Elk set-up [was: Homebrew Elk-style 14/435 mhz logperiodic for sats?]
n3tl@bellsouth.net
n3tl at bellsouth.net
Sat Apr 18 13:15:50 PDT 2009
Hey Bill,
Based on my experience with it when using the Elk as a handheld antenna, I believe I'd at least try the trick of using a 90-degree connector at the feedpoint and running your coax along the boom to the back of the antenna. By the way - the hardware/PVC necessary for mast mounting comes with the antenna. For a hand-holding handle, I needed only a few feet of PVC and one T connector, about 40 cents worth of parts. You shouldn't need anything for mast-mounting.
I don't have an answer for your preamp question because, as I recall, you're using one full-duplex radio. I'm using two radios and a duplexer here, and would opt for preamps at the radios. I know that's not as effective as mast-mounting, but it would probably have to suffice. I'm sure someone else will provide some input on this.
Best of luck with it all.
73,
Tim - N3TL
-------------- Original message from Bill Dzurilla <billdz.geo at yahoo.com>: --------------
> I have ordered an Elk. Any set-up tips? I see they recommend using a PVC T-connector to attach the antenna to the mast. This aims the antenna parallel
> to the ground. How to mount it for a fixed 20 degree elevation?
> Also, as this antenna has only one feedline, is there any way to mount preamps
> for both 70cm and 2m?
>
> Thanks and 73, Bill NZ5N
>
>
> --- On Sat, 4/18/09, Rafael Valdez G. wrote:
>
> > From: Rafael Valdez G. > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Homebrew Elk-style 14/435 mhz log periodic for
> sats? > To: "n3tl at bellsouth.net " , "billdz.geo at yahoo.com "
> , "nss at mwt.net "
> > Cc: "amsat-bb at amsat.org "
> > Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 12:04 AM
> > Defiinetely your solution for hoa is the elk as far a I
> > understand you can have a Tv. Antenna which te elk can
> > fairly look like....
> >
> > I am a true believer of Elk' eficiency and
> > portability...
> >
> > GL 73's
> >
> > XE2RV
> > VUCC 164 satellite
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: n3tl at bellsouth.net
> >
> > Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:52:03
> > To: ;
> > Cc: ;
> >
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Homebrew Elk-style 14/435 mhz log
> > periodic for sats?
> >
> >
> > Hey Bill,
> >
> > Your comments about construction, location, etc., are
> > right one, based on my experiences here. I actually move
> > from one side of the house to the other depending on whether
> > passes are to my east or west.
> >
> > A couple of other things affect the performance I'm
> > getting, too. One of the most important is that my decision
> > to continue using a handheld antenna means I have less than
> > six feet of coax from the radio to the antenna. I'm
> > still getting some loss, but not nearly as much as I'd
> > get by putting antennas in the attic and running much longer
> > feed lines to them. Another is a little trick K4DLG in
> > Florida passed along to me a while back.
> >
> > He has a log periodic for HF, and the coax runs from the
> > antenna feedpoint along the main boom to the back of the
> > antenna before heading down to the shack. Taking that lead,
> > he did the same thing with the Elk he bought. Doing so
> > mitigated any significant changes in SWR due to moving the
> > antenna around while hand-holding it during a pass. I tried
> > it here and have observed the same thing. For me, at this
> > location (inside or out), 8 degrees of elevation was the
> > best I could hope for with the Arrow I had. In all the
> > months I used that antenna, I made only a few contacts when
> > a given satellite was below 8 degrees here. When I started
> > using the Elk, that "bottom line" immediately
> > dropped to 4 degrees. And when I tried K4DLG's
> > suggestion of running the feedline parallel to the boom, the
> > 4 degrees dropped to 3.
> >
> > And, as you point out, depending on the location and
> > relative path of a given pass, I can work even lower and
> > make contacts, as I have with some stations in Europe on
> > AO-7.
> >
> > All of that being said, I also still lose the satellites
> > due to obstruction, as you have observed with your Arrow.
> > When it comes to the FM LEO satellites, only the ISS
> > transmits back to us using more than milliwatt power levels.
> > I know that AO-51 is capable of 1 watt or more, but it
> > generally is not configured to transmit at those levels.
> > Drew or someone, please correct me if that statement is
> > inaccurate. The published stats on AO-27 report a nominal
> > output of 500 mW, and SO-50 is reported to operate with a
> > nominal 250 mW output. I believe both of them also use
> > quarter-wave vertical antennas, which are 0-gain.
> >
> > Given those power levels, it doesn't take much to
> > begin affecting reception, especially for handheld stations.
> > From here at my home, that quarter of azimuth from 90
> > degrees to 180 degrees is my worst. For really consistent
> > reception in that part of the sky, I need upwards of 30
> > degrees elevation when I'm standing outside at ground
> > level. On the second floor of the house, I get reception
> > good enough to facilitate contacts with about 15 degrees of
> > elevation at azimuths from 90 degrees to about 130. I still
> > need close to 30 from azimuth 130 to 180 no matter where I
> > try to operate from - in the yard or upstairs.
> >
> > I hope you're able to come up with a solution for your
> > location that works even better than you expect!
> >
> > 73 to all,
> >
> > Tim - N3TL
> >
> >
> > -------------- Original message from Bill Dzurilla
> > : --------------
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Tim,
> > > Yes, your QSO with F2IL is becoming famous, congrats.
> > I think the performance of indoor antennas must be heavily
> > dependent on the location of the shack and the construction
> > materials used on the house. I moved my Eggbeater and ground
> > plane to the attic from outside and noticed a sharp drop in
> > performance. Also tried the Arrow here inside the shack and
> > it did not do too well. And noticed that, even outside in
> > the yard with the Arrow, I lose the sats at low elevation,
> > when they drop below the level of nearby roof lines. On my
> > DXpeditions to Swan Island and Jamaica, where there was
> > unobstructed view over the ocean, I could easily make
> > contacts with less than 1 degree of elevation with the same
> > HT and
> > > Arrow.
> > >
> > > 73, Bill NZ5N
> > >
> > >
> > > --- On Fri, 4/17/09, n3tl at bellsouth.net wrote:
> > >
> > > > From: n3tl at bellsouth.net > Subject: Re:
> > [amsat-bb] Re: Homebrew Elk-style 14/435 mhz log periodic
> > for
> > > sats?
> > > > To: "Joe" , billdz.geo at yahoo.com
> > > > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> > > > Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 10:19 PM
> > > > Bill and all,
> > > >
> > > > Joe is right. F2IL gave me a 569 report on AO-7
> > Mode B
> > > > Thursday evening - and I was hand-holding my Elk
> > on the
> > > > second floor of my house, pointing it to the
> > northeast at a
> > > > spot on a windowless wall. When we worked, AO-7
> > was at
> > > > roughly 3.5 degrees elevation here.
> > > >
> > > > I wish I had decided to try these low-angle
> > passes months
> > > > ago!
> > > >
> > > > 73 to all,
> > > >
> > > > Tim - N3TL
> > > > -------------- Original message from Joe
> > > > : --------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > You'd be amazed at what you can do with
> > an indoor
> > > > yagi also..
> > > > >
> > > > > My first 2 meter ant was a 3 ele quad on a
> > photo
> > > > tripod that sat right
> > > > > next to me on the floor in the shack,
> > > > >
> > > > > Joe WB9SBD
> > > > >
> > > > > Bill Dzurilla wrote:
> > > > > >Are there plans anywhere for a homebrew
> > version of
> > > > the Elk duo bander? After reading through the
> > prior thread
> > > > about the poor performance of Eggbeaters and
> > other omnis,
> > > > I'm ready to risk the wrath of my Homeowners
> > Association
> > > > and put up
> > > > > a small beam.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Or, anybody have an Elk for sale?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >73, Bill NZ5N
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > >_______________________________________________
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> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
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