Mobile Info Sheet

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Complete Mobile Info Sheet

We set up a test range to measure the gain (field strength) off of the HF mobile antennas at a distance of one wavelength with a max power of 20 Watts output. Four readings were taken with the vehicle pointing, West,South,East and North.

A Bird 43 watt meter was installed in-line at exactly the same point to verify all radios produced a maximum power of 20 watts to the antenna during the shootout.

The same 75m freq 3.882 was used for all tests.

These readings were done at one wavelength with zero degree take off angle.

The measurement point was 242 feet away using a Potomac Field Intensity Meter model 41. Measuring millivolts.

Tom WA9TS Mobile Setup

2004 Chevy Suburban

High-Q antenna mounted on drivers side rear side, 3 inch coil size.

The mount is removable and connections are an N type connector with a multi-pin bayonet connector for control

Rig is a Icom IC-7000

Power #4 welding cable from battery.

Bonding: Hood, Rear hatch, Exhaust pipe, Engine, and 6 points under vehicle. I will be adding more bonding soon.

WA9TS Results From Shootout

North = 128mv East = 130mv South = 127mv West = 121mv Average = 126.5mv

W9EOA Ron Mobile Setup

1998 Dodge Caravan

Hustler Trap Vertical antenna mounted Center Rear on the trailer hitch, 1 inch coil.

The mount is a removable class III trailer hitch mount with spring.

Rig is a Kenwood TS 690S

Power #12 regular power cord supplied with rig running to the battery.

Bonding is light at best with the hood and doors and tail hatch.

W9EOA Results From Shootout

North = 80mv East = 82mv South = 81mv West = 76mv Average = 80mv

K9WKW Oscar Mobile Setup

2010 Ford Escape

G & S Manufacturing Antenna is mounted off the side of the Hidden Hitch with 2 inch square tubing.

Antenna Coil is 3"

Mounted on the drivers side by the back bumper.

Rig is a Icom IC-7000.

Power #10 cable running to the battery from bus system in back where rig is hooked.

Bonding is by 1/2 inch grounding straps. Grounded back hatch, hood, tail pipe, all grounded to the main frame of vehicle.

K9WKW Results From Shootout

North = 140mv East = 139mv South = 139mv West = 125mv Average = 135.75mv

N9ETD Craig Mobile Setup

2005 GMC Sierra Extended cab pickup w/ short box.

Antenna High Sierra HS-1500 screwdriver 2" Coil.

Antenna is mounted off the right rear corner & the base is 34in off the ground.

Rig is a Yaesu FT847

Power #12 regular power cord supplied with rig running to the battery.

4- Bonding straps from cab & box to the frame.

1- Bonding strap to the rear of the exhaust system.

1- Bonding strap from the antenna mount to the truck frame.

N9ETD Results From Shootout

North = 175mv East = 189mv South = 179mv West = 164.5 Average = 176.8mv

WV9E Dave Mobile Setup

2000 Chevy 2500 Standard Cab Pickup.

Antenna "Bamboo Special" Having no plan, less than 1 hour to come up with something, all I knew was that I wanted to make a loaded base type and use as long of a whip as I could find. Eying a cane pole in the shop corner, I now had an insulated staff and only had to figure a way to keep it up... right. I found a piece of 2x4 about 2 feet long, cut it down to fit a stake pocket on my truck box and drilled 3 sets of 2 holes, grabbed a few plastic ties and I had a 8 foot mast that should take the wind at road speed. I grabbed the only spool of wire I had handy, anchored one end of the wire to the top of the pole, ran it to the bottom area and plastic tied it on. I now needed to find a coil form. After a short search I found an old blower tube from some old leaf blower, put that at the bottom of my mast, ran a quick self tapper into hold it to the 2 x 4 and wrapped the rest of my wire spool in a sort of hap-hazard 10 turn coil... all the wire I had. I fastened a 3/8 eyelet connector on the coil end and w/ a 3/8 fine thread. And there it was, the "Bamboo Special"

Antenna Mounted on the left box rail centered in the stake pocket hole.

Rig is a FT- 857 w/ LDG YT-100 tuner.

Power Cable #12 regular supplied with rig to the battery.

Bonding and grounding, absolutely none to speak of.

WV9E Results From Shootout

North = 16.9mv East = 16.9mv South = 15.5mv West = 15.2 Average = 16.12mv

KØWJ Lon Mobile Setup

2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Diesel Pickup Truck.

Antenna Scorpion SA-680E with a 4 foot x ¾ inch O.D. aluminum mast with a Scorpion 43 inch cap hat at the very top.

Antenna is mounted mid bed on the floor with a home-brewed mount, the overall height was 13 feet 4 7/8 inches above the ground.

Rig is a Kenwood TS-2000 w/RC-2000 Remote Head, Amplifier: SGC SG-500 (Amp Not Used during test)

Bonding and Grounding, Bed Bonded (4 places) Engine Bonded (3 places) Exhaust System Bonded (1 place - will add two more next week) Hood Bonded (both sides) Cab Bonded (4 places) All bonds are from specific body part to the frame using ¾ inch wide silver tinned copper braid which was decompressed to yield a 1½" braid.

KØWJ Results From Shootout

North = 245mv East = 252mv South = 247mv West = 247mv Average = 247.75mv