Thanks for showing the output from the analyzer... that is helpful, instead of just showing the SWR. I sometimes find that positioning of a simple common-mode choke (~10 turns of coax through a 240-31 but 240-43 should also work) either just after the feed point (trying not to get the actual radials close to the choke) _OR_ just before entering the analyzer/radio can make quite a difference on the SWR and resonance (X=0) point. The difference here is that the shield on your coax is an additional counterpoise with the choke at the radio/analyzer end, or does not make for an additional counterpoise (if choked at the antenna side). ... I usually have to swap the ends to see what's better, before tweaking the height of the telescopic whip. ... but on your 40m test, the reactance (X, or where it says +j______ with that value being the X) pretty close to zero and your ohmic resistance (R) close to 35 is what would be expected for a 1/4 wave vertical. .. What I suspect (and I'm not an expert on this point--and I don't have the Wolf River Coil products specifically) is that you're able to get closer to SWR 1.0:1 with WFC's more adjustable variants (like SB1000) is because you're tuning the antenna off of its resonance point (i.e., making X something other than zero) so as to offset the same reality of the ~35ohm ohmic resistance (making your net |Z| closer to the 50ohms you're looking for); that may potentially not increase the overall efficiency or total power delivered to the antenna versus the 1.54:1 you had on the sporty40. Transceiver should totally deliver its full output power at 1.54:1, and that SWR will not generate measurable additional loss on a typical portable length of coax. .. I suspect that you're probably better off at shooting for resonance (X=0) at 1.54:1, rather than trying to force |Z| to 50ohms. ... And, if you don't have a good meter (like you have), shooting for the lowest SWR (|Z| as close to 50 ohms as possible) gets you close enough.
I just got mine and have not deployed it yet. Like you, I have poor soil conductivity (north Nevada). I bought a spool of 18ga lamp zip cord, cut it to about 16ft lengths, and then split it. I made 18 counterpoise wires connected six into one, terminated with APPs. I connect short pigtails to each of the three tripod legs. To deploy, I throw out and arrange the counterpoise array, connect the small coil and whip, and then connect the coax. Time to first tune is about ten minutes. (Rig deployment takes a few more minutes.) I deployed that antenna enough that I have a good idea of where the coil and whip should be. Tuning is fairly quick. My SWR measurements are similar to yours. I have similar ground. This is a great antenna if you are running a frequency or staying on a single band for awhile. It is not band agile if you bouncing around chasing POTA/SOTA activators. The next time I activate a park I am going to deploy mine, with the Sporty Forty (and my radial system). My go to antenna for a hasty deployment (that is band agile) is the Chameleon MPAS 2.0 in vertical configuration. I timed myself last week and had a complete station operational in ten minutes. I activated a part for an hour with the KX2 barefoot and made 24 Qs with 10w (CW mode). Recovery took me ten minutes. I expect the WRC is a bit more efficient than the MPAS 2.0 (no matching unit). Whether the difference is sufficient to make a real difference during practical operations is less certain. There are so many variables in radio communications and it takes a lot of difference to be sensed. This sure is fun stuff, though. Thanks for sharing what you learned. 73 de AG7TX
Hi Mike, I found this video very interesting. Great presentation of your findings. My interest in these 17’ telescopic poles is growing! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
I just bought the sporty 40 at Hamcation with the ground spike. It makes for really fast and easy setup. I also noticed the ground has an affect on swr. Still made lots of contacts. For quick portable setup it is my preferred antenna.
Great information in this video Mike! Thanks for taking the time to perform all the experimentation. And, fantastic work on the graphics. It made the presentation super-clean.
I enjoy your videos and all the work you do to assist us hams! Kudos!! There seems to be a lot of hype about SWR on many RU-vid channels. 1,2 :1 V 2.1 :1 etc. It has long been a notion that low SWR is to protect the equipment.. effect on the received signal from your 2:5 to 1 is pretty much non existent. Remember it take 6db on the received end to raise 1 S-Unit!! I believe in having the lowest SWR personally, just because it challenges me! Yet, I’m not afraid to operate at 2:1 or higher, if my equipment will handle it!! I used to load up my bed springs into a tube type (Swan 350) without a tuner. Worked all over Europe on 10 meters… my point is, don’t let a 2:1 SWR keep off the air!! No one will ever guess you’re not at 1.1 1😀😀😀😀keepe the videos coming!!😊😊 De NØPL DIT-DIT
Awesome! I'll have to grab one. I love having the full WRC but I'm all about lower friction to getting on the air. Good test on the radials, When in doubt, throw more wire out. 😁
Hi Mike, Im a big fan of the ease of use, portability, and performance of the 17ft whip, when on 40, I use the Slide Winder Coil, none the less, great video, i have worked from here in Bahrain, W1, W5, W4, etc, Carribean, All Europe, Indonesia, VK, etc, great option for portable, oh n I only use 85W,.. cheers n Gd DX, the sporty 40 is a great addition to any portable Operation.
The 213" whip is my go-to for POTA; sets up quick and the SWR almost always creators 1.00:1 for most of the 20m band...*almost* always. Sometimes I can't get it below 1.5:1 for any of the band, even after experimenting with radials, chokes, etc. Can't explain it. One of those times was WFD. Maybe the antenna was next to a snow bank and that caused reflection? Who knows. But yeah, agree that messing with the collar takes time and I'm definitely going to try this new one out.
I have the 17-foot whip also I use the Palatium silver bullet to tune in 40M last time I did it I was at 1 to .014 @ 7.228. That wase in my yard in Brownsville TX which is mostly clay dirt is not a great conductor. I have yet taken the 17-foot whip out to a park yet. I expect good results because I usually have better SWR in a park. WQ9V
Since you're good at analysis, try this experiment. Drop by a farm store, pickup a quarter mile spool of 12ga. Aluminum electric fence wire. That will give you ten 132' radials with an average 10' piece of overage. Try two laid out in a tight z pattern if you are short on space. If you have the space lay them out straight. I have never had swr problems with these as radials/counterpoise.
Did you see my "front yard"? I don't have room for the radials I used much less a quarter mile of wire! I have zero back yard and an even smaller "side yard". Would be nice to try if I had any space at all though.
I'll have to get one at Dayton and see how well it works up here in Lakeview. The one I've had for 5 years is a SOTA special, pretty much like a silver bullet mini, and we get great swr's at the lake but I'm going to try the mini radials here soon to see how well it works for me, as soon as the ground dries up a bit as it's a bit swampy lately. 73 de W8MJL
@@hamradiotube Hey Mike, I forgot you had mentioned that during the first contact on 10m. There you go, that's old age kicking in again. 🙂 Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
Looks very cool, Mike. I have the 17-foot whip, along with the Silver Bullet 1000 coil and the mega pod. The Pporty Forty looks like a nice compact addition. Were you on this config for our POTA contact this week? WA2JOE Joe
Interesting findings Mike, thanks for doing all that you do and for sharing! I love my WRC. I am going to have "2 fists" of bourbon tonight on your behalf. Hi Hi! 73
my back yard is made of concrete. How do radials go on concrete? In the past I extend one ribbon cable to a hole in the concrete where a bush was removed. Not sure how big an impact there will be.
Oh gosh I have a couple. One is the MFJ-1917 and the other is the one from Wolf River Coils. I think they call it the 213" whip. It's slightly taller than 17'.
The problem is there is no way to fine tuned adjustment which makes life easy. You can adjust coax radial. Why not just get the bullet version. Much easier
Maybe someone has already tried this? But I was considering putting shorty 40 set-up elevated on my Buddistick Versa Tee. Then coming off of the other side with a resonant or maybe linked wire making a non inverted L dipole. Thoughts?
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Coils lose over 90% of your power without a capacitor hat. Then you still lose 85%. A wire or a ham stick will be more efficient if you want your power to be used.
90% aye? I’m going to claim shenanigans on that one. If that were true, add in the coax loss and I’d be putting maybe 5-7 watts out at the antenna. I don’t think I’d get the pileups I do if that we’re the case.
