Amateur Radio

January 2001 - Here’s my latest article on a Retractable HF/VHF/UHF Mobile Antanna

• I've been an Amateur Radio Operator since 1971

- My call sign is W3UE, Extra Class.

- I like speaking to people from all over the world and Rag Chewing

- I've worked other Amateurs from Japan, Russia, Germany, the UK, etc... on the Radio In the Pictures Below

- I normally hang out on 146.21, the PART repeater.

- My son and wife are also Amateurs: Deb is KA3DRG and Dave is KA3WFY

Here's my article, hopefully, which appeared in the Hints and Kinks section of November 1997 QST Magazine:

HF All Band Retractable Antenna System

Are you interested in a Retractable HF Mobile Setup that:
- Allows you to put your car in the garage without getting out
- Retracts any time from inside the car
- Operates on 80 through 10 Meters
- No pruning or tuning any time
- High Performance (We're talking Great DX!)
- Low Maintenance (No Motors, simple as Goin' Fishin')

I have been operating my retractable HF mobile antenna since November 1996. The modifications of this Hustler fold-over antenna allow deploying and retracting the antenna WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF THE CAR!

DEPLOYMENT: The antenna is deployed using the "cast" mode of a fishing reel (See Appendix for parts list). The cast mode will allow the bungee cord and a small lever attached to the antenna to apply just enough force to pull the antenna up. Once the antenna is up, the slack is taken out with the fishing reel. This keeps the antenna erect even at highway speed.

Note that a 2-Meter Hustler 5/8 wave is mounted on the same roof at least 4 feet from the HF antenna. This ensures that the 2M receiver is not cooked by HF energy.

RETRACTION: The retraction is done using the fishing reel with 30LB test line. To retract the antenna, the fishing reel is cranked until the tip of the 8 Foot antenna is visible above the windshield. Garage entry and exit are then done in a normal fashion.

PERFORMANCE
Excellent SSB reports have been obtained, averaging 56's with an ICOM-706, 100 Watts, and an automatic Antenna Tuner. The reasons for the good performance are:

1) The antenna is on the roof of the car. This minimizes losses due to antenna capacitance to earth ground
2) Minimal loss due to antenna-vehicle capacitance, as in a bumper mount arrangement
3) Large antenna diameter. Minimized resistive loss near the base of the antenna where antenna current is at a maximum.
4) Very short lead length between automatic antenna tuner and antenna feed, which also minimizes losses due to antenna capacitance to the vehicle

Countries worked on SSB include Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, England, Panama, Brazil, to name a few. CW Operation also yielded excellent results. I was amazed with how this little setup could bust through pile-ups. Perhaps the suffix "Mobile" helps?

The IC-706, DSP-9 Digital Signal Processor and Tuner Control is mounted "heads-up" style, on the top of the dash. You never have to take your eyes far from the road with this rig. Now that's pure mobile operating pleasure.

With all those holes in the roof, does it leak? No. All bolts have neoprene washers under the heads. Silicone seal is used to seal out any other possible leakage areas including the fishing line and antenna mount entry points. You may also ask: How does it look? Well, my car, a 1984 Tercel Wagon, is 13 years old, so it's out of style and not of antique vintage yet. My kids call it "geek mobile" or "time machine".

SUMMARY
This antenna performs better than the average mobile HF mobile antenna. Since it operates on all bands with automatic re-tuning and be driven into and out of the garage without getting out of the car, it's also convenient and easy to operate.

Timothy L. Drager - WA3UEB

APPENDIX:

Parts List

Antenna Modification Assembly
Hustler Fold-Over Antenna (Modified to Suit Garage Height when retracted)
Lever, Antenna
Hooks, .042 Stainless Steel Safety Wire
Bungee Cord, Medium Duty
Bungee Cord Cover, ½"X6" PVC Pipe (Keeps UV Rays from Destroying Bungee Cord)
Doubler/Stiffener Under Antenna Mount (7 Inch Circular saw blade or equivalent)
Spring Mount
Stainless Steel Bolts and Nuts
Silicone Seal

Fishing Reel Assembly
Fishing Line 30 LB Test
Fishing Reel
L Bracket, Fishing Reel Mount
Plastic Cap for hole in Roof
Silicone Seal for hole in roof
Silicon Spray (Spray on fishing line and reel)

Automatic Antenna Tuner
Stainless Steel Bolts (Qty. 5, hardware store)
Neoprene Washers (QTY. 5, hardware store)
Ground Lug (Good Grounding for the automatic antenna tuner is essential)

For more information, contact the ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League)