Remote Base Contest Club

Fixed Base Location “Alpha” Antennas:

40m Vertical Phased Array

• Two 1/4 wave vertical radiators separated by a 1/2 wave phasing section at the top (otherwise known as a Half Square Antenna
• Voltage fed to allow convenient feed point interface at base of first vertical element
• Multi-band due to the desirable properties of proper voltage end fed antennas repeating resonance on even harmonics – 135ft of total wire means it has low SWR on 80m/40m/20m/15m/10m.
• Ground independent due to no radials being required
• Extremely low takeoff radiation angle on 40m making it very effective for long range DX on that band
• Useful for regional NVIS on 80m
• Acceptable on 20m/15m/10m as a vertical, serves as a backup/secondary for other antennas better suited for those bands

20m Vertical Phased Array

• Similar properties as the 40m Phased Array above
• Useful for regional NVIS on 40m
• Maintains acceptable low takeoff radiation angle on 15m and 10m suitable as a primary antenna on those bands
• Only requires 20-25ft tall trees to support, could even be configured for portable use.

Dual Band 2m/70cm high gain vertical

• For local VHF/UHF Voice and Data
• All metal design, no fiberglass to degrade

Fixed Base Location “Bravo” Antennas

• Home brew 40m/20m/15m/10m End Fed Half Wave
• Dual Band 2m/70cm Vertical

Portable HF:

• Yaesu FT-891 HF/6m Radio
• Manual Antenna Tuner
• HPS1A Ultra-Compact Super Capacitor Power Supply (4A continuous, 25A peak for 25% duty cycle SSB and CW)
• Various interface cables

Backpack Portable Equipment:

• Yaesu FT-817ND HF/VHF/UHF Radio
• Lithium battery inside radio
• Elecraft T1 Automatic Antenna Tuner
• 40m/20m/10m End Fed Half Wave Antenna
• Roll-up 2m J-Pole Antenna
• Various interconnects

Portable / Temporary Setup Antennas:

• “BuddiHex” Hexbeam for 20m-6m with portable mast. We use this for contesting at Fixed Base Location Alpha and DXing.
• Portable 18ft collapsable aluminum mast and tripod with guy lines – can be used with any of the antennas below.
• Home brew 80m/40m/20m crossed dipole array. We use this setup NVIS based regional contesting, Field Days, and as part of an emergency communications readiness deployment kit.
• Spare/Backup Antenna: Buddipole Deluxe Package Kit. This is a very adaptable and versatile setup but best suited for 20m-6m.
• Dual Band 2m/70cm vertical
• Homebrew 80m/40m/20m/15m/10m End Fed Half Wave. This is always kept in the truck and used when traveling for POTA activations when a better antenna than the mobile HF ATAS is desired. Very compact and stored in a small zippered pouch.

Mobile HF/VHF/UHF:

• 4×4 SUV with all-terrain tires
• Yaesu FT-857D HF/VHF/UHF Radio
• Yaesu ATAS 120A 40m-70cm mobile screwdriver antenna
• Homebrew portable DC power storage/distribution case with master switch, 25Ah LiFePO4 battery, Powerpole outlets, DC socket outlet, and USB A/C outlet with voltmeter.
• 100W solar panel mounted on the roof
• Solar / DC-DC MPPT multi-function charge controller that allows solar to charge the power distribution box, trickle charge the vehicle start battery, and engine alternator to charge the power distribution box.
• The 18ft mast/tripod, multi-band end fed half wave, Buddipole kit, and 2m/70cm portable antennas below are often carried in this vehicle.

In Development:

• 2×6 Antenna Switch for Bandpass Filtering
• Duplexers for HF antenna sharing
• SO2R enhancements
• Headset / mic interfaces
• Foot switch PTT interfaces – COMPLETE
• HF Digital Mode Interfacing