Hombrew 2m Halo antenna for 144.2 MHz SSB and WSPR weak signal propagation. Polarisation is horizontal while the radiation pattern is omnidirectional. Radiator and gamma match are 3/8 inch copper tube. 🙂 Dimensions: Loop diameter: 340 mm Open end spacing: 40 mm Gamma rod: 200 mm length of 16 gauge AWG solid copper insulated wire.…
I have moved my homebrew ADS-B 1090 MHz 1/4 wave ground plane antenna from indoors to outdoors above my garage roof. The Raspberry Pi SDR running PiAware is now located within three metres of the ADS-B antenna. The coax cable feedline is low loss 50 ohm RG58 Cell Foil approximate three metres in length. I…
Saturday 16 May 2019. I am joined by Andrew VK1DA for a joint activation of Booroomba Rocks VK1/AC-026 at 1382m ASL in Namadgi National Park. Starting from Booroomba Rocks car park, the ascent to the summit is 267 vertical metres over 2.4 km taking one hour. Andrew plans to qualify the summit using CW in…
Saturday 16 June 2018. The weather around Canberra is cold wet and windy as a deep low, 994 hPa passes over south-east Australia. Today’s top ambient temperature is 9 degrees C while the feels-like is a chilly 2 degrees C. Tomorrow’s forecast is for a chance of snow down to 800 m ASL. My QTH…
Sharing with my SOTA followers. Repost from my SOTA UHF – SHF blog covering 23 and 13cm activations. For your entertainment the post includes a 12 minute video. via SOTA – 2.4 GHz 150 km Summit to Summit 73, Andrew VK1AD
Originally posted on VK1 SOTA on 1.2 and 2.4 GHz:
I recently purchased a 13cm transverter from SG-Lab. I have constructed a 13cm Bi-Quad antenna for use on local suburban SOTA summits, however I will need a high gain 2.4 GHz antenna for SOTA activations 100+ km from Canberra, but not one as bulky as a Grid-pack…
I’m enjoying the challenge of 23cm 1296 MHz homebrew antenna construction for SOTA purposes. My 23cm portable antenna collection includes: 12el DL6WU Yagi 12dB gain – lightweight boom construction using a folded dipole; 6el DL6WU Yagi 9 dB gain – ruggedised all brass construction gamma matched, ideal for the Australian scrub bash; and 2el HB9CV…
Homebrew 23cm (1296 MHz) HB9CV yagi antenna for SOTA To get the 23cm amateur started, SG-Lab’s 23cm 1296 MHz transverter is supplied with a PCB 23cm 2el HB9CV antenna.   I am very happy with the performance of the PCB version, having worked Rod VK2TWR in Nimmitabel from Mt Taylor in Canberra, that’s a 130 km…
VK1AD 23cm (1.296 GHz) 6el Yagi – Construction of a rugged solid brass DL6WU yagi ready for the SOTA backpack! My collection of 23cm SOTA antennas includes two DL6WU homebrew folded dipole yagis, 6 and 12 elements. While both antennas offer excellent gain, their lightweight design means they are limited to summits with limited scrub bashing,…
Saturday 8 July 2017. Thee enthusiastic SOTA activators Andrew VK1MBE, Al VK1RX and myself have plans to activate three summits Bald Mountain, Big Badja Hill and Dampier in the Gourock and Deua National Parks, 2.5 hours south-east of Canberra. Our plan is to rotate two SOTA stations between Bald Mountain VK2/SM-052 and Big Badja Hill…
