Like many in the area, we are preparing for a hurricane. If you ride out, be as safe as possible. If you left, when you come back, check on your family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and associates. As I write this, I reflect on a conversation with another ham just yesterday talking about antenna capabilities during a storm. The conversation started with a statement, That statement was “I am not sure what I am going to do for an antenna since I am taking down my primary communications array” or something to that effect. My response was simple yet robust. As I am a collector of things [aren’t we all], I have a spare mobile magnet mount antenna. I also happen to have a spare SO-239 barrel connector and maybe, just maybe, I might have some extra coax. Many hams do. With all of the projects and experiments we undertake, things and such, tend to show up. So my answer, simple yet effective, was to recommend using a spare magnet mount antenna, barrel connector, a little bit of extra coax, and mounting the antenna on a vehicle under cover, in a garage, or outside.
With this set up I can reliably hit quite a few repeaters, monitor 146.52 simplex, hear the weather broadcasts and more. The SWR on 2m is 1.2 and on 70 cm the SWR is 1.3 to 1.6 (variable). I am using a Diamond NR770HB with a Midland [yes Midland] MXTA12 NMO mag mount [very strong magnet that will not blow off at 70 mph on I-10] attached to 100 feet of RG-8X Flex. What?! Why so much coax? Because that is what I have available to me that is coated in Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP). This is a specialized, waterproof material designed for harsh outdoor environments such as intense sunlight, direct burial, rain, high use etc. It is an alternative to LMR 400, less bulky, can handle HF, and take some “abuse”. Frequency Range: RG-8X works effectively across HF bands (1.6 to 30 MHz), showing roughly 1.5 dB to 2.5 dB of signal loss per 100 feet at 30 MHz.
Many of us have multiple radios, I am wired and have the capabilities to connect to all of my 2m/70cm & HF capable transceivers. But know this, the antenna is an effective listening device. Think of any antenna [say what you will] as a broadband listening device. That means [while you should not necessarily transmit on it out of the designed bands] you can listen to HF in limited capacity. That is an important statement. The part about listening to HF. An antenna functions fundamentally as a broadband listening device because it is a piece of conductive metal designed to intercept electromagnetic radio waves traveling through space. While we often think of antennas as tuned to specific frequencies (like a car radio or Wi-Fi router), any physical antenna inherently interacts with a broad spectrum of ambient electromagnetic energy across various wavelengths. This is not the first time I have discussed this.
Moreover, this suggestion, while common place for many, was not so common to the other radio operator. The point of all of this is to share your experiences. Once in a while, what you, I, or others consider common place can teach and inspire others. That is the goal of this mostly volunteer radio service right? To teach. To inspire. To intrigue.
We hope that all in the path that have not left will be safe. We hope you have supplies, comfort, and get through this weather event with all of your fingers and toes. Unless you are already missing some of those then we hope you get to keep what you got [HiHi]. For those that are not in the area, we are thinking the same thoughts, dealing with the same issues, and have the same questions. Stay aware of what is occurring, communicate when you can and exercise patience. For now, the Pile-Up is still scheduled on Sunday at 3 pm. That is all dependent upon the storm and the immediate needs of our families. I hope that does not change, but hope does not mean a promise. So stay safe, check on your people, make sure you know how to use your equipment and we will see you soon(ish).
DJ, KI4ZER
