Night activation on 7MHz

FIELD FLOWERS MARATHON (66)

Date of activity: 24.11.2016
1 outing and activation from 1 new location.

Location: Viewpoint on the Vodno mountain near Skopje
Fixed outdoor portable (P) from a car.
Also valid for WWFF.

RIG:
Elecraft K1 @ 5 W
12V - 1,3 Ah battery
Bulldog mini paddle
7 MHz wire with 7 ground radials
12 m fiberglass pole

Vlado, Z35M/p
Z3 Portable Group # 001

Hello Vlado,

You prefer vertical antenna over inverted vee?
Why? Is it better, more long-range, less noisy, or smth. else?
I suppose, IV has less wire and thus should weight lighter, than a GP.
Because there are only two shoulders by 10 and 10 meters, not vertical's 10 meters plus 7 times by 10 meters for radials, hi!

TU es 73!

In the past I used more frequently Inv V linked dipole 40/30/20/15 m with 7 m coax. Lately I prefer to use monoband wire verticals with ground mounted radials of different lenght. I didn't make on the field comparations of this two antennas, but for my style of ultra-light portable activations to use a monoband vertical is more practical because I need only one high support and the radials don't need to be full lenght neither to run strait line. Also a shorter run of coax is used because the feed point is closer to operating posiion. To put Inv V on populated beaches, parks or even summits attracts more attention from other people which is not very comfortable. Dipoles needs to be high enought over the ground. On my last night 7 MHz activation I had several antennas in my car but for simplicity decide to go with vertical wire and 7 tiny radials of different lenght 2x7.3m 1x5.3m, 4x3.5 - 4.2m. My philosophy is not to make complex antenna setups for shorter activations. Less time for antenna mounting - more time for making QSOs. My 14 MHz vertical set with 4 radials of different lenghts and 2,5 m coax weights only 280 gr. I go often by bike or by foot to the locations and prefer not to wear heavy equipment. The key point is to transmit 5W into effective antenna without heavy gear and on simple way (KISS: Keep It Stupid Simple).