I keep a notebook full of video ideas. In it you will find little notes jotted down from interactions with viewers, things I’ve read or seen online, or from a brainstorming session. This is the first step in my production process. The idea from this video came from an email I received asking about a simple, inexpensive antenna for a small back yard. I jotted the idea down in my notebook and developed it into a full-on video.
You can watch this week’s video, This one WEIRD trick SUPERCHARGES your Hamstick Antenna here: https://youtu.be/S6Ht6XtW6Q8
The big question is, does elevating a Hamstick like this work better than slapping one with a mag-mount on the roof of your vehicle? I don’t have that data yet. But if you take the work of Rudy Severns N6LF, An Experimental Look at Ground Systems for HF Verticals: https://rudys.typepad.com/files/qst-march-2010-ground-systems.pdf and all the data that Greg Mihran, KJ6ER collected, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LwSbXXeovjJdT8ijpOi-9FYR–nNsxgD/view all indications point to elevated radials outperforming anything ground (or vehicle) mounted. When the weather gets warmer I will set up some WSPR testing to prove this out. It’s odd combinations and experimentation that drives innovation. It’s how Dave and I came up with the ‘magic carpet’ or metal screen as a vertical antenna ground network. Go ahead and try new things. If it makes contacts, what have you got to lose.
If you watched this week’s video, you may have noticed a vehicle coming down the path and getting stuck. The sun had warmed up the snow and it was turning into ice crystals. Their small Hyundai couldn’t properly handle the snow and the driver panicked, steped on the gas, spun the wheels, which made things worse. I helped push them out of the rut, but I knew they wouldn’t be able to turn around as the snow got deeper the further in you went. Long story short, I slowly backed the car out of that spot and got them back onto the roadway. That’s not the strangest interaction I’ve had with the public, but it sure ranks up there.
For those wondering, the Outback made it out just fine.
Finishing up
This Saturday, March 1, 2025, I’m planning to attend the Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association hamfest in Sparta, Wisconsin. This is a last minute location change, the hamfest is usually in La Crosse, but a scheduling conflict moved the event to the American Legion Hall in Sparta. It’s a small hamfest, and a bit of a road trip for me, so I’m planning to make a day of it by hitting a few Parks on the Air entities in the area. Listen for me on and off during the day between 1500z – 2200z you might snag a new to you park.
Looking forward two weeks, the Wisconsin QSO Party is Sunday March 9. Dave and I will be on the air at team K9M. We’ve got big plans and I’ll share them with you next week.
I hope to get you in the log soon.
Michael
KB9VBR
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