REZ Antenna’s Scout is a versatile antenna system that can be deployed horizontally and vertical. I’ve been recently playing with its delta loop configuration and have found that adding a simple 4:1 transformer or UnUn at the feed point makes a big difference in this antenna’s performance.
Watch this week’s video for a no nonsense demonstration of why matching the impedance of your antenna to the feedline matters: I FIXED IT! I FIXED IT! This makes the Scout Delta Loop so much better https://youtu.be/sPvsFSkx-Ns
More information on the REZ Scout system can be found in the prior week’s video: Versatility Unlocked: The Scout Antenna System works anywhere: https://youtu.be/qM4zpOUepLw
I find delta loops to be pretty cool antennas. These portable loops, like the one in the video are vertically polarized, are slightly directional, and have a low noise floor. Their upper band performance is quite good, but as you get lower in frequency their performance drops precipitously. So much that the delta loop made with 17 foot rigid whips like I demonstrate, pretty much becomes an NVIS antenna on 40 meters. And I think that’s where this antenna gets its bad rap from many hams: because it is seen to have a deficiency, it possibly can’t be good at all.
But that is totally not the case. We are at the top of the solar cycle, and we should be exploiting the upper bands with some of these antenna designs that really work well on them. The delta loop, Ryabkov, and Moxon, are all designs that work well on 10, 15, and to a certain extent 20 meters. Put them to use and enjoy the DX. There will be plenty of time when we hit the basement of the solar cycle to concentrate on the low bands.
POTA Multi Park Activations
I had an interesting email conversation this week that is related to Parks on the Air multi-park (two-fer, three-fer, etc) and the 100 foot rule for trail activations. Basically, when doing a multi park activation that involves a state or national trail, how close to the trail do you need to be.
This question stems from the ‘100 foot rule’ in the Parks on the Air program. Rule 5 under Activation Location and Access specifies that: “If a trail system or a river is designated as a POTA entity by itself (not as parts of a land park having a defined boundary), the activator and the station equipment must be on public property within 30.5 meters (100 feet) from the edge of the trail or river.” https://docs.pota.app/docs/rules.html
If there ever was a question that draws controversy, it would be the boundaries of trail systems. I work under the interpretation that parking areas of a trailhead are part of the trail system, and as long as you are in the parking area, you are on the trail. My justification to that is as follows:
- Trailhead parking areas are public land, often owned by the federal government or state’s conservation body. The parking areas are marked as part of the trail with signage, information boards, and trail fee collection cans. In Wisconsin, The WI DNR’s Public Access Lands database ties those land parcels to the trail. You can check your own state’s public land database or county land records database to verify trailhead ownership.
- Trails are often a mix of publicly owned lands and private lands with a public easement. The ‘100 foot’ rule allows setup anywhere there is an easement as that distance is a common legal boundary for the easement. If the trail is an easement on private land, the trail can still be activated as long as you are within the easement.
- The ‘100 foot rule’ also establishes a trail boundary when the trail transverses other public lands. Rule 5 implies that if a trail runs through a state park or wildlife area, in order to count as an X-fer, you need to be on the trail. Which could mean trailhead or the trail itself. If a trail runs through a community or county park, the trail can still be activated even though the park itself isn’t a POTA entity as long as you are within 100 feet of the trail.
When I want to verify the location of a trail in order to count a multi park activation, I will look at the Wisconsin DNR Public Access Lands database https://dnrmaps.wi.gov/H5/?Viewer=Public_Access_Lands. In my example, the Sugar River State Trail and Ice Age/Badger State Trail run on two separate rail corridors with a privately owned parcel between them.
The trailhead parking area is all one land parcel that includes the Sugarr River trail itself. According to land records, the trail head parking is part of the trail, and the signage at the trailhead indicates that it is also part of the Badger State Trail. These are physical clues that the parking area is part of the trails.
If we wanted to follow strict compliance to the rules, we could set up along the east edge of the Sugar River Property line and be less than 100 feet from the edge of the Badger State property line. But without looking at land records, would you know exactly where those boundaries are? Also would you be aware that there is a strip of private property between the two trails. In order to satisfy one rule, you’d be be breaking a another by operating on private property. This is why it is easier and proper, to automatically assume that trailheads are part of the trail itself.
The rules for Parks on the Air are intentionally loose to allow for maximum enjoyment in the program while being tight enough so that things don’t devolve into chaos. Since there aren’t any “POTA Police” it’s up to the activator to follow the rules to their best judgement.
Finishing Up
I’ll be in Stoughton, Wisconsin this Saturday for the Madison Hamfest at the Mandt Community Center. If you will be in the area, maybe we’ll run into each other at the event. Heading home that day, I hope to add a couple of new parks to my roster, so be sure to listen for me when I get on the air.
I hope to hear you on the air soon,
Michael
KB9VBR
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