Spring Time is Antenna Time. What's Your Pleasure?

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Springtime is antenna time.  Warmer temperatures give Amateur Radio operators an opportunity to check on their QTH antenna systems for repair and or maintenance. It is also a time for us to put to practice some of those antenna designs and projects we developed over the winter months. Those of us who do a lot of portable, Parks on the Air, Summits on the air and World Wide Flora and Fauna are eager to construct antennas which are lighter, durable and easy to deploy providing increased window of opportunity for those chasing us.

Over the years, I have successfully and failed in constructing HF, V/UHF portable and permanent  antenna. It is always great to enjoy the fruits of my labor in using an antenna I've built.

There's one antenna which has been on my bucket list for years. This spring is the year I remove it from that list.  This antenna has been around for more than a century. It hasn't change much, except for the materials used to build it. It is the Marconi Kite Antenna .



For years our hobby has utilized renewable and sustainable energy for its operations. I might as well use the wind to assist in my ham radio operating.  I am lucky to know at least one operator who has used a kite to deploy his EFHW.  A couple of years ago Mike - K1NGZ, lofted his kite along a beach and had quite the success in activating a POTA site.  Due in part to his success and others, I'm going to give it a try,  Here's a YouTube video of Mike's setup.



QRZ - K1NGZ


There is another operator Bobby - W6IWN who has used a couple of different types of kites to deploy antenna. Since I'm new and experimenting with this type of antenna deployment, my setup is similar to Bobby's kite that he is using in the 2nd video below.



QRZ - W6IWN




I've gone with an inexpensive Walmart type kite that is self supported.  Cost was under $10.




I'll try to get a few deployments under my belt and post the results in a few weeks.

The rest of you, get out and do those antenna maintenance projects and builds.





















































































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