Rapid deployment portable field comms. Does it get any faster/stealthier than this?
Grids down and you're on the move. Stakes are high. Gerry like trucks are sniffing around trying to block comms maybe. You don't live in a forest or hills. You are flushed from your home for whatever reason. In and out is essential for survival and coordination. You need comms, simple beverage wire for NVIS but what about long range and DX low angle of takeoff? Ruggedized?
Here's what I scored for that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIRQeaPqVj4
It works extremly well and is only a couple db down from a large wire dipole taking up airspace and setup time. Kicks butt on my mobile setup. No ground radials required. It's the backpacker 2010 from Transworld....
Here's what I scored for that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIRQeaPqVj4
It works extremly well and is only a couple db down from a large wire dipole taking up airspace and setup time. Kicks butt on my mobile setup. No ground radials required. It's the backpacker 2010 from Transworld....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by JED on
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Total setup time in less than 90 seconds is awesome! Questions... What bands does it cover?
How do you tune it for SWR? How much?
73
KE5ZTA -
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Permalink Reply by Minuteman on
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Jed the TW2010 is quite a nice piece of kit. The unit above is the Traveller version. It comes with the quadra pod, the base that flips open like in the vid. Traveller also comes with the control box that does auto band switching with most newer Icom and Yaesu radios.
The model I bought is the Backpacker. The differences being manual jumper style band switching (the box in the center of antenna) and the quadra stand (5 pieces that interlock to form the base). The Backpacker requires no voltage for band switching and the kit breaks down somewhat smaller for packing.
Otherwise the performance is identical. It covers all bands from 10 meters to 20 meters officially. It covers 6, 2 and 70cm (unsupported by transworld and at low efficiencies). I have yet to try the 6, 2 and 70cm comms with it.
You tune it ( I didn't need to) by compressing or extending the set of coils inside the box on the antenna. There is a pair for each band. One coil for the top half and one for the bottom. The 20 meter setup uses all the coils combined and the 10 meter setup uses only the 10 meter coils (which are only 2 turns in length, almost not required). very well laid out design inside the box, clean and well designed unlike the Force 12 Sigma-5 model.
I didn't need to tune mine at all. SWR is very good. You will be able to cover the complete band on all but 20 meters with less than 1.8. The 20 meter band coverage will allow enough width for the phone band from 14.175 to 14.350 without tuning. With my IT-7000 tuner it tunes across the band with ease....
I hiked it out yesterday and talked 18 meters. Hit Zimbabwe, Alabama, Montserat Island and Venezuala and West Coast Canada....all in the same setup. 25 degree angle of take off really shines with this antenna. You can change the TOA by raising it higher above ground than the recommended 24 to 34 inches. The higher above ground the higher the TOA.
16 33' 26 guage ground radials can be strung out underneath the antenna (not connected to it just underneath it) and all the (-1.9) db's can be claimed back to rival a wire setup. Yes it is still a compromise antenna but the valueable size and seup ease is well worth the (one third of one S-unit) loss I feel. It receives far better than my mobile rig does as well.
It is a very low noise antenna which is awesome.
Full blown Traveller with bag $545.00
full blown Backpacker with bag $399.00
I bought my Backpacker without the bag for $340 delivered....
40 meter and 80 meter center sections can be bought for this antenna. They are probably very lossy though...
Call Brent and Jim at:
http://transworldantennas.com/
KB1TDQ -
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Most likely I would choose the backpacker, avoiding the need for extra power just for the antenna. Did yours come the the quadrapod?
Minuteman said:Jed the TW2010 is quite a nice piece of kit. The unit above is the Traveller version. It comes with the quadra pod, the base that flips open like in the vid. Traveller also comes with the control box that does auto band switching with most newer Icom and Yaesu radios.
The model I bought is the Backpacker. The differences being manual jumper style band switching (the box in the center of antenna) and the quadra stand (5 pieces that interlock to form the base). The Backpacker requires no voltage for band switching and the kit breaks down somewhat smaller for packing.
Otherwise the performance is identical. It covers all bands from 10 meters to 20 meters officially. It covers 6, 2 and 70cm (unsupported by transworld and at low efficiencies). I have yet to try the 6, 2 and 70cm comms with it.
You tune it ( I didn't need to) by compressing or extending the set of coils inside the box on the antenna. There is a pair for each band. One coil for the top half and one for the bottom. The 20 meter setup uses all the coils combined and the 10 meter setup uses only the 10 meter coils (which are only 2 turns in length, almost not required). very well laid out design inside the box, clean and well designed unlike the Force 12 Sigma-5 model.
I didn't need to tune mine at all. SWR is very good. You will be able to cover the complete band on all but 20 meters with less than 1.8. The 20 meter band coverage will allow enough width for the phone band from 14.175 to 14.350 without tuning. With my IT-7000 tuner it tunes across the band with ease....
I hiked it out yesterday and talked 18 meters. Hit Zimbabwe, Alabama, Montserat Island and Venezuala and West Coast Canada....all in the same setup. 25 degree angle of take off really shines with this antenna. You can change the TOA by raising it higher above ground than the recommended 24 to 34 inches. The higher above ground the higher the TOA.
16 33' 26 guage ground radials can be strung out underneath the antenna (not connected to it just underneath it) and all the (-1.9) db's can be claimed back to rival a wire setup. Yes it is still a compromise antenna but the valueable size and seup ease is well worth the (one third of one S-unit) loss I feel. It receives far better than my mobile rig does as well.
It is a very low noise antenna which is awesome.
Full blown Traveller with bag $545.00
full blown Backpacker with bag $399.00
I bought my Backpacker without the bag for $340 delivered....
40 meter and 80 meter center sections can be bought for this antenna. They are probably very lossy though...
Call Brent and Jim at:
http://transworldantennas.com/
KB1TDQ -
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Jed The Backpacker comes only with the quadra stand. The pod looks slick but it is bulkier. The Traveller comes with the pod and also a permanent mounting stake to bury in the ground fo permanent mounting.
There is a Traveller for sale on QRZ right now complete for 300 dollars. Local pickup on Atl, Ga though...... -
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