The shack in 2015

They say that nothing stays the same for ever and this is true.

Due to extreme weather conditions the quad antenna was damaged at the fixing point and I had to have it repaired.

Friends are always welcome!

In the mean time and by a strange coincidence I got offered a HY GAIN 3 bander/5 element antenna. I thought I 'd give it a try while I would repair the QUAD. And as the Greeks say "nothing more permanent than the temporary"  the new antenna works fine and I think I will keep it up there for a long time.

Bill/SV2CUP and Bill/SV2MIY giving the necessary helping hand.

Bill /SV2CUP at work checking the phasing lines of the antenna.

In between some QSO's I have repaired the QUAD, which for the time being rests inert on the ground. We shall see a good use for it in the future, I guess.    








                                   
For now this is my high bands antenna which will be complemented by a long wire antenna (>53 mtrs) coupled with a 9:1 Unlun for my low bands communication activities.

The antenna finally in place

The Shack in 2011

OPERATION: 

RELOCATION OF ANTENNA 

Finally, in April 2014 a great project was completed! To change a position of an antenna and its associated mast is both demanding and time consuming. But if there is a will there is a way. The new position provides better access and open space for the antenna in case of maintenance. This was a major issue at the former place where the height of the surrounding trees was very small against their height 14 years later! I did not want to cut any trees or branches either, so to move the antenna at another place in my property was the only possible solution. But just imagine the task of lowering the quad between tree branches, horrible!

The antenna enjoys a fantastic view towards north, east and south east and this is confirmed by its results towards far east, Indian ocean and Africa. Its a bit hard to reach the western part of USA,Canada and south america though. But, nothing is perfect. Its a compromise I have to live with. So no worries my friends, perhaps a bit of higher power might do the trick, we'll see.

So this is it: My 2 Elements GEM Quad with 3 feed lines and 6 bands (20m,17m,15m /12m,10m / 6m)

Hi all,
my name is Kostas and I am an amateur radio operator. My call sign is SV2SW and I've been active since 1983. I was fond of telecommunications and the like and had a deep respect in people who could construct equipment and antennas for themselfs. Finally, I began constructing things myself as well. Simple circuits, in the begining.

In the picture below you can see me servicing my 2-el quad. An antenna made by GEM Quad which worked great for 10 consecutive years. But I reckoned it was high time I replaced some cable-ties. After all, these were in need of urgent replacement, as they keep the wire loops in shape, and being exposed to the elements all these years. Ten years ago, I had decided I fed the 5-bander (20-17-15-12-10 mtrs) from a convininet common feed point. According to the manufacturers, this was possible and worked very well! No coax switches at all!  

 

But during the maintenace I decided to go a bit further and I now use two sets of seperatly fed antennas. One for 20-17-15 and another for 12 and 10. In addition I added 6 mtrs. It is very easy to do that with this kind of boomless quad contstruction!

I do not not use any 75 Ohm λ/4 cable for matching. I feed each of the 3 sets with a seperate balun. In the picture above, at the right side, you can easily see (or not that easily!) the three feeding baluns. What a great 6-bander (20-17-15-12-10-6 mtrs) it turned out to be!

73, Kostas