A Loop from Port de Balès to Mont Né (F/PO-131) and Pic de Montious (F/PO-128)
An easy hike with a rewarding summit cairn and breathtaking 360° views!
Since starting radio and SOTA, I’ve always favored EFHW (End-Fed Half-Wave) antennas over verticals due to the latter's mixed reputation regarding efficiency. While EFHW antennas, particularly in an inverted-V configuration on portable masts, perform well on lower bands (40, 30, and 20 meters), their performance drops considerably on higher bands like 15 and 10 meters.
Recently, I decided to experiment with something new in my arsenal: a 5-meter telescopic whip antenna with a ground spike and ribbon cable radials, aiming to cover the 20 to 10-meter bands. I was also hoping this setup would work well for summits with limited space for wire deployment.
First deployment of the vertical whip: challenges and observations
The first activation wasn’t without its issues:
- Strong RF in the microphone
- High SWR on the higher bands (above 18 MHz)
Despite these problems, I was able to log a solid number of QSOs, particularly on 20 and 17 meters, and in minimal time.
Final Thoughts
The day turned out to be a great success:
- A scenic and enjoyable hike with stunning views
- A successful activation with a surprising amount of QSOs
- A pleasant surprise regarding the potential of the vertical whip antenna
While EFHW antennas remain a staple for lower bands, this vertical setup has proven itself as a lightweight, space-efficient, and now reliable alternative for higher bands. I’m looking forward to testing it further on future activations, particularly on summits where space is at a premium.
Post-Activation Improvements
After analyzing the issues, I made the following adjustments to improve the antenna’s performance:
- Doubling the number of radials and shortening them to 2.5 meters instead of 5 meters.
- Adding a common mode choke (CMC) at the base of the antenna to prevent RF from returning through the feedline.
These simple modifications resolved the SWR and RF issues and significantly improved the antenna’s overall performance.
