[Antennas] QST Mobile Antenna Comparisons

Thu Dec 20 21:53:40 EST 2007

IMHO - The thing that irritated me about the article was his selection of
the screwdriver and mount he chose to condemn all screwdriver antennas. The
opposite result could have been reached by choosing different antennas for
each category.
Of course the antenna that each of us has is the best one; we are all aware
of that but he should not condemn as he did. December QST does have a
article on the Hi-Q screwdriver which is considerably more efficient than
the one he chose. I believe that is the reason for the article in the
December issue.
Drawing and publicizing conclusions as were in the November issue certainly
indicates one can draw any conclusion depending on his selection of
components.
Let the flames begin,
Jim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DavidE Benedict" <iam at pmug.org>
To: <antennas at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: <rides at optonline.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:55 PM
Subject: [Antennas] QST Mobile Antenna Comparisons
QST Mobile Antenna Comparisons, by Rich Roznoy, k1of
November 2007 QST, PG 30, etc.
Overall, good stuff there I think. Thanks Rich.
My only negatives about the article are about the poor showing of the
screwdriver antenna used.
because, having tried & used a few mobile antennae myself, contary to k1of
findings about this one tested screwdriver antenna, my "H Stewart Designs"
Screwdriver Antenna (no longer available) out-performed the few mobiles I
have tried...but I did not thoroughly test them like k1of tested, either.
Some thoughts though...
With regard to the screwdriver type antenna (I have had 2), I notice that
the one with the larger diameter wire in the coil worked best (most other
things were equal). In fact, it was markedly better, even on the same
mount in the same place on my vehicle. I shed tears that I don't have that
antenna anymore.
With regard to the QST testing article...
I think the screwdriver antenna used was far from the best available, in
that it:
1) Doesn't have larger dia. coil wire.
2) Has a far-shorter-than-most base section. (I understand that most
radiation is from the base section of a screwdriver antenna, the whip
portion acting mostly as a "capacity hat").
Too, in Rich's testing the screwdriver's whole base section & coil was in
fairly close proximity to the body/cab of the truck. (perhaps a typical
installation, but far from ideal).
-- The best installation I have seen of a short-base Screwdriver Antenna
was a short-short one mounted to the top of a P/U cab.
I think that my screwdriver antenna is mounted closer to the ideal. It is
on a hood-high metal mount which is cantelevered out from under my sedan's
front bumper ...to keep almost all of the Screwdriver Antenna away from
body metal.
Final comment...
I would now like to see Rich test a few other Screwdriver Antennae in the
same manner as the others were tested.
What do you all think about my meanderings here...?
David B.
W7DBH
Mobile only
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