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Starting A New Company?

Then check out my new blog by clicking Should You Start A Company Today?

Also, check out my new Workshop for Start Up Companies by clicking Workshop!

Manuals

I've set up a page that has downloads of various manuals in Acrobat format.  All of these are for equipment I have owned with lots on Yaesu...but other stuff is there too.  Click Manuals.

Shack-N-Bag TM

Just added a new page with lots of photos showing my easy to "grab and go" portable station.  Click Shack-N-Bag for details.

El Cheapo AZ-EL Rotor System for Satellites:

Details on how to assemble my under $50 approach for my AA5FR El Cheapo AZ-EL rotor system for working the LEO (low earth orbit) AMSAT birds. Click Cheapo.

ATAS-120a Antenna

I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

New Band:

I have just made my first Six Meter contact in 40 years. Actually about 3 dozen as far away as Canada and Saint Louis. Since both of my rigs offer it and they are the first six meter enabled rigs I have had since high school, I decided to use the tuner and the same 80-10 Meter "AA5FR KindaSorta Dipole" and see what happens.  Getting very good reports up and down the east coast with 40 watts and working just about anything I could hear.. Now considering a moxon to maybe pursue Six more seriously.

New Shack Additions

Just bought the Kenwood TH-F6A HT to add to my minimalist lineup where less is more.  Great little radio in an incredibly small package.  Just added the Diamond CR320A Tri-band Mobile Antenna to the car to run this as an easy mobile. Covers the same 144/220/440 as the TH-F6A HT and works MUCH better than the cheapie MFJ dual bander mag mount.

Also, just convinced the XYL that an HF mobile mount is a good idea, especially for mountain topping (she is less convinced about using it while driving)!  That way, we can operate portable in the comfort of the car with the top down on the convertible. 

Just got the Comet CP-5 and the Yaesu ATAS-120A auto tune antenna.  Will also be using the ATAS for portable operation.  Update:  Just added the Diamond K-400C Mount for the ATAS as I was finding the Comet CP-5 not quite good enough.  See new test results now that I have installed the K-400. Will dedicate the CP-5 to the CR320A by clicking ATAS.

I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

Email: 

You can email me by clicking on my eyeball contacts (yep, really my eyes.)

   Click to email AA5FR

A Gift - Even If There Is Less Than A Zero Chance We Will Work Together

This is one of the ways that I am "paying it forward."

Zero cost.  Zero expectations - except that it is with my hope that it helps improve your life - and more quickly gets you from your current Point A to your desired Point B.

 Click for your free copy!

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Follow Me On Twitter

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The Yaesu ATAS-120a Mobile / Portable Antenna

I use the Yaesu ATAS-120a ,a 2 lbs screwdriver-type, auto tune antenna that is designed specifically to go with both my FT-897D and FT-857D, for both mobile and portable operations. It does a surprisingly amazing job for both.  Best DX so far: Mobile from the top of the Smokies to VP8, Falkland Islands - with 10 watts - even at the bottom of this sunspot cycle.  I have received so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS 120 antenna, I've created this separate page.

With Diamond CPM mount at our mountain home in Gatlinburg

I use the ATAS with several different mounting schemes depending on where I am and what I'm doing.  Below are several photos that show these various schemes.  If you mouseover the photos in IE, you will see details about each photo (apparently, the mouseover doesn't work with Netscape or Firefox so you might want to start up IE if you are really THAT interested in the details.)

  •  I use Budd’s Vertical Antenna Clamp and special SO-239 mounting kit for portable, picnic and balcony operation.  This is a very good approach for very temporary operations. However, with the weight of the ATAS versus the much lighter weight Buddipole, high winds will blow the ATAS horizontal unless guyed. 
  •  As with ALL of the portable operations and mounting approaches, the antenna ONLY works great with a tuned counterpoise.  I am finding that a lot of the same issues and ideas that work with the BuddiStick apply to what I am doing with the ATAS-120 for portable operation. 
  •  For radials (I know "counterpoise" would be more accurate, but you know what I'm talking about!), I use three conductor Radio Shack flat rotor cable with each of the three wires cut to a quarter wave for a different band.  I usually just use one of these for three bands...but sometimes use two of these to THEORETICALLY give me six different bands.   Reality turned out somewhat differently.  Surrounding environment and metal....along with radial interactions and radial angles and end heights, change things from all those very precise quarter wave measurements.  However, the biggest problem I have found is that just one of the six bands will not auto tune with the ATAS....usually 40 or 12 Meters, depending on the particular portable operation set up.  (Side note:  I have been surprised how well this thing seems to work on 40...much better than I expected.)
  •  I use the Diamond CPM mount for our balcony in the mountains. If you are looking for a permanent installation approach for your ATAS, this mount works great.
  •  I also use another of Budd’s Vertical Antenna Clamp mounting kit with a cheap $18 mini tripod from Wal-mart. I have found this particularly handy for operating portable in the mountains.  If you decide to use this same tripod, here are some hints: you will need to pop out the current mounting screw since it is too short for the mounting plate.  I replaced it with a longer stainless steel bolt and wing nut.  A benefit of this particular tripod is that you can adjust the legs so they are almost perpendicular to the antenna thereby giving a very stable base for the ATAS even when the breeze kicks up....especially stable if the legs are also extended and perpendicular! (In the photos below, the legs are not extended.)
  •  My first mobile contact with the ATAS 120 was a mutual 59 contact with Costa Rica with 20 watts sitting in the parking lot of our Florida condo about 5 minutes after installing the antenna with less than adequate ground strapping.   Improving this strapping has greatly improved both reception and transmission.  Oops, I should have taken some photos of the strapping too. Will add those photos later!
  •  For my mobile installation, I have been using the ATAS 120 with a Comet CP-5M trunk lip mount since a roof mount is more difficult with a convertible! However, I am finding that the CP-5 keeps coming loose with Interstate speeds between Florida and Tennessee - even using Loctite. 
  •  I am relegating  the CP-5M to my Diamond CR320a tribander VHF/UHF antenna since it has the same M mount.  I have just bought, but have yet to install, the Diamond K400C for use with the ATAS 120.  All reviews I've read indicate it is a much better mount for such a heavy antenna. 
  •  Update:  Having just completed a 2,000 mile round trip to our mountain home and back, I can now report with certainty that the Diamond K400C is a much better mount for the ATAS-120 than the Comet CP-5M.  I used Loctite on both - but the design of the K400C is just stronger with no slippage whatsoever - even at 85 MPH speeds for multiple hours (it is a 15 hour trip from Clearwater Beach to Gatlinburg with almost 90% of that spent on Interstates at 70 plus MPH speeds.)  I should note that the adjustment range for the Comet IS better than the Diamond for adjusting the antenna so it is vertical from all perspectives. Will add new photos of the K400C and ATAS soon.

Mounted on our balcony on Clearwater Beach, Florida using the modified Buddipole mounting kit. Note radial wire - 3 conductor rotor wire cut for quarter wave on 3 different bands.

Mounted on our balcony on Clearwater Beach, Florida using the modified Buddipole mounting kit. Note radial wire - 3 conductor rotor wire cut for quarter wave on 3 different bands.

On the car with the CP-5 mount.

On the car with the CP-5 mount.

On the car with the CP-5 mount. Cute blonde is special VERY limited accessory!

With Diamond CPM mount at our mountain home in Gatlinburg

With Diamond CPM mount at our mountain home in Gatlinburg. Note Arrow J Pole also. Another GREAT antenna.

Not the ATAS but a Diamond CR320a triband VHF/UHF antenna using same CP-5 mount. This mount and antenna stay together now with the K400 used for the ATAS.

Mounted on a cheapie $18 mini tripod with multiband radial.

Mounted on a cheapie $18 mini tripod with multiband radial.
   

Bottom-line: I am very pleased with how well this antenna works with all the different and varying uses shown above.  Stay tuned for more photos, with more close ups of real life uses as I have time to take them!

73 / 72,

AA5FR

 
 

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Name:

Robert

QTH:

Clearwater Beach, Florida and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Call is AA5FR/4 when portable in Tennessee.

Locator:

EL87NO - FL,
EM85HS - TN

IOTA - NA34 - FL.

Rigs:

Yaesu FT-897D, usually running only 20 watts. My main HF rig at my base station on Sand Key Island.

Yaesu FT-857D. This is my mobile rig working with the ATAS-120.  Amazing result with the two - my first three contacts sitting in my Florida parking lot:  Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Ukraine. 

I also use the FT-857D as the main component of my "grab and go" "Shack-N-Bag" for easy portable operations.

Typically using a SignalLink USB for all the digital stuff - especially PSK-31. Timewave ANC-4 for noise control. Both are amazing devices worth their weight in DXCC certificates.

Auto antenna tuners:  The battery-powered LDG Z-11 Pro for the often portable FT-857D and a LDG AT-200 Pro for the usually stay-at-home FT-897D.

Antennae:

Above auto tuners with "KindaSorta" HF dipoles at 110 feet (35 meters)

Arrow II dual band VHF/UHF satellite yagi.  Also use two Advanced Receiver preamps:  SP432VDG for 435 MHz and SP144VDG for 144 MHz - both of which greatly improve the reception for most satellite passes and compensate for the low gain of the Arrow II and the LMR-195 feedline loss.

Arrow J-Pole for 144/440.

Yaesu ATAS-120a for mobile and portable operations - which does a surprisingly amazing job for both.  Best DX so far: Mobile from the top of the Smokies to VP8, Falkland Islands - with 10 watts - even at the bottom of this sunspot cycle.  I have gotten so many requests for info and photos on the ATAS antenna, I've created a separate page.  Click ATAS to see!

Interests:

Everything! including my wife (absolutely my #1 favorite way to spend my time), digital photography, Photoshop, mountain hiking, sailing, biking, scuba diving, computers, writing, helping start up companies really get started and, of course, ham radio!

Previous Calls:

WN4LEJ - Novice
WA4YFH - General
KD5SB - Advanced
AA5FR - Extra

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Email: 

You can email me by clicking on my eyeball contacts (yep, really my eyes.)

   Click to email AA5FR

Sunsets:

Click for a slideshow of my sunset photos:

Click for Sunset Slideshow!

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AA5FR - Another Creative Focus of Good-Man LLC Pox 3051 Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
© All Content and Photography Copyright 2005 - 2009 by Robert Goodman. 
All Rights Reserved.   Email Robert@AA5FR.com   Last update: 06/10/09

Welcome to the  Ham Radio World of  AA5FR