PDA

View Full Version : Sweet portable antenna TW2010


Oboy
11-01-2008, 07:30 PM
I picked up this antenna about four months ago and didn’t wont to post anything until I gave it a good work out. On the weekend that the CQ WW contest was going on, I was in Roswell NM, visiting my son at school. I kind of put up the antenna and started working DX. I must say that I did not put in much time working the contest, and ended up working 33 different Country’s in 17 Zones on 20m and 11 different Country’s in 6 Zones on 15m. Best antenna I have come up with to use with the 5er.

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/44435/2598052210064377141S425x425Q85.jpg

Got to say, I love this antenna. I have the new 40m center part for this antenna on order, and they will have an 80n one soon.

73 Mark K5WMH

Radio
11-01-2008, 07:58 PM
Wow! That's pretty cool...who makes it and where did you get it? I am just about to drop some money ona good antenna for the trailer and was thinking about a vertical of some sort.

And welcome to the forum :hello:

(I know you've been lurking...) ;)

Oboy
11-01-2008, 09:52 PM
Here it is,

Transworld Antennas (http://www.transworldantennas.com/)

Sometimes CRS gets the best of me! hi

Mark

Radio
11-01-2008, 11:10 PM
Can you post a pic of how it's mounted? Is it on a long mast or is it attached to the trailer, like mounted on the ladder?

I looked them up...gee, they're a bit pricey. Did you get the bag and the ground mount, too?

wa8yxm
11-02-2008, 08:01 AM
Hummm... Wonder if your QTH had anything to do with the contacts.

I suspect Rosewell is high on the "Want" list for a lot of hams :)

I'll check out the antenna. I'm researching options myself

Oboy
11-02-2008, 01:15 PM
Not a very good photo of the mounting, I just used two hose clamps to the ladder rail.
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43370/2864021290064377141S425x425Q85.jpg

Only got the antenna and not the other stuff.

It is a bit pricey, but with the other things I have tried out, this has been the best and most convenient. LOL I was even trying to figure out a way to make my MA5B Mini Bean more portable and use it. I’m a little off-the-wall at times!:jitter: He will have them on eBay from time to time. A little less in price.

All I'm trying to say this is the best portable antenna I have come up with and you should look at it if your in the market.

"I suspect Rosewell is high on the "Want" list for a lot of hams"
LOL everyone trying to talk with a little Green Alien.

73 Mark

Manual Garcia O'Kely
11-02-2008, 06:40 PM
Since I use the Buddipole, I'm most interested in a comparsion between the two, but I doubt we will ever see one.

The TW looks interesting but I question how much pole they will have to add to cover 80 meters - gosh, my BP takes larger coils and 10' whips then has almost 50 KHz of bandwidth on 80 meters. And it's 25' end to end in that configuration.

Pricewise they are very close for anyone who's comparing.

Radio
11-02-2008, 06:52 PM
So from what I have seen, read, researched...I draw some assumptions:

1. It works about as well sitting on the ground as elevated, and requires no counterpoise.
2. The feedline/control line shoud be pulled away from the antenna elements.

Right?

Oboy
11-02-2008, 10:11 PM
The TW looks interesting but I question how much pole they will have to add to cover 80 meters - gosh, my BP takes larger coils and 10' whips then has almost 50 KHz of bandwidth on 80 meters. And it's 25' end to end in that configuration.

Good point, it will be interesting to see what they have come up with. I'm not sure what the size will be for the 40m! It should be here this week, and will post some numbers.

So from what I have seen, read, researched...I draw some assumptions:

1. It works about as well sitting on the ground as elevated, and requires no counterpoise.

From what I have read, yes. I have not tried it on the ground. No counterpoise.


2. The feedline/control line shoud be pulled away from the antenna elements.Right?

Yes, when I had the cables just hanging down, the swr’s seemed a bit high, when I moved them to about a 45-deg. Angle, they came down to around a 1:1. I did put the antenna analyzer on it to check all the bands, I don’t recall the numbers, I was happy with them. I do not need to use the tuner with this antenna.

Mark

W5UD
11-03-2008, 01:50 PM
I bought one of these about three weeks ago and I love it. I DO use it on the ground. (Actually about 2 feet up as suggested.) It works great. I live in Tyler, TX -- 90 mi east of Dallas -- and the first weekend I gave it a good workout I had contacts in Italy, Senegal, Brazil, Argentina, and others. I got it because of antenna restrictions in the neighborhood. It sits up about eight feet, and my fence is eight feet tall, so no complaints so far. My next step will be to take it with me on our next RV trip. I did buy the stand, so I will try it just using that to see what happens.

73 Richard W5UD

Radio
11-03-2008, 03:06 PM
And it has a omni-directional pattern with minimal nulls, Right?

Manual Garcia O'Kely
11-03-2008, 04:57 PM
Yes, when I had the cables just hanging down, the swr’s seemed a bit high, when I moved them to about a 45-deg. Angle, they came down to around a 1:1. I did put the antenna analyzer on it to check all the bands, I don’t recall the numbers, I was happy with them. I do not need to use the tuner with this antenna.

That fact is actually mentioned in both the manual, as I understand, and was mentioned in the CQ review of the antenna.

Do you feel the construction is robust? I sort of worry about the BP in high-winds, although I have a guying kit if I need it - I normally use the tripod and weight it down with 3 sand-bags I made for the job. You can also pile rocks on the tripod supports to good effect.

K3NOQ/Mobile
11-04-2008, 10:34 AM
I am somewhat confused. Is the antenna merely a pair of horizontal radiators separated by the insulated verticle mast/matching network OR are there some unseen verticle wires running between the horizontal members?

Oboy
11-04-2008, 01:31 PM
And it has a omni-directional pattern with minimal nulls, Right?

That’s what they say. I haven’t done any type of testing with it and I have not seen any modeling done for this antenna. I have an idea on a down-n-dirty test, if I can find someone willing to help on the air this weekend.

Do you feel the construction is robust?

Yes, It’s very well made. I think if it fell over, you may bend the metal brackets holding the arms, and the cover of the switching array is plastic, so that could crack. I don’t see it getting destroyed from falling a few feet.

I am somewhat confused. Is the antenna merely a pair of horizontal radiators separated by the insulated vertical mast/matching network OR are there some unseen vertical wires running between the horizontal members?

I don’t have the antenna in front of me, I would think that you are right, that the two half’s are insulated and the “switching array” is used to adjust the feed point impedance.


The one thing I would like to say is, all I am is a customer, that has found an antenna that is working for me and to let other Hams know about it. For some of the more technical questions that may come up, you would be better off looking at the web site or email them. I have been known when trying to put 2n2 together to come up with 5. I enjoy answering questions about the antenna, but let’s not get to Techeeee with the questions, I may even come up with 6.

73 Mark

Radio
11-04-2008, 03:28 PM
I have been known when trying to put 2n2 together to come up with 5..... I may even come up with 6.

73 Mark

Well let's see, 2 raised to the 2nd power plus 2 does equal 6 :jitter:

And my TW2010 is on it's way. All I need now is a suitable folding table and my travelling ham radio station will be complete. :radio:

Oboy
11-04-2008, 06:27 PM
And my TW2010 is on it's way.

I think you will enjoy it very much!

I just got in the 40m center section. Will give it a try this weekend, and do some comparisons with a 40m wire dipole. Will post what I find out.

Mark 73

KC1BUD
11-06-2008, 01:23 PM
Hummm... Wonder if your QTH had anything to do with the contacts.

I suspect Rosewell is high on the "Want" list for a lot of hams :)

I'll check out the antenna. I'm researching options myself

When I read his QTH I wondered what kind of knowledge the college was pedaling. :D

Radio
11-06-2008, 08:03 PM
It's here! It's here!

Have to wait to the weekend to play with it, though...

:jitter:

Manual Garcia O'Kely
11-07-2008, 12:33 AM
If I understood the review correctly, the design is a shortened vertical dipole and the "T" cross piece top and bottom is functionally a capacity hat.

So, I'll be interested to know how it works.

Also, tell me if your existing bandswitching box works or if it has to be modifed.

And how much taller does it get?

So many questions.

I am a big fan of a free-standing antenna - I have that tiny bug so there's nothing I want to attach to.

Andy N1ORK
11-11-2008, 05:45 AM
It looks like the band switch operates like an automatic tuner located at the antenna instead of at the radio end. So, if you know the dimensions of the antenna, it should be possible to duplicate it using aluminum tubing or angle brackets. Then you could use an ATU like LDG to do the band switching. If infact it's just a remotely switched loading coil, that should also be able to be duplicated. I'll have to look if there's a Yahoo group or forum for that antenna. It looks like a good one for portable operations; small, easy to set up, effective.

No Yahoo group, but did download OP Manual (PDF) and it looks like it contains enough info to duplicate the remote band switching boxes and the antenna. Looks like a winter project. I wonder if TW would sell just the controller?