Radio to Go, Part 1
This year I received one main Christmas present from everyone on both sides of my family: the DK-3 Screwdriver Antenna. Yes, this does add about 1,000 Geek Points to my Lifetime Score.
The DK-3 Screwdriver Antenna is intended for use in HF Mobile Service, which is a fancy way of saying that it lets you operate a shortwave radio in your vehicle. In my case the shortwave radio is the Kenwood TS-140S and the vehicle is the Ford Explorer Sport. The antenna is the (main) missing piece that allows the radio to broadcast!
I spent much of the Christmas Break gathering the ancillary pieces of the puzzle: coaxial cable (only Belden RG-213 will do), a decent wire braid for a grounding strap, and PL-259 connectors. What’s still missing is a power cable (although I have one I may be able to use), control cable, and a suitable exterior mount for the antenna. This last part has been the most troublesome. (The amazing unavailability of power and control cabling at Fry’s Electronics is another story I will save for a future report. If you ask me, Fry’s Electronics should be called Fry’s Computer Stuff.)
Here’s an exercise in near-futility, insanity, or both: mount, vertically, a 10-foot, 6-pound antenna to the outside of your vehicle without destroying its resale value by drilling holes into the chassis. Oh, and keep it electrically isolated and at least 3 inches from the chassis for optimum performance. Don Johnson, W6AAQ, (that is his real name), the inventor of the DK-3, suggests in his book Everything you for to ask about HF Mobileering that it is possible to fabricate a mount of stock metal pieces extending from the taillight fixture “socket.” This is what I plan to do.
So, Saturday I shall enlist the assistance of my Non-Genetic Cousin Sam and we will go to work. I will report our progress. I may even request the advice of Les, W6TEE, who has much to say about the subject.