POTA Antenna Basics with 17ft vertical whip and radials

The 17 ft telescoping whip with 12 radials connected to a Wolf River Coils Mega tripod base has been my go-to configuration for many Parks on the Air activations. In this video, I show you how to setup the antenna quickly, deploy radials attached to the WRC Mega tripod and roll-up coax using the over-under method.

I also have a quirky way to storing radial wire that I call the "bunching method". I simply bunch the bundle of wires in such a way that they don't tangle and deploy quickly. Silicon coated wire rather than PVC insulation also helps avoid tangles and kinks.

I hope this is helpful for POTA, field day or other ham radio portable adventures.

Not a sponsored video or affiliate links... just my advise on what works best for my POTA activations:

73
Pat NØHR

00:00 17 ft telescoping whip vertical for POTA
00:57 Antenna carrying case
01:22 Radial wire deployment
02:28 Mounting antenna on cheap landscape spike with mirror mount
03:09 Wolf River Coils Mega Tripod
05:06 Coax rapid deploy
05:50 Fan out ground radial wires without tangles
08:03 Wolf River Coil Platinum coil for 30m, 40m, 60m and 80m
08:35 Cheap 17 ft telescoping whip from BD7IBI
09:50 Tuning for best SWR on 20m
10:56 On the air CW QSO
12:22 Packing
13:54 Quick pack of radial bunches
14:23 Quick deploy of radial bunches - demonstration
16:10 Over-under method of coiling coax for rapid deploy

[M_KNQ]

Hi Pat, it's now a 2 year old video - and it's a gift that keeps giving ! Thanks so much for showing your method of setting up and packing away. I've just bought one of the AliExpress antennas similar to yours and it's so helpful to get some good ideas of making it easier to use. Just before you mentioned having cold hands, I was looking at the frozen water behind you and at your clothing, thinking "This is a man who's used to real cold ! All the best from the Scotland/England border. Pete

[danshankle]

Pat, THANK YOU for NOT assuming we all know how to coil wire cand coax AND for taking time to demonstrate YOUR method. VERY worth while! I just, today ordered the WRC 1000 Platinum with the 213" whip. I already have the Chameleon 17 Foot whip. I know the coil will work on 75 and 80 Meters but have yet to find anyone with a Video actually using it. Best 73, and thanks for your excellent Video! Doc W7DOK

[EvanKEJT]

Pat, I can't begin to tell you how much this video helped me. I have a WRC 213" whip that's been giving me fits. It would tune on everything but 20m. I tried a pile of different radial lengths and combos and nothing worked. I just built an identical radial setup to what you have here in this video and now tunes up on 20m no problem. Thanks man!

[EssDave]

Really great video and I plan to make one for my first POTA. Tnx and 73, Dave

[rupedev]

Hey Pat, I'm an ISU grad, moved to the Raleigh, NC area about 5 years ago, but I knew I recognized the park. I use the same chinese whip, usually mounted to a mount on my truck, using my truck frame as the counterpoise. It's great for 20 and up (to 6m~), and I have a coil similar to the WRC for 40. Great for colder days, since I can sit in my truck at the park! Go state!

[SteveH-TN]

Just getting active in Ham radio again after having been off the air for Medical reasons.
Enjoyed watching this video. Your radial technique is very interesting. The time for take down is amazing too. I’ve enjoyed watching this video and learned quite a bit. Appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas. I plan to download the video to watch later.
73 Steve AA4SH, Tennessee

[kelvinmql]

Yelling at the screen for the 1st 6 min: “I don’t need to see all that empty sky. Tilt down! Show THE THING!”

At 6:08 finally my frustration is relieved.

[marytryon]

I really enjoyed your info on the radials and especially your over/under method of the coax.

[RadioNPX]

Hiya Pat - got you in the log a few times this year. Just ran across this video - my WRC Mega-Mini TIA should arrive in 2 days. Looking forward to trying it out and see how it works vs my MP-1. 73 HNY

[kwo]

Just found your channel. I've gone back and looked at several of your videos now and they are really are well done! the audio/video is excellent and your photos are outstanding. I'm a POTA guy too, but I do more hunting than activating. I love CW best, but will also chase FT8 and SSB. Keep up the great work. 73, George K2WO

[stickmenwithrayguns]

Great video. Lots of usefull tips. Not just some guy flashing a Baofeng in a shack filled with expensive donated gear.
👍

[ellisc.foleyjr]

Great Video Pat! nice setup and explanations on the antenna etc. radials. nice when thre is no snow to contend with. and all the creature comforts of the car was nice also. makes bearing the cold a little better. thanks for sharing! will keep and ear out for you in the future. 73. de Ellis WA1RKS

[deirdre_anne]

This is great. Faster deployments, especially on 20m, will make short activations on the way home from work, or even over lunch, possible for me.

[LindseyButcher-je]

Fellow Iowan here live on the Southside of Des Moines. I will be taking my Technician test March 21st. Enjoyed your video.

[BrianKolb]

Nice video I use a super antenna tripod with the supplied radial wires and a 17 ft chameleon whip I found that each radial is tuned for that specific band.
I was able to get the swr down to 1.0.1 on 20 and 10 meters in the Ssb portion I find it easier to tune then the coil 73

[DKONV]

That looks pretty neat. Over Under Method is a old Roadie Trick that works with pretty much any kind of Cables nearly everywhere. Good Job Pat. Happy Sunday de Uncle Guenter 👍

[jbrase]

I made up short 4" pigtails with a ring terminal on one end and a Power Pole connector on the other. The pigtail attaches permanently to the tripod leg. (You need to add a 3/8-24 nut to each leg.) The radials terminate into another Power Pole connector. The Power Pole has the added advantage of unplugging easily so if someone trips over a radial it pulls apart instead of pulling the antenna over.

[ronlaborde]

If you leave one tripod leg screwed into the hub all the time, it will still fit in your bag, and you can reduce the time screwing legs in by 33%.

[nonokodog]

I run the almost the same setup. I'm about to try shorter and fewer radials, 8 at 10 ft each for 40 meters. Then connect them all with an outside wire around all of them. My quick and dirty calculations predict that you'll capture 85% or more of the radiation with 10 foot radials. Then to make up for losses due to a poor sandy soil I work in, add the perimeter wire to tie in all the radials.

I also suggest using RG8X although she ain't cheap. I also prefer to always have a choke when I can. To avoid additional losses I add 10 type small diameter toroids to my coax and heat shrink in place. It's not a lot of rejection, but with a system like yours, it's really just cheap insurance.

Lovely mini laptop ! I'd like to get one for digital modes since I'm still not proficient with CW.

[johnclark]

I pretty much set up as you do, but lately I've been toying with 36"x84" aluminum screen mesh for the ground plane and it works just as well if not better than my 18 to 24 radials (depends on my laziness). Much quicker to set up and a smaller footprint on the ground than the radials.