Transmission1

Interesting experiment with the field strength meter. Some YouTubers had stuck the TX on a dummy load and found that the power output is less on ch40 UK. Keeping the radio on one spot I found the field strength on UK40 was much less than EU40. This was repeatable between stock antenna and telescopic.

I then stuck the magmount antenna onto the car roof and repeated the test. I found exactly the reverse - field strength was higher on UK40. The difference is that I cut the mobile twig to a low SWR on the UK band.

I suspect then, that the handheld twigs are set for EU. The telescopic can, of course, be shortened easily but I'd have to pry the top off the stock antenna and make tiny snips.

I also found that the field strength shot up if I gripped the handset with both hands, one at PTT level and the other on the bottom. I guess I'm a counterpoise

I see the stock ant for Thunderpole TX is cheap as chips on Ali Express, as is this:

https://tinyurl.com/yc8k3py8

It's a few cm longer than the TX stock ant, though base loaded. I'm half tempted to buy one of each then crudely and indirectly SWR one of them by cutting it and testing the field strength. A tenner for the experiment.

I think I'll either use the TX on the stock ant or the mag mount. I strongly suspect that prolonged telescopic use has done for my Grecom scanner - it's gone silent and while the sound was getting worse I noticed that exerting pressure on the bnc made it waver. I don't want the same thing to happen with the TX.

Actually, scrub my findings - the FS meter is so sensitive to the slightest change in test setup that my stock antenna findings switch around with slight changes in position and surrounding objects, including the human body, and whether a mic is used or not. It needs a stable and standard test setup to be sure. Please ignore everything I said .

Except that gripping the bottom of the radio does improve field strength.

Being the nerd I am, I wanted to test the "human counterpoise" effect in the wild. I stuck my Tecsun 330 on the windowsill with my phone on noise-activated record and away I went. I tested at various points on hi/lo power with one hand holding the radio and with two hands holding it. I used the TX stock antenna.

Within 300m there was no noticeable difference between one-handed and two-handed on either power setting. At 900m (0.6 mile) the difference was noticeable.

Low power: R4 two-handed, R2-3 one-handed
High power: R5 two-handed, R4 one-handed

There you go folks, improve your range if you've left your tiger tail at home.

I managed to get into York from a spot 12 miles away up on the Wolds with the telescopic. I was low down but legible to two people. I'd misplaced my PL259 to BNC connector so couldn't use the mobile antenna. I decided to give it a go with the telescopic but didn't expect to make the trip, given that I'd always failed before. I was very pleased to be wrong.

That was a decent contact, I haven't been out much with mine as I have had too many other things on the go.

That's the problem with life - it gets in the way of radio .

I'd tried both rubber ducks but no joy. I stuck the telescopic on, attached the speaker mic and rested the bottom of the radio on the car roof to give it a bit of ground plane. The hash levels in York might have been low as well.

You did tell me to have faith and persevere

Postscript: the PL259 - BNC adapter was in the sodding boot all along

I finally finally got the T2LT SWR'd. The afternoon was dry so I put the pole up with the T2LT taped to it. I used my bicycle maintainance stand to get the base of my 6m pole at head height so that the antenna was more clear of surrounding stuff.

A bit of bending and SWR was less than 1.5 across EU and UK bands. Sadly, I still couldn't make it to my nearest CB neighbour 10 miles away. There must be just too much in the way.

I used the field strength function of the SWR meter to check radiated power, placing it on the windowsill, 3-4m from the antenna. The tiny FS aerial they supply with it is not great so I hung some copper braid from it to the curtain pole.

Even on low power the needle was bent right over so I think the T2LT is radiating fine. Well, at least in the near field

I got the T2LT out I to the wild tonight. I picked a spot on a small hill 4 miles west of York then set up the antenna on the telescopic pole and bike repair stand. I attached the Thunderpole TX and SWR was fine, so I broke in on my usual contacts there and asked for reports. To one chap 5 miles away I was S3 R2-3. To another 8 miles away I could be heard better than by Mr 5 mile.

As an experiment I asked Mr 5mile to go to EU ch40 FM. My audio went up to R4-5 and the signal varied between S3 and 5. I wouldn't say the antenna blew anyone's socks off but it did work better than the mobile antenna at that location.

Next test needs to be up a big hill, I think.

If possible try the coast or Birk brow car park. Or Sutton bank.

A portable ssb radio and you might be able to join the 27.375 net. A albrecht AE2990 might do the trick not cheap mind you but some food for thought

That Albrecht is discontinued, I believe, so I guess secondhand sales only.

I've thought of a small rig like the Moonraker Titan2 for mobile operation with a separate power source than the car battery. Given the uncertain times though I'm nervy about spending money at the moment. I get tempted then chicken out

Why not buy an old school SSB set? Whilst some of the newer sets work ok they are just not the same, and the Titan gets very mixed reviews to say the least.

The other bonus with an older set is that if you don't like it you can usually sell it and get at least the same back as you paid for it.

See above comments about spending nervousness. If the Strait of Hormuz stays closed I'll need my money for the last packet of rice on the shelves

Oh, I don't know. Do I just spend what I want and try to enjoy myself before Armageddon or hunker down miserably with my tins of chickpeas and wait it out?

scanhermit wrote: 26 Apr 2026, 10:24 Oh, I don't know. Do I just spend what I want and try to enjoy myself before Armageddon or hunker down miserably with my tins of chickpeas and wait it out?

The big cargo companies like MSC, CGM etc are rerouting to avoid the Iranian area completely so things with goods not as desperate as made out in the news, plus there's air and land freight, not as efficient and in volume but not the end of the world by any means.