Portable Ham Radio Insights—Deploying Your Wire Antennas

Hi everyone! Over the last few months I’ve covered several types of wire antennas:

• Building an Inexpensive & Effective Dipole
• End-Fed Half-Waves

This time let’s focus on how to actually get them into the air when you’re operating portable. There’s no single “right” way to do it, but here are a few methods that have worked well for me.

Living and operating here in Ohio, I’ve been fortunate; our Department of Natural Resources has been very accommodating. I’ve never had an issue tossing lines into trees, so naturally, that’s my first choice. A low, sturdy limb and a length of rope can go a long way. Simply get a line over the branch and use it to hoist your antenna into position.

Before anything goes up, though, take a moment to look around. Check for overhead power lines, unstable branches, or anything else that could turn a fun activation into a bad day. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t try to make it work—move to a safer spot.

Once you’ve picked your location, the next step is getting a line over that limb. There are plenty of ways to do this, and everyone has their favorite.

My go-to is a 14-ounce arborist throw weight paired with a lightweight throw line. With a bit of practice, it’s not hard to reach heights of 25 to 30 feet. After the throw line is over the branch, I tie it off to a heavier rope and pull that up. The heavier line becomes your support for the antenna.

Some operators prefer a slingshot, which works just as well and packs easily into a go kit. It’s another simple, effective option for getting a line where you need it.

For greater heights, say 50 to 100 feet, I’ll break out what’s commonly called a “potato gun,” or more accurately, a compressed-air launcher. These devices fire a small projectile over a tree, trailing a lightweight line behind it. From there, the process is the same: use the light line to pull up a stronger support rope. They’re especially useful when you need serious height, though they do take a bit more setup.

DX Engineering sells a couple compressed-air launchers. If you prefer to build your own, search for the W4SSY Spud launcher or read the original article in the March 2009 issue of “QST”.

I’ve also seen arborist slingshots in action. These are heavy-duty slingshots mounted on a six-foot fiberglass pole. They can reach impressive heights, often 75 feet or more. These seem to be a solid option for hitting those heights.

Drones have entered the conversation lately. While they can certainly lift a line, many parks restrict their use. It’s worth checking the rules before considering that route. In many cases, it’s simpler just to leave the drone at home.

Of course, trees aren’t always available—or suitable. That’s where telescopic fiberglass masts come in. These masts are made of nested sections that extend upward and lock in place with friction. They’re lightweight, portable, and can collapse down to just a few feet, making them ideal for field use. I’ve used several over the years from different companies.

DX engineering sells a variety of these masts. My most recent purchase was their Nomad Portable Fiberglass Telescopic Mast. These come in 19- and 23-foot lengths but collapse to less than two feet for transport. See this OnAllBands article for more information on the Nomad series.

One of the easiest ways to deploy a mast is with a hitch mount on a vehicle. Insert the base of the mast into the mount, extend it upward, and you’re ready to go.

Not all vehicles have trailer hitches. For those situations, there’s the drive-on mast mount. These are very simple to use; place the mount on the ground in front of your wheel and drive onto it. This holds everything steady. Place your telescopic mast into the mount and extend it.

It’s worth checking the diameter of your mast before selecting a mount. Some masts are slightly too large to fit. In those cases, you can often remove the outer section of the mast and use the remain…