Hello All,
A cheap, "quick & dirty" emergency antenna or field day antenna for 6 meters and higher bands would be a balloon-supported omnidirectional periscope antenna. (A typical [directional] periscope antenna consists of a vertically-facing yagi antenna or a parabolic "dish" antenna located at the base of a tower. High above the yagi or dish, a metal mesh "flyswatter" reflector [tilted at an angle of 45°] is attached to the top of the tower.)
An omnidirectional version of this antenna would use a yagi antenna or a dish antenna, an aluminized mylar balloon (several feet in diameter), UV-resistant black nylon cord, three balloon ground anchors (large tent stakes, corkscrew-type dog leash outdoor tie mounts, pre-emplaced fence posts, sand-filled weighted containers, etc.), and helium (several "Balloon Time" single-use, party-size helium tanks might suffice).
The balloon would be inflated and moored to the three ground anchors (these would be arranged in an equilateral triangle). The three lengths of nylon cord running from the ground anchors up to the balloon would form a tetrahedron, which would make the balloon more stable in winds than it would be if moored with only a single cord. The vertically-facing yagi or dish would be set up on the ground directly below the balloon at the apex of the tetrahedron.
As with the Echo series of aluminized mylar balloon passive communications satellites, the signal from the yagi or dish would be reflected all around the horizon after bouncing off the balloon, like a stream of water directed against a beach ball. A spherical balloon (like the Echo balloon satellites, only much smaller) would work, and a teardrop-shaped balloon (with a hemispherical "crown" and a conical lower "skirt") might be a better signal reflector.
I hope this information will be helpful.
-- Black Shire
A cheap, "quick & dirty" emergency antenna or field day antenna for 6 meters and higher bands would be a balloon-supported omnidirectional periscope antenna. (A typical [directional] periscope antenna consists of a vertically-facing yagi antenna or a parabolic "dish" antenna located at the base of a tower. High above the yagi or dish, a metal mesh "flyswatter" reflector [tilted at an angle of 45°] is attached to the top of the tower.)
An omnidirectional version of this antenna would use a yagi antenna or a dish antenna, an aluminized mylar balloon (several feet in diameter), UV-resistant black nylon cord, three balloon ground anchors (large tent stakes, corkscrew-type dog leash outdoor tie mounts, pre-emplaced fence posts, sand-filled weighted containers, etc.), and helium (several "Balloon Time" single-use, party-size helium tanks might suffice).
The balloon would be inflated and moored to the three ground anchors (these would be arranged in an equilateral triangle). The three lengths of nylon cord running from the ground anchors up to the balloon would form a tetrahedron, which would make the balloon more stable in winds than it would be if moored with only a single cord. The vertically-facing yagi or dish would be set up on the ground directly below the balloon at the apex of the tetrahedron.
As with the Echo series of aluminized mylar balloon passive communications satellites, the signal from the yagi or dish would be reflected all around the horizon after bouncing off the balloon, like a stream of water directed against a beach ball. A spherical balloon (like the Echo balloon satellites, only much smaller) would work, and a teardrop-shaped balloon (with a hemispherical "crown" and a conical lower "skirt") might be a better signal reflector.
I hope this information will be helpful.
-- Black Shire