Imagine my excitement as a fairly new Novice: American Samoa!
I purchased the antenna because at the time it was remarkably popular. It covers the 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter ham bands (this was pre-WARC and there were no 30, 17, and 12-meter bands). Propagation in those days was such that I spent nearly all my time as a Novice on 40 and 15 meters—callsign WN7AIU. I had a Heathkit HW-16 CW-only transceiver which I received as a college graduation gift from my parents.
The antenna is designed to be mounted atop a structure (in my case the “mast” was a short section of 1.5″ pipe strapped to the brick chimney on my parents’ house in California) with some very simple radials. Basically, two radials for each band. That meant radials for 40, 20, and 10 (15 meters is a convenient multiple of 40 meters and the same radials will do for both). This is in contrast to more “modern” vertical antennas that are ground mounted and require more than a dozen radials—sometimes many dozens.
I didn’t use any kind of tuner and never had any problems loading my “hot water sixteen” directly into the antenna via RG-58 coax. And I worked the world! Well, okay, “my” world, which was pretty much the state of California. DX for me was Northern Mexico or perhaps Oregon. I was stuck on 7107 kHz because that’s the crystal I had. I’d tune the radio and read a magazine until I heard a CQ, then answer it (Morse code only, of course). I look back at my log and see Hawaii (in all caps with three exclamation marks) and American Samoa (in caps and a box—see photo above), and Japan (again in caps in a box).
After I passed my General exam and became WB6GBT, I traded the HW-16 for a Yaesu FT-201 (yes, 201—that’s not a typo) and fully explored 40m, 20m, and 15m single-sideband. I remember one time I had just come into my room from the shower and the radio was tuned to 7253 kHz and I heard an SSB CQ from Duncan on Johnston Island. I’m looking in my log now—it was 18 Jan 1976 at 0547Z and his call was KJ6CF. He was there on a military assignment. I grabbed the mike and had a great QSO. As soon as we ended, the pile-up started! Ah, propagation was good then. And I made that contact on my Hy-gain 14AVQ!
So, what antenna do I recommend for hams new to HF? Well, still a wire dipole because it can be made for next to nothing. But that 14AFQ was sure a good performer!
Hi: Looks like the radials all over the roof has been shot down by HOA. They had OK’s the 18′ mast strapped to my chimney, but the old version like you had with the 4 “elements.” So I’ll keep my eyes open for a used one, or something similar that isn’t any taller. Really thought I finally was going to make everybody happy! Oh well, back to drawing board. Attic is rough because it is insulation, not plywood to walk on. Di-Pole has been shot down by the city AND the HOA because the trees aren’t in my yard. One is on the parkway (city) one barely into golf course. Still don’t have your old one stashed in the garage do you? Hehhehhe, Thank you very much for connecting me to the manual.
Thanks!
Much appreciated!
Dave
N9DMS
You can find the manual at https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0289/7782/3843/files/AV-14AVQ.pdf?v=1586534063
Aha. Will see if I can come up with a manual. First H-F antenna, feel like Im in above my head trying to deal with HOA and the City of Naperville. My attic isnt very long. So more compromises are coming. I dont know enough yet to know exactly which road to go down. Thanks for responding to my question. The advertising doesnt suggest anything about radials like yours had. So us two the number of bands you started with?
73 N8DMS
Dave
The 14-AVQ doesn’t come with radials but nonetheless needs them as pointed out in the instruction book. If the antenna is roof-mounted, as mine was, you need two tuned radials per band (except for 15 meters, as the 40 meter radials suffice). If ground mounted, put in as many radials as the manual suggests.
14 AVQ apparently no longer has the 4 radials. Would you still consider it as your first HF antenna?
Thx
73
Dave
N9DMS
This was my first antenna in 1970. I added the 80m trap to it and mounted the antenna on top of an 50 foot telescoping/collapsible mast with radials. I worked the world with it. I see that Hy-Gain still makes this antenna.
KA7NIQ here, I live in Tampa, and may get one to mount in a clean install on my roof.
Back in 1975, the Hy Gain was a popular vertical, and it is better than the Hustler from 20 to 10 meters. People who live right on Tampa Bay use them all the time, ground or roof mounted.
Molto bella la tua storia. Potresti scriverla più diffusamente e pubblicarla su qualche rivista di radio. 73 ed auguri, IW0QCH Gastone Italy (Google translates this as “Very beautiful your story. You could write extensively and publishes a magazine on the radio. 73 and best wishes, Italy Gastone IW0QCH”)
Great story Dave. I won’t tell you where I was in 1975. And I will definitely take your advice and start with a wire dipole.