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G0GQK
05-04-2008, 08:14 PM
I've just been reading the funniest response to a question on one of the US ham web pages. Someone had asked about using dragging radials with his QRP rig at a busy hamfest and the possibibility of people walking on the wire and ripping it out of the rig with dire consequences to the rig.

One fella suggested that they should use his idea of sewing the radials inside the legs of his trousers, and of course checking for resonance with an SWR meter. This chap has trousers with a 40 metres radial wire in the left leg, and a 20 metre radial wire in the right leg. I bet after half an hour in the beer tent he has to make a visit to the loo and the SWR on 40 metres in his left leg is horrendous !

Somebody else wrote in and wondered if foam pipe insulation with the radial wire wrapped round the outside could be used to make a helical radial and have it hanging down from your backside like a tail ! Have a cup of tea with a bun and a viagra tablet and the helical tail could be up like a quarter wave vertical !

And they say the British are eccentric.

G0GQK

Ready Eddie
05-05-2008, 01:22 AM
We good old Brits produce our fair share of Ham eccentrics! A few spring to mind from years ago............
Often seen round rallies, a guy wearing a workmans yellow "Hard hat" with 2 meter rubber duck mounted on the top, connected to his shoulder slung 290!
An old guy often seen dragging a typical pensioners shopping trolly that contained a car battery, powering his Pye Cambridge "portable radio", with 2 meter arial bolted to the handle frame!
And my favorite was a chap who went out "push bike mobile" also with a car battery and Pye Cambridge "bungied" to the parcel carrying rack! He must have had legs like Garth!!
Ready Eddie.