Kite Antenna Part 1 of 2

I always get asked questions about my kite antenna setup. This video should provide a lot of visual answers.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• kite
• antenna
• ham
• radio
• vk3www
• zl2ft
• sutton
• flowform

[VK3EGN1]

Great work Jack!

To be effective on low bands you need tuner for high power.

Multielement array helps even more.

I guess keeping wire vertical is also importand for low angle radiation.

Cheers

[vermontcreekbed]

@VK3EGN1 My biggest problem is getting the wind, when I want to fly the kite it is usually at night and the wind drops off a lot. This video was made about 4 years ago and things have changed a lot with the kite setup. I do like the flowforms though I did try a sled kite once it pulled like hell but was very unstable.

I missed your talk at the Centre Victoria Hamfest. I had presented just before you and wanted to get out and see some of the hamfest. Cheers, Jack.

[F5RAB]

Hello Jack,

which sutton flowform kite size do you use ?

How long can you keep it in the air ?

Thanks

73 F5RAB Antoine

[vermontcreekbed]

Thanks for the comment Antoine, for this video I used a Sutton Flowform 8 that is 8 Square Feet. I have another kite which is a model 16 (sixteen square feet) so it is twice as big and has more lift. As for keeping them up in the air, providing there is some wind the kite will fly until something wears out . You know, stitching, Kite String, joiners etc.

Cheers, Jack.

[g4kki]

thanks Jack, i got myself an 8 cell flow form kite and today went up in the hills here and had a 66 foot wire almost vertical. Inspired me and i'll be out with it often from now on.

Bill G4KKI

[vermontcreekbed]

Blimey Bill,

I hope you secured it well that thing would probably given the chance would take you up as well. Thanks for posting.

Jack.

[TheBlackbelair]

@TheBlackbelair 

[TheBlackbelair]

I want to do this too. I go to the top of Catalina Is. (1,000ft. elev.) of the coast of California frequently. It is often very windy and plenty of open area to deploy a kite.

73,

k6kub

[greywolf271]

@BurningTirez

I've been thinking about this too. Then I could work Adelaide repeaters from Alice Springs.

[BurningTirez]

Thats genious now I just need to figure out how to get a 4 element beam to float lol

[gblan]

Tails help with stability mostly by creating some drag. If your kite is consistently pulling in one direction I'd guess it's a bridling issue.

[colincolin30]

hi ,

I had my kite up today and it does tend to want to fly sideways. Did you find this? Is this the reason why you used the streamer tails?

regards

Colincolin30