Beam:
OptiBeam 11-3 for 10 – 15 – 20 5/3/3 Elements
Hy-Gain DB-1217 for 12 – 17 4/3 Elements
![](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Ant_2020_001-1024x767.jpg)
Wire:
Doublet 2 x 31m as inverted V 30 – 40 – 80 – 160
Vertical for 40 – 80 (homemade)
![40 + 80 Vertical](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vertical-201x300.jpg)
![Coaxial Cabel Trap](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Vertical_Trap_1-300x201.jpg)
Doublet with 300Ω Twinlead Cable mounted on
a fiberglass pole by DX-Wire mainly used portable
on EA8/DL2MDU, CT9/DL2MDU, 8Q7CF,
D44TUK & D44TUQ
![portable antenna](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Inv_V_dipole-300x212.jpg)
![Antenna at D4 Cape Verde](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Antenne_002-225x300.jpg)
7 band vertical for the suitcase or travel bag
This article describes an antenna for portable operation on 7 HF bands. The outstanding features are high efficiency and very low measurements in size.
That give us the advantage to take it on holiday style DXpeditions. I used it as
CT8/DL2MDU from Sao Miguel on the Azores in 2023 and as 9H/DL2MDU from
Gozo Isl. with 5W QRP out of a (tr)uSDX in March 2024
In the following lines I will show the parts of the antenna as well as the steps
to build it by yourself. But first some theory to understand the working principle before starting with a bill of materials. The antenna is a quarter wave Vertical or Groundplane, made with a telescopic rod, two coils for the base loading inductance and four radials. See the circuit below.
![](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/vertical_circuit.bmp)
The Idea is from Joe Everhart, (N2CX). His full article can be read on the July 2017 issue of The QRP Quarterly. QRPGuys had adapted his 40-30-20m portable vertical antenna design using switched toroids for the base loading inductance into a lightweight antenna for an easy outdoor setup.
My personal intention was to find a solution to use this genius working principle for 7 bands. Today are many materials available to make the radiator of the antenna adjustable.
There are some antennas on the market with telescopic rods and adjustable coils.
I decided to use a telescopic rod and two coils on toroids together with the two jumpers made from wires with alligator clips.
While the QRPGuys intended a lightweight low power version of the antenna, I was thinking of a version for 100 watts+ with acceptable weight and measurements for the drop off baggage. My choice of toroids is the T184-2 (red) for L1 and L2. The enameled copper wire is AWG 16 (1.3 mm) For the jumper cables I used silicone probe wires with alligator clips on one end.
For more details see the pictures.
![](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Aufmacherfoto-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bild-2-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.dl2mdu.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bild-4-1024x768.jpg)