Minutes July 1 meeting
Alan Zaur
Meeting Minutes
CVARC
Alan Zaur K1MZM Secretary
Instead of our regular monthly meeting, on July 1, 2026 the Central Vermont Amateur Radio Club gathered at Allis State Park in Brookfield, VT (Park number 3099) for a POTA activation. The activation began at 5:30 PM and was terminated at 8:15 PM due to severe thunderstorm activity in the area.
Approximately 13 club members participated in the activation. During 80 minutes of on-air time we worked 35 stations in 17 US States, 2 Canadian Provinces, and one DX station in Columbia. For the first part of the activation we used an Elecraft K2 at 50 watts and later a Kenwood TS-590 at 60 watts was pressed into service after a blown fuse rendered the K2 inoperable. The antenna was a coupled-resonator dipole cut for 40 and 20 meters (see below for details). All operation took place on 20 and 40 meter SSB.
This activation was essentially a “proof of concept” exercise. We learned that we can successfully make contacts in a limited period of time with basic equipment. Future activations and other on-air activities will provide more opportunities for less experienced operators to develop the skills and “muscle memory” to comfortably work pile-ups in difficult conditions. Operating comfort and fluency develop over time. Older ops tend to forget that making QSO’s doesn’t come naturally for most of us.
We also learned that some measure of redundancy is necessary to account for failures and contingencies. I will begin to collect supplies (patch cords, spare fuses, basic tools) to assemble a “go box” to assist in future on-air activities. The recent gifts from Bill Segel’s estate (thanks Jim!) will supply some of the items we need. I will see what I have on hand and will post a list of needed items so others can contribute.
Several people asked about the antenna we used for the activation. It is called a Folded Skeleton Sleeve or a Coupled Resonator Antenna. The design was originally described in the amateur literature by Gary Breed (K9AY) in the ARRL Antenna Compendium some years ago. The design was popularized by Joel Hallas (W1ZR-SK) in QST May 2011.
The antenna consists of two resonant wires in close proximity so that they are magnetically coupled. The 1/2 wave resonator cut for the lower frequency is driven by the feedline in a manner similar to a conventional half-wave dipole antenna. The 1/2 wave resonator cut for the higher frequency is excited by the magnetic field generated by the driven resonator. When excited at the resonant frequency of the longer element, the antenna acts like a conventional dipole. When excited at the higher frequency, the magnetically coupled resonator absorbs the vast majority of the exciting power and responds as a half-wave dipole at the higher frequency. Theoretically, you can add several magnetically coupled resonators to such an antenna.
The coupled resonator antenna has several advantages over other multiband antennas. Compared to a fan dipole, the coupled resonator antenna is much easier to erect and adjust to obtain resonance on all bands. Compared to an end-fed half wave dipole or off-center fed dipole, the coupled resonator has a radiation pattern similar to a conventional dipole (figure eight shaped when erected 1/2 wave length above ground) on all frequencies where it is resonant. End-fed and off-center fed dipoles have a figure eight pattern on their fundamental frequency but develop multiple lobes at various take-off angles on frequencies above their fundamental frequency. Compared to a trap dipole, the coupled resonator should exhibit less loss due to the absence of traps.
I will attach some articles about coupled resonator antennas to these minutes for those wishing to learn more.
Alan K1MZM
Jeff Koonz
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