Experiments Using Wilson FGT-x CB Antennas for Ham Radio

I've been using CB Antennas for Ham Radio for quite some time.  Mostly for 10Meter mobile.  But I found posts on the internet about using the Wilson FGT-x series antennas.

Article by John, KL7JR that talks about this:
https://www.eham.net/article/34857

Referencing other articles he wrote:
http://www.hamuniverse.com/kl7jrcbverticals.html

In these articles John, KL7JR, uses the Wilson FGT-x series of antennas.  And he shows how different lengths of stingers can be used with these antennas to move them to the 10, 15 and 20 meter bands.

For my experiments I bought a pair of FGT-5 (the 5 foot one) Wilson antennas off Amazon.  Then I bought a pair of 36 inch stingers and an MFJ-347 mini dipole mount from HRO.

My first test/experiment was to use one of the Wilson antennas in a mag mount.  This was placed on a metal table and 3 tape measures were used as radials.  It worked pretty good on 20 meters without a tuner!  Using an LDG tuner it also worked on 40, 15 and 10.

Next I used the MFJ-347 to make a dipole out of the two Wilson antennas.  This was mounted on a 16 foot mast made from 2x2 lumber.  You may note short bits of wire hanging off the tips of the stingers.  These brought the dipole into the 20 meter band with no need for a tuner.

Again, using an LDG tuner it also worked on 40, 15 and 10.

These two setups were used for portable operations and did an adequate job...  I was able to make contacts at QRP power levels.  

Further thoughts:  I'd like to find a couple of the shorter FGT-x antenna discussed in John's articles to experiment a bit more.  When I do I'll add more to this article.  

Installing a 6BTV in the backyard

 And this is what it looks like!  But it was not always this way.

In the beginning I picked a location in the middle of the backyard.  At first I considered installing a nice piece of heavy pipe in cement to which the antenna would be attached.  But I thought, what if I don't like it?  Or move and it has to be removed?  

The solution was to put a PVC pipe in the ground in cement, with the top of the cement below ground.  That way, should I need to remove the antenna, I can simply cut the PVC off below ground level and fill the hole with dirt!

A loop of 10 guage wire encircles the PVC pipe and the radials are soldered to it. 

A 3 foot piece of galvanized fence post is slid into the PVC and it will hold the antenna!

The odd furrows in the grass were made with a weed eater on its side.  Into these the radials were laid and held in place with lawn staples from Lowes.

After everything was hooked up. The radials, ground rod, lightning arrestor and coax.  The rocks were placed to make it look nice in the yard.

The Coax and ground wire go from the antenna to the box mounted on the outside wall of the house.  Here we have another lightning arrestor and ground rod.  From this box we have coax going into the attic.  Yes, there is a second coax pull from the box to the ham room... for future stuff....  

The ground wire and both coax were brought into the ham room through the attic and wall.  This is behind the door.   When the door is open, you do not see this entry point.

Last, the trim plate is installed for a cleaner look.

And it works!  Tuning of the vertical will be looked at in a later post.