Recently, I’ve taken a renewed interest in HF operations. At first, my motivation was to set up an antenna for the ARRL Frequency Measuring Tests. Then, it expanded into chasing a few HF DXpeditions.
HyGain 14-AVQ from the 1970s
I had been preserving a HyGain 14-AVQ in the garage. My Dad won this antenna at a hamfest in the 1970s. Then, I inherited it and set it up in the backyard. It was quickly replaced with a Butternut HF2V 80-40-30 meter vertical. Since I’ve long since sold the HF2V, I dug out the 14-AVQ and set it up again.
The challenge has been that it’s a 40-20-15-10 vertical only—that and the fact that the 10-meter trap is busted. I did manage to work the recent DXpeditions CY0S and FT8WW for two new countries.
Cushcraft MA6V from the 2010s
In the early 2010s, I purchased a Cushcraft MA6V for 20-17-15-12-10-6. It’s an offset-fed vertical dipole and doesn’t need radials. It worked well for me across contests and DXing. Plus, it helped me work some 6-meter DX when my other antennas were out of action. However, once my interest in HF waned, I brought the antenna down and packed it away.
Cushcraft MA6V Refurbishment
Watching some of the newer DXpeditions operating on the WARC bands brought to mind the MA6V. So I dug it out of the garage and did a light refurbishment.
The original coating on the coils had long since left due no doubt to the Sun, blistering heat, and a bit of rain, snow, and ice. I picked up some Plasti-Dip spray coating that promised not to upset the tuning. After a couple of coats, it looks pretty good. And I can verify that it didn’t disturb the tuning.
I also replaced the coaxial cable, which had succumbed to the weather, and a few squirrels chewing on it. The antenna uses a long coil of coax as a choke balun to keep the RFI away. It works.
I did not install the 6-meter segment of this antenna. While it works great, I have a 6-meter Omniangle and Yagi. So, I have that band covered.
Setup and Testing
I found a place near the deck that could hold up the antenna and almost steer clear of the trees. I did trim a few branches. Then, I did a sweep with an antenna analyzer to ensure the tuning worked. Testing at the rig showed good SWR on all but 15 and 10 meters. So, I took the antenna down, tweaked it, and measured it again. After one more try, I got all the bands to measure 1.3 or lower.
On-the-Air Results
The same day I installed the antenna, I worked ZD9W on 10 meters for a new country. The next day, I worked TO8FH for another new country. That was with about 70 watts.
I’m looking forward to the next few DXpeditions. I’m currently at 248 DXCC and would love to add a 250 sticker to the certificate.
