Recently, I operated as W6S, Rover 2 for the 2008 Route 66 On The Air. I wanted a portable, quick to deploy antenna for 40 meters. Previously, I had used a 40-meter hamstick but was very much dissatisfied with the performance and the poor bandwidth. I saw an advertisement for the TAK-Tenna and contacted the company to acquire one for the event.

The antenna came shipped in a nice thin box and was a pleasure to build. I put the antenna on a 10-foot pole to tune it to 7.266, my operating frequency for the event. It was a bit tricky to tune at first, but then it all clicked together and I soon had a 1:1.5 match at 7.266mhz.

Initial comparisons to my 40-meter wire at 70 feet were quite acceptable. The TAK was a few S-Units lower, but at 10 feet it was about what I would have expected. I made additional tests and was quite pleased with the TAK’s performance and decided it would be my main 40-meter antenna for the event.

My first opportunity to use the TAK was at Amboy Crater. I had the antenna on a 20-foot fiberglass mast. The TAK worked wonderfully. In fact, I had the opportunity to compare my signal with Harry's (W6R) who was operating a screwdriver antenna from his trailer. I was told that my signal was quite a bit strong than Harry's and Harry later told me that he could barely hear some of the stations I was working. For a 30-inch antenna on 40, the TAK is truly amazing.

I worked many pileups on 40 meters over the next 5 days. A great number of my contacts were amazed that my signal was being generated by a 30-inch dipole antenna. I was amazed at how many 59+-signal reports I was receiving. On my side of the antenna, I was able to copy both strong and weak signals alike, as the TAK is a very quiet antenna.

I am sold on the TAK and would encourage anyone interested in a compact 40-meter antenna to purchase one. It is a wonderful antenna.

You can see pictures of the TAK during my trip at:

www.k6sgh.com/rte66_2008/journal.htm

Steve, W6S (K6SGH)