Whipped

 Like every other amateur, I am constantly experimenting with antennae. The propagation characteristics are important as expected. But being a POTA activator I am also concerned about packability, setup and tear down times. Previously I had written about the JPC-12 almost being a near perfect POTA antenna except for the most weight conscious backpackers [https://motopota.blogspot.com/2023/12/jpc-12-redux.html]. Nothing beats the wire antennae for their packability and light weight and performance. However, you are also constantly looking for supports such as trees, posts or masts to get them to perform well.

I preferred the JPC-12 for its self standing nature on most terrain. I believe rocky terrain might make it difficult to anchor the antenna, but in a pinch you can always try to find something to tie the base to. One minor disadvantage I had with the JPC-12 was its set up and tear down time [2 minutes gasp!]. I had to assemble the pieces together before I could operate it. The metallic pieces become cold in the winter and screwing them on and off with gloves was also difficult. Too many pieces also meant that I risked missing some of them unless I packed them in the provided case. It was not convenient to throw the pieces in a bag and get moving.

Enter the 17ft collapsible whip! I love this one because it is very simple to set up. It has three major components. The base shown below; to which you attach the other components: the whip and a spike.

Whip antenna base. Available at your online stores

Screw the whip to the base.  [Optionally: Screw the spike to the base -- I have it already on the base with the counterpoise when I get to the park]. Insert the assembly into the ground. Extend the whip and connect to the rig. Voila you're ready to go. It takes less than a minute to get this done. The tear down is also extremely easy. 

The collapsed whip is a little under a foot and a half. I carry it in a PVC tube in which it was shipped.

Whip antenna in use at US-3324

Close up view of the assembled whip

I find that my KX-3 easily tunes this one across all bands I care about. I also do not have to fiddle with adjusting coils etc. It is also lighter than the JPC-12. Given these considerations, this has now replaced the JPC-12 as my go to POTA antenna. 

One of the issues I am facing is that the whips are not very hardy. You have to treat them with kid gloves; or otherwise you run the risk of having one fail on you at a critical moment.