My QTH is a very small suburban block (15.9x12 meters), and as a result, have limits on the size of antenna I can use. Added to that, the house next door is a two story all metal structure, the house across the road has a plasma TV and at the end of the street, high voltage QRM generating powerlines, so consequently, most of my DXing is done from my mobile station.

My base station is a Yaesu FT-901 DM barefoot into a G5RV as an inverted V, and bent in a Z to fit my small QTH. An FV-901 antenna tuner is used to match it. I also have a full size 20 meter rotatable dipole at 10 meters high, made from 2 16' squid poles. It's very light, quite strong, and much quieter than the G5RV. When the wind is up, the squid poles bend with the wind, rather than trying to resist it, like a rigid aluminium antenna would. Other base rigs are a FT-897D and a Flex-1500 QRP SDR. The 901 is used mainly for 80 meters, the 897 for 2 m and 70 cm, while the Flex-1500 is used in conjunction with the 901 as a second reciever and station monitor. All other bands are mainly worked mobile.

For 80 meters, I also have 2 Hustler monoband mobiles coupled together as an upright V dipole, 3 meters above my roof. It works quite well, with good signal reports (59+) coming in from both local, and interstate. The Hustler mobile masts are designed to be resonant on 6 meters, making this a dual band antenna.

The Hustler dipole. The small vertical is a Comet SBB-5 dual band mobile for 2m and 70cm. I have no difficulty accessing all local repeaters.

My very compact antenna farm, showing my 20 meter dipole, and the G5RV. The apex of the G5RV is supported by a squid pole, and has stood up to many a storm. The small yagi is my TV antenna.

For mobile, I am running a FT-857D barefoot into a 12 foot helical whip, made from a 12 foot fishing rod with 5.2 meters of domestic earth wire coiled along its length, mounted on a towbar (hitch) mount bracket. The tip of the antenna is 4.25 meters (about 14') high, so it is street legal (just), and handles highway speeds without any problems. It is coupled by a SG-237 auto coupler, and this combination works very well for mobile, and has resulted in a lot of dx, especially when parked by some of my favorite spots next to the Port River, near Port Adelaide. Being next to a body of salt water really helps with propagation, and has resulted in a mobile to mobile QSOs as far away as Kuwait, long path on 20meters (28,100km). The SG-237 will tune this antenna on all bands from 160-6 meters. I have worked interstate on 160 and 6 meters, and plenty of DX on 80 through to 10 meters. On 20 meters, its performance is at least as good as my 20 meter dipole at home, and at least 10dB better again near salt water. You can read the full story of my mobile station on http://anzadx.net/files/gonefishing.pdf

Parked at one of my favourite DX spots (Snowdens Beach on the Port River, a few km north of Port Adelaide), facing east (shorth path USA, long path Europe). This gives an indication of the antenna height. Mounted on the rear fender is a Comet SBB-5 dual band for 2m/70cm. LOCATOR: PF95ge

There's plenty of activity to keep me entertained between overs. The antenna is a helical whip resonant on 160 meters (1847kHz) I made on Easter weekend, 2011, and yes, it's a fishing rod. I love to listen to the WIA news broadcast Sunday mornings on 160 meters, and get on the net that follows. The car is in the same location as the previous and next photos.

Parkd by a salt crystalization lake at St Kilda, about 30km north of Adelaide, facing long path Europe. LOCATOR: PF95gg

Parked at another of my favourite DX spots, across from the Port Adelaide Lighthouse, Port Adelaide, at dusk. I'm facing east (short path USA, long path Europe). This is less that 2km from my home QTH. LOCATOR: PF95gd

Night time on the docks at Port Adelaide, facing north. LOCATOR: PF95gd

East bank of the Port River near Port Adelaide, facing short path Europe, long path USA. LOCATOR: PF95ge

Port Adelaide, facing short path Europe. My home QTH is just the other side of the apartments, inline with the third bridge pilon from the right. It's 1 km away direct. LOCATOR: PF95fd.

First 12 months DXing mobile using a fishing rod antenna (3rd October 2009 to 2nd October 2010). 120 DX entities