Scorpion SA-680 Mobile HF Antenna - Updated

Are you running HF power yet? I just put in a Ameritron ALS-500Min my truck and it took me to another level. check Hi-Q-5/80 antennas also. 73 great videos

Love your Channel Scott. Thanks for the good information. I just picked up a Scorpion and will incorporate most of you ideas.

Thank you for showing us your setup! I really need to get a hitch mounted on my cars! Not only for future screwdriver antennas but for mast mounting! Your setup rocks!

I own a Scorpion and I was mentored heavily by Alan Applegate, K0BG, so I sometimes, humbly, consider my-self quite knowledgeable in mobile HF operations. However, what makes me really, and I mean really respect you, is that you know for a fact that your antenna mounting solution is probably one of the most compromised positions and you admit that and fully admit that you want to compromise in order to keep your car in good material shape. This is absolutely respectable, and it shows that you know your stuff and I mean it! Most people in mobile have no idea what they are doing and if they do something that is just awfully wrong and woefully inadequate as far as the proper methodology, they fail to recognize this and instead further ground themselves in their mountain fortress of "I am right no matter if I am dead wrong". Bravo! That scorpion is hands down the best mobile HF antenna that is realistically practical anywhere you can find mobile HF operations.

Hi Scott. My in-laws live in Kingsmill, Williamsburg but I am in Nottingham UK - will listen out for you next time we are visiting VA. Run a Tarheel here - enjoyed the video and website.

Thanks Another terrific 👍 video 73

Just come over your posting. Well I think I have had mine about 13 years and living and driving in the UK is more challenging with big antennas on, like you I soon found the top hat the best option. My antenna I believe they don't make any more which the SA160 so 160 up to 10m. Really a great antenna I used to drive most days to London from Southampton about 160 mile round trip and leaving the house at about 4 04.30 and leaving London at about 17.00 and I am sure the only reason I am manage it was the radio in the morning non stop DX on 40 & 80m and on the way home rag chews with my normal friends. Running the full 400 Watts did bring up a few bits of fun on 15m it would completely scrambled the matrix sign on the motorway. On a more serious note I could not use the stand whip as it would whip around near the body of the van as you would stop and start. This would kick out the amp this was speeds over 50 mph let along the national speed limit. Other things which would take out it out where trucks with big bodies and as you drove along side and road bridges along with the overhead matrix signs. At this time I had moved over to minium hight of 15' for 80m the UK stand law is 16'6" other wise it must be signed and as my journey was motorway not a problem and the whip was now a 5/16 stainless steel diameter bar with the hat on. Tuning like you used to use the two switches for a few years then imported from the states a turbotune 2 great bit of kit never missed the frequency, a little adjust with the switch when under full power. Now a few problems I am afraid! I have had a couple of fires at the top where it has moulded the plastic tube, I have put this down to water as we get a lot of weather changes here and running running up and down the motorway a warp 9 come sun snow or rain can't be good about 45,000 miles a year. Also the antenna fitting at the base has shorted so a regular clean and a couple of changes. So I have rebuild it several times it in the workshop at the present time as I have completely changed the bottom end drive and changed it to a DC stepper motor which will be controlled is arduino. Final words: Ready a great antenna I don't do much mobile work due to the van getting completely written off and just having time to fit it all in the new vehicle plus work and health have both changed but I am going to try and get it all back up and running over Christmas and would be great work you mobile to mobile . 73 Richard M0UOO

this the second time see this video fantastic setup Wow very professional job 73 from kb2uew

I have the Tarheel 200a, which is a pile up buster, used it as a base antenna..

I still don't understand what any of this means, but it's damn cool.

Great video and installation Scott ! I also love my Scorpion antenna. 73 Mike VE9AA

Great video! The question I have is about the mounting directly in front of the license plate. I have seen offset mounts, so the plate is visible. Have you ever had issues with the police about having the plate view obscured? Here in New York city all the speed ,red light ,EZ pass cameras ,if you are pulled over you might get a ticket. This has been more for toll evaders. Bicycle carriers are used more for this than actually carrying a bicycle

Very good video and very detailed. I have a fiberglass motor home with virtually no mounting locations. If I use the Hitch mount I cannot tow my H2 and it blocks the engine access in the rear. I am considering this antenna with a front mount on the H2, either the Hitch mount or the Brush Bracket mount that is pictured ont eh Scorpian web site. I realize both will be compromized however like you it will be my only option for mobile with the motor home. The motor home should shield the antenna from wind while driving. The issues I am wondering about are vehicle grounding from the motor home back to the H2, about 6 feet, considering the braided ground cable that you use and attaching it to the motor home frame. If I use the Hitch mount on front of H2 I could also move it to the rear of H2 and use it there. The other issue with the motor home is it is a 45 footer so I need about 50-55 feet of control cables and coax. Do you have any thoughts on how that will affect performance? Lot's of questioins from me I hope you have some good suggestions. Thank You N5ANY

great job.. I would like to see how you use the new TuneMatic and using on POTA 73

That thing looks like a flagpole! I don't think my truck could handle the extra drag that antenna would cause. Thinking about an Atas 120 for my Yaesu Ft891.

Really nice, but do you ever get any pushbk from the Local LEOs regarding Lic Plate obstruction? Curious, as you know how these things can be, cherrs n gd DX 73

Nice antenna... But do a comparison with Atas - 120a

Would love one of those BUT... they don't ship to Canada, don't know why, will ask them soon. Thanks for the videos.

Minor inconvenience did you say minor inconvenience where you weren’t able to open the back of the SUV because the antenna. 😂😂😂 Let me ask you this. Do you think possibly there’s some type of hinge that could be put on the back hitch so you could lay the antenna down temporarily while you got into the back of your SUV and then pop it right back up again ?

Nice but no good for my big rig..Wayyyy to big n heavy for my mirror mount..