The Annual Mobile Shootout

Mobiles—this one's for you! For those new to the idea, every year at our Eyeball gatherings, we hold an event called the "Mobile Shootout." The purpose is to give all entrants an idea as to the effectiveness of their own mobile installations. Having an effective mobile setup takes more than just slapping an antenna on your bumper and connecting it to a radio. So who are the big guns on our nets? Better still who is the "Top Gun?" We all have our opinions, but the Shootout will actually measure each mobile's signal strength, and when the smoke clears there will be only one wearing the "Top Gun" hat. Will it be you? See RESULTS of past Shootouts below.

Shootout 2012
Results Below

If you're new to mobile operations, the day before the actual Shootout, Lon, K0WJ, will conduct a "Mobile Clinic" where he will show you, based on his personal experience, how you too can have a highly effective mobile installation. If you want a head start on the tips that will be presented on the "Mobile Clinic," please visit the links below, especially the K0BG web site, and follow the examples found there. It will take you some time to get through the K0BG website, but it's all there.

Who has the most powerful signal down range is controlled by a number of things that go to make up the total "Mobile System." The "Mobile System" includes the antenna itself, the vehicle it's mounted on, the mounting location on the vehicle, the quality of grounding, etc. The Mobile Shootout provides a measurement of ALL these factors combined in the form of a signal strength measured down range.

Each mobile operator will drive his/her vehicle to a designated test range where, after the operator is satisfied that the antenna is properly tuned, officials will attach the mobile antenna to the official contest RF test source—one that will put out a consistent 10 watts of RF (as measured by an inline Bird wattmeter) on the specific net frequency chosen for the shootout. At the receive site, located up to several wavelengths away, as space allows, each mobile's signal strength will be recorded. When all participants' signals have been measured, the results will be calculated, with the winners announced and prizes given out at our annual awards presentation ceremony.

Remember, unless special categories are announced, the Mobile Shootout is for street-legal mobile setups, so the highest point of the antenna must be no higher above ground than what is legally allowed on public roads and highways—no more than 13.5 feet high at the highest point and no more than 8 feet wide, including any capacity hat. If you can build a roadworthy, 8-foot diameter capacity hat, you can enter it. Besides we'd all like to see that one. We will measure! The antenna system as a whole must be roadworthy. You must be able to drive in and out of the contest area with the antenna installed and must also be able to operate at highway speeds.

All objections and concerns any contestant may have must be verbalized during the Shootout and disputes will be settled by a majority decision of the people at the Shootout site with Lon, K0WJ, acting as the moderator. Objections and concerns voiced after the fact will NOT be considered. The purpose of the Mobile Shootout is to gain insight into what it takes to improve our mobile signals, and to have fun.

Our thanks and gratitude to Tom Bates, AA1NZ, Shootout Master Extraordinaire. Tom is the creator of this event that so many have enjoyed, and he was the driving force behind it for Eyeballs 2002 - 2009. Lon Martin, K0WJ took over as Shootout Master effective with Eyeball 2010.

At Eyeball 2011 and Eyeball 2012, Lon, K0WJ, conducted Mobile Antenna Clinics. His presentation is available in both PDF and PowerPoint formats. For those wanting full-page slides, look at Mobile Installation Clinic (PDF file, size 3.6MB). This same material is available with half-page slides plus added notes at Mobile Installation Clinic (PDF File, size 2.0MB), or as a PowerPoint Presentation (slides only) at Mobile Clinic (PPT File, size 66MB).

Potential Shootout entrants may also wish to look over the Mobile Operators' Web Site. Alan Applegate, K0BG, is renowned for his insight and knowledge of mobile installations. If you follow the suggestions made by K0WJ and K0BG you'll have a much better chance of competing.

Mobile Shootout 2013 Rules

The Eyeball 2013 Mobile Shootout win continue the approach that requires you to use your own transmitter as the RF source. Because of the latter, you will need to know how to operate your rig to produce a continuous unmodulated RF transmission and you will need to know how to adjust the power level of that transmission to 10 watts as indicated on a wattmeter that will be supplied by our Rangemaster.

The Eyeball 2013 Shootout will be held on Saturday June 29, 2013, exact location TBD, beginning at 9:30 AM local time on a frequency of 3.902 MHz.
Each Mobile participant will drive his/her vehicle to the designated position. You may orient your vehicle in any direction you choose and, time permitting, you may be tested in an alternate orientation after everyone else tests.
You may use any antenna that you choose as long as it adheres to the following:
- Must be no taller than 13 feet, 6 inches measured from the ground to the highest point of the antenna.
- If a Capacitance Hat is used, it may not be larger than 8 feet in diameter.
- The entire mobile setup MUST be road-worthy. You don't necessarily have to drive to the Shootout with the intended setup, but if it does not look road-worthy, you may be asked to demonstrate that it is capable of operating at highway speeds prior to being tested. If even ONE person protests, the Shootout attendees will be polled with the results of the poll being the final word... the final word being whether or not you will be allowed to officially test.
- Again this year you will use your own transmitter. (This new rule is called the ZOD rule.)
- A Bird Watt Meter will be inserted in your feedline to ensure that everyone transmits the same power level.
- In an attempt to normalize the test results this year, Lon, K0WJ, will use his own mobile setup (not an official entry) as a reference signal. His will be the first mobile tested. After each 15-20 minute increment, he will send a test transmission. It has become obvious from past years, that over the course of a Shootout, conditions change; the ground dries out and the air changes humidity. These conditions all affect propagation. The test signal's changes will be recorded every 15-20 minutes and scores after each test signal increment will be adjusted up or down depending on the changes in the test signal. As an example, if the test signal varies by -1 dB, then the next mobiles tested will have +1 dB ADDED to their score, etc. Many well educated hams voice objections to the validity of Shootouts. The above is an attempt to mitigate some of the problems that exist with the typical Shootout.

If you have any questions about the Shootout, feel free to ask. You can call me (Lon Martin, K0WJ))on my cell phone (913) 219-7044 or email me at This is your Shootout. I'm just trying to make it as fair and accurate as possible. It's always a good time and this year will be no exception. I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

73, Lon, K0WJ

Links to Prior Mobile Shootout Results