Before doing anything else, consider a more robust tuner at the base, that
is a high-current area whether the antenna is 1/2 or 3/8 WL. A simple L
network tuner with a #12 or #14 air-wound inductor and a variable capacitor
with at least 1000V spacing will provide much better performance IMHO. You
can very easily compare performance with the LDG with a simple RF Ammeter
at the tuner output. I have the Z-11 Pro and even a fairly modest home
brew manual tuner produces stronger currents at the base of my inverted L.
I assume your deer fence is elevated, perhaps 6' or so, I'd consider
installing some insulators along the span of the top wire around your lot at
about the 50' point and add a couple more wires diagonally across the lot for a
total of 4 50' elevated radials, even if they are asymmetric around the
base of the vertical. Many have reported much better performance with
length that approximates the vertical height of the L. Be open to other ideas
from the group on the overall length adjustment, it has been discussed at
length, no pun intended.
Paul, K5AF
In a message dated 1/5/2012 10:38:43 P.M. Central Standard Time,
eckerpw@yahoo.com writes:
New to the list and new to 160M. I have a 1/4 wave Inverted L that I have
finally got the bugs out of and it seems to be working fine. Vertical leg
is 45' and horizontal run is 86' for a total length of 131'. Have a LDG
Z11Pro auto tuner at base of pine tree that vertical leg runs up. 4:1 balun at
base of vertical feeding RG-213 coax to shack. I have a 250', three strand
Deer fence around the lot that I am using all three strands as my radial
system.
--- Question is should I leave well enough alone or would I get better
results on 160M by extending the horizontal leg, to 1/2 wavelength length??
73 and Tnx
Paul
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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