Topband: new to 160 with an Inverted L

["Mark DeBord" <markinkpt@hotmail.com>]

I am new to the "topband" as of last weekend (just before the contest!). I 
put up an inverted L that is about 50 feet up and now have about 8 burried 
radials that are about 125 feet. I am using #12 coated stranded wire for 
everything and an 8 foot ground rod at the base.

One of the radials I hooked onto the ground wire on a utility pole at the 
end of my lot. I wonder if this is a good idea or not? I could also attach 
another radial to a chain-linked fence, but I would have to extend the 
radial beyond 125 (maybe to 150 to 175 feet). Does that matter?

I also have been reading that I should use a terminating resistor to protect 
my front end. Would a balun do the same thing? Do I need a balun too?

All appears to work fine, pretty low SWR (1.2 at the center, 3:1 or so on 
the ends), and I have worked 27 countries and 40 states so far. The contest 
helped me on the numbers.

So far, I have had the best of fun learning; I bought the ON4UN book and am 
reading about receiving antennas on the internet.  I hate I have went 27 
years without trying the "topband" already!!

Thanks,
Mark KA4ICK

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