My comments are for those HAMs who are reluctant to try Topband without
"proper" antenna.
I keep telling people that it's important that they GET ON TOPBAND in the
first place. The Band is full of surprises, and if one thinks that without
150ft tower, vertical array, high power etc., no DX results will be
accomplished, I can assure him/her that it dosn't have to be true. This is
my third "poor man" topband antenna, and it's the best performer so far (low
Inv V).
The first one was 3/8 wave long wire (Marconi type) at my previous location
in Cyprus on the roof of 120 ft building sloping towards the ground in
direction to USA. It was better performer to JA I think, and I had worked
FK8CP, JAs and N2(NT) barefoot with that antenna. I still have a letter from
Remi, FK8CP telling me that he was not aware of my callsign, so it was
"full" two way QSO without super partial etc. help. By the way, I've
missplaced FK8CP QSL while in Haiti (HH2AW/4V2A etc.) and if anybody knows
where he is please let me know. His letter is in the album instead.
The very same 3/8 wire had been shipped to Haiti during my two and a half
years assignment and I QSOed many EUs with the LW supported on a 30ft (10m)
bamboo pole in my backyard. That antenna location was realy bad, hidden in a
tropic trees, with the top part just 10m above the ground. Photo of the
antenna support available as JPEG if one wants to see. But, even SSB QSOs
were made with the EU stations with this setup and 800w TX. I still keep it
in the box, ready for another move.
My present antenna is full sized Inverted V with the appex approximately 53
ft (16 m) above the ground. There are 6 more antennas (80-10m) on the same
tower, my 160m SWR is 1,7 :1 at resonant frequency (1820).
5B4ADA/C4A totals on Topband in 3 and a half seasons from Cyprus are
146DXCC/38 zones
1147 USA QSOs
474 JA QSOs
8116 QSOs on Topband from Cyprus (1993 and some 1994 QSOs on paper log, not
included) since May 1994
(Jan 1995 - July 1997 spent in Haiti, 2460 Topband QSOs).
So, JUST DO IT
(with Nike-shaped antenna if you wish)
Good luck
Ivo 5B4ADA/C4A
ex HH2AW/4V2A/ 9A3A/4U /5B4ADA/HH2
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