Charles, K5zk, wrote:
This is related to the "Slinky Beverage" thread currently being
discussed on the list. My experience(s) may help others considering a
beverage of less-than-optimum length. And, maybe someone can give me a
hint or two to help me improve my setup.
My response:
I live next to a golf course. Last year I ran 300 feet of number 22
insulated copper wire against the fence between the houses and the
course at a height of 3 feet. For reasons which should be obvious, I
left the far end unterminated. I fed the beverage with a proper
transformer and used a preamp. Although the direction was far from
optimum (due north), the wrong length, and unterminated, it often worked
wonders to Japan, China, Philippines, etc. It was a huge improvement
over my 1/8 wave vertical on 160. I am no expert, but my little
experiment (which lasted until a particular neighbor noticed the wire
stapled to the back of her fence) proved to me that a compromise
beverage may very well prove to be far far better than no beverage at
all. Furthermore, it outperformed my K9AY loop, although in fairness
the direction of the two antennas was different, so that may not have
been a meaningful comparison.
As further food for thought, consider this: During contests I run a 500
spool of wire across the course long after dark and simply leave it
laying on the ground. I roll it back up before the sun comes up. That
antenna, laying on the ground, is also unterminated, but provides a
substantial improvement over my vertical, proving once again, a non
optimum beverage, although a compromise, may still be a substantial
improvement.
This may not help anyone, but if you have some space or other
limitations, do not be afraid to try a less than optimum beverage, you
may be very pleased with the results. I was!
73,
Bob/AA6VB
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