[SCCC] 160M residential lot antenna

[Michael Tope]

Yes and no. I can't count the number of times that I've had DX with loud 
or modest signals CQ in my face on 160 meters even when Iwas running 
legal limit to a decent antenna. The man-made noise levels in many urban 
DX locations can be horrendous (I get the feeling it is particularly bad 
in Asia) and thunderstorm static in the tropics can be equally brutal. 
Every dB of ERP you can squeeze out on transmit will eventually pay 
dividends on 160 meters. Of course, sometimes your the guy with the 
horrendous QRM in which case having a good receive antenna will pay the 
dividend. The best of both worlds is to have a 4-square on a mountaintop 
like W6RJ :-)

73, Mike W4EF........................

On 2/1/2011 7:37 PM, Bob Selbrede, K6ZZ wrote:
> Excellent point, Bill.  Odds are, if you are running legal
> limit into a decent TX antenna, you are probably being
> "heard" much better than you are "hearing yourself".  A good
> RX antenna would be a worthwhile addition.
>
> Bob
>
> ----- Original Message Follows -----
> From: Bill Haddon<haddon.bill at gmail.com>
> To: "Coker, Timothy J"<TJCoker at lasd.org>
> Cc: sccc at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [SCCC] 160M residential lot antenna
> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 12:00:11 -0800
>
>> Tim,
>>
>> Even with cobbled together system you had a decent signal
>> 100 mi N of SF. Of course you may want a decent sig in
>> Europe and JA.
>>
>> You tower and beam will be the basis of a fairly good
>> top-loaded transmitting antenna when properly configured
>> and matched. . Separately, I'll suggest one or two NCCC
>> guys for further info, but be sure to read ON4UN's book
>> ,"Low-Band DXing"  with emphasis on Ch 9 Section 5.8  [in
>> the 1994 Edition] "Using the Beam Tower as a Low-Band
>> Vertical" and especially Figure 59A "Electrical Length of
>> a Tower Loaded with a Yagi Antenna".  Maybe you would use
>> a Gamma match  . see Section 5.8.1 , especially Figure
>> 9-61.
>>
>> An inverted L is another choice. .construction on an
>> existing tower is discussed in Section 6 of Ch. 9.
>>
>> Your challenge will be hearing.  A K9AY loop or equivalent
>> might help, but it may couple significantly to the
>> transmitting antennas with your 75x75 foot lot.  I wonder
>> if installing a rotating loop above the beam would improve
>> the situation.  If you can persuade three to five
>> contiguous neighbors with houses to the NE or SW to
>> cooperate,  a Beverage antenna could be installed, maybe
>> running along wood fences.  Did you try your 80 m wire
>> antenna for receiving? Might give some improvement. You
>> could try listening the next few nights to the VP8ORK
>> pileups around 1.829 in late evening.
>>
>> In Marin county with low power and an 85 foot wire hung
>> from a tree with 4-wire top loading and two elevated
>> radials I managed WAS, WAC with no separate Rx antenna but
>> working Eu is a challenge.  Not transmitting so much as
>> receiving.
>>
>> 73 Bill n6zfo  [NCCC]
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 7:57 AM, Coker, Timothy J
>> <TJCoker at lasd.org>  wrote:
>>
>>> Are there any antenna gurus on the list that wouldn't
>>> mind helping me develop a 160m antenna for my place?
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> SCCC mailing list
>> SCCC at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/sccc
> _______________________________________________
> SCCC mailing list
> SCCC at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/sccc
>
>