[SEDXC] tree climber - wire antenna installation help

[Mike Greenway]

HI Frank, couple of comments.  Of course raising it some will help but don’t think it will make it to the VK9XSP group.  With a 4 ele yagi at 90 ft they have been mostly 559 or less.  I have worked them on several bands but it took some doing and the window of opportunity is very narrow for them.. On 10 M around 2330 a 30 minutes either side.  Also 12 M around 1230 long path.

I think it will take something with some gain at some height.  We have had super conditions for the high bands the past week also so not going to get much better propagation.  VK9AN who was on Christmas Is. a few weeks ago had a better signal in here on 30,40 and 20 CW.  Good luck anyway.

GL  73  Mike K4PI

From: Frank T Brady 
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2014 12:42 PM
To: SEDXC 
Subject: [SEDXC] tree climber - wire antenna installation help

UPDATE:
Again, thanks to SEDXC and all of the help offers I received.  The 135' 
doublet is up - Robert Miller was reasonable and fast.  I'm still 
cleaning up from all the necessary tree trimming.  It turned out that 
the longest route for the flattop was about 98', so I had to vertically 
droop 20' of wire at each end to accommodate the 135' antenna.

IMPLEMENTATION:
After several frustrating weeks trimming the 600 ohm feedline length 
without being able to tune all 80 through 10 bands, I was forced to 
resurrect a system of six relays I once used to physically insert 
segment(s) of feedline to add up to the exact feedline length for each 
band.  I originally built it for 450 ohm feedlines.  Converting it from 
narrow 450 ohm window line to the wide spaced 600 ohm line took up so 
much space I had to put it in the garage and remotely control the relays 
from the 2nd floor shack.  It now works like a charm!

QUESTION:
I haven't been able to hear even a hint of signal from the VK9XSP 
Christmas Island expedition.  Could part of the problem be that the 
antenna is only up 30'?  I can get Robert to raise it another 20' with 
significant additional tree trimming.  Before I go to the trouble, does 
anyone know from their own experience that raising a wire antenna from 
30' to 50' really helps?  I'm also aware of the complicated multiple 
lobe radiation patterns for multi-band wire antennas.  Maybe I have a 
deep null at the VK9XSP bearing - I'll never know.


73,
Frank W0ECS


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