[TenTec] 80m antenna suggestion

[Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX]

Pete's comments are quite accurate.

For all-purpose applications, I suggest and have found to be very successful
a length of wire, preferabably #12 or #10 gauge solid copper.  Make it as
long as you have space for.  The length is not critical.  Longer is always
better. Center feed it with balanced feed from any good tuner, like one of
the Tentec series.  If one is into local contacts, put the antenna some 15
to 30 ft above the ground and this work well.  For DX contacts the higher
the better.  It doesn't have to be strung out in a straight line either.  If
zig-zags are necessary due to support arrangements, then so be it.  If you
have only one convenient support point available then make it the center and
slope the ends toward the ground.  Commonly referred to as and inverted V.
Or place one end as high as possible and tie the other end close to the
ground.  It becomes a good bit directional but works well in the favored
direction.

There's all sorts of discussions, pros and cons, about baluns and balanced
feeds and tuners. Still there is nothing better for all band operations than
a balanced fed wire antenna.

73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message -----
From: <ac5e at comcast.net>
To: "Chris" <christopher_an at sympatico.ca>; <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] 80m antenna suggestion


> Hi Chris: I'm sure you will get all sorts of suggestions for this or that
"wonderwire" or "wonder beam" but the fact is that on 75/80 only a gain
(directional) antenna will outperform a simple dipole. You can't get more
out than you put in - and a well matched and resonant dipole is around 95
percent efficent.
>
> Can you squeeze in a 90 foot "dipole?" I have had quite good results with
an Alpha Delta DX-EE and its "all band" brother the DX-CC. They are, by
field strength measurement, a quarter dB or so down on 75 (expected since I
had not trimmed it and it was resonant just below 3.5 mHz) and gave nothing
away on 40.
>
> Like all "dipoles" the pattern is more like a puffball mushroom than the
conventional "inner tube" pattern in the antenna books. Still, I manage to
work the 80 Meter DX I can hear in this noisy residential area.
>
> 73  Pete Allen  AC5E
>
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