[TenTec] 160 M antenna

[Richards]

Interesting commentary, Ken.

I DO have a 40m ground plan with 65 radials.   And it has that textbook 
38 ohm low SWR you mention.   It seems to work swell... but your comment 
suggests it could be better.

A friend suggested I make it slightly taller and add some capacitance 
until it presents a an inherent 50 ohm load.  (I think that is what he 
said... let's assume HE said it right, if this is not a good idea... and 
presume I remember it wrong...)


     So - What would YOU do with my antenna to make it  work better?


(This is NOT an argument - it is a very serious question to me.)

--------------------  K8JHR -----------------------

------ Original Message ------
From: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown at hawaiiantel.net>

A quarter wavelength vertical over an excellent ground counterpoise 
system has an impedance of about 37 ohms. If you don't need a matching 
device to get a 1:1 SWR at the resonant point, then it is likely you 
have about 13 ohms of loss resistance (the kind that produces heat, 
versus radiation resistance, the kind that produces a radiated signal) 
that added to the 37 ohms of radiation resistance makes a perfect match 
to your 50 ohm coax. Very convenient. Not very effective. What would you 
rather have? A low SWR or a stronger signal? Many hams have chosen 
(perhaps unwittingly) a low SWR.

_________________________________________