[TenTec] 17 Meter Antenna

Sun Nov 23 17:17:29 EST 2014

Rick, for many years we used a 40M DL dimensioned as you describe at our field day 40 cw station and was always good for 800-1000 Q's on 40cw. We did not however go to the trouble of using a matching section, just fed it with 50ohm coax and used the internal tuner in the rig to clean everything up. After all it IS field day! But it was a great antenna for the amount of materials and real estate required. Since we never tried a dipole or inv vee at the same height at the same time I can't speculate as to the difference in effectiveness, all I can do is state the results.

73 - Art  N4UC

> From: Rick at DJ0IP.de
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 18:59:35 +0100
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 17 Meter Antenna
> 
> George,
> 
> Some hams are into the sport of amateur radio for the technical aspects alone.
> Others are in it for the sake of communicating.
> 
> Those of us who are in it for the sake of communicating, judge the value of an antenna for its ability to help us reach DX destinations that we have trouble reaching with some other antenna.
> 
> In this respect, this simple and cheap antenna stomps a low dipole (at least on 40m where I have used it the most) and holds its own against a vertical with 32 or more radials.
> This is not speculation. It is my experience using this antenna.
> 
> I have erected this antenna just for contests at least a dozen times, at several different QTH's and the results were always the same.  The standard antenna normally in use was a dipole about 40 ft. high.
> 
> With this antenna, from Germany, and a couple other countries where I have operated with it, stateside, JA, VK, etc. are typically 1 to 2 S-Units stronger than on the standard dipole, all the time.  I found it much easier to work these stations with the loop than on the dipole.
> 
> This thread is about suggesting a good antenna for 17m.
> I have suggested one, including how I built it.
> 
> You have poo-pooed my suggestions a couple of times without contributing anything useful towards the original problem: helping improve the signal on 17m.  I welcome critique, but then I kind of expect an explanation to follow.
> 
> I'm not a crack-engineer; just a ham with a lot of experience and nearly 20 first place certificates in CQWW DX - most as a team member (MS or MM), but several as a single op working alone.  
> In order to place high in a contest, you have to use antennas that work well.
> This antenna has worked well for me and has helped enable me, as well as my team to win contests.
> 
> I welcome any suggestion you may have for improving this one or for something which works even better.
> Thanks.
> 
> Now to answer your question.  "No".  
> Although I have two antenna analyzers, I did not own one the first few times I built this antenna 34 years ago.  I only measured the SWR and then used it successfully in contests.  
> 
> The next time I build it, I will attach a half wavelength of feedline to it and measure the impedance.  It's kind of difficult to physically reach the feedpoint. Will be interesting to see what it shows.
> 
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of george fritkin via TenTec
> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 6:15 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 17 Meter Antenna
> 
> Really, did you measure the impedance at the feed point?
> George, W6GF 
> 
>      On Sunday, November 23, 2014 8:50 AM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de> wrote:
>    
> 
>  GM George,
> 
> The advantage of this type of delta loop is, at low heights, the loop fed vertically polarized has a lower radiation angle than the dipole. The dipole will have to be raised a lot higher to match its radiation pattern.  The loop is also more broad banded.  Its advantage over a quarter wave vertical is, you don't need to put lay a bunch of radials, which often can be a nuisance.
> 
> As for how to feed it, well I have been feeding loops like this for 35 years and they have been giving me outstanding results.  That does not mean a perfect match but good enough to use without a matchbox.  Of course the impedance varies with height above ground.
> 
> If you have a better idea on how to feed it, please share it with us.
> I'm always happy to learn something new.
> 
> My source of information on how to feed this type of antenna is from DL1BU (SK, and ex- chief technical Engineer of the DARC) in his article on loops, printed in the 1979 issue of CQDL magazine, page 154. 
> 
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of george fritkin via TenTec
> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 4:40 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 17 Meter Antenna
> 
> Delta loops show marginal gain over a dipole (1.1db), and are much more of a pain to erect.  As far as noise no real proof that is true.  And one more thing, feeding with 1/4 wave of 72ohm is more voodoo engineering you find here George, W6GF 
> 
>     On Saturday, November 22, 2014 11:18 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de> wrote:
>   
> 
>  Use a telescoping fiberglass pole.
> They don't have to be very high.
> 25 ft. is high enough if you make the horizontal bit a little longer.
> That still leaves about 7 or 8' under the antenna so that people can walk under it.
> Scott (W4PA) sells 40' poles.  One of those would be perfect.
> 
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Reed
> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 4:17 AM
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: [TenTec] 17 Meter Antenna
> 
> I'm sure Gary they are the best antenna for the dollar, but not enough trees here for support.  I was raised on a farm & my late father, W4PFP & elmer, had some serious wire antennas.  I miss the real estate, but not the farming.
> 
> Reed  W4JZ
> 
> 
> Reed,
>     I had a 80M Delta loop up for quite a few years. It worked extremely well. Very quiet. It was fed in the corner with 75 ohm coax, then 50 ohm to the shack. My matching piece of 75 ohm coax was abt
> 46.5 feet long (1/4 wave x velocity factor of the cable). I'd put another up but all my trees have grown up.
> 
> Gary - KN0V
> 
> 
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