Topband: New guy hello and an antenna question

[Brockwell, Stephen E. CECOM SEC FSSE ILEX]

Hello folks,

I'm Steve Brockwell, a General license holder...  only been a ham 4 years.
I do not operate much but enjoy it when I do.  The 160 meter band seems
interesting and I'm trying to get set for the 160 meter contest in December
(?).  Not a big contester..... guess I try to hand out points and help folks
get my state / county /or other points...  I have fun and don't get bent out
of shape if I don't win or place.  It's a hobby.

I am trying to design a dipole antenna for 160 on my property which is 2
acres in Elgin, Oklahoma about 80 miles southwest of OKC.  The property runs
east and west with the north south width of about 150 feet. I am using a
Kenwood TS520S with a MFJ 941 antenna tuner.  Right now I have a Carolina
Windom 80 (off center fed dipole with radiating vertical element) at 35 feet
on a steel telescoping pole with the ends at 20 feet on chain link fence
poles.  Works well on 80-10 meters but is not recommended by the
manufacturer to run as a 160 meter tophat (tie both halves of the Windom
together and feed it as a vertical). I can get the center pole up 40 feet in
the middle and the support poles 30 feet on the ends.  Also considered a
loop antenna about 20 feet up and considered a vertical of some sort.  

If I cut a dipole for 160 and put up rope supports from the center pole to
the end poles and spiral the dipole onto the rope supports would that work
well?  Any feasible antenna configuration will be considered.  

Any ideas that wouldn't break the bank or kill me???    

73,  
Steve  KC5TTY
Elgin, OK 


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com