Topband: Switching in Extra Antenna Length

[Steve Ireland]

G'day Bill,

There is a much easier answer to making a 160m inverted-L which can be
instantly changeable switchable to an 80m vertical - no relays, no worries.

Simply connect a 160m quarter wave inverted-L made of wire in parallel with
your 80m vertical, taking care to space the vertical sections of each
antenna about one foot apart for minimum interaction.  I got this spacing
from one of the Garys - either K9AY or KD9SV - on the reflector some time
ago and it works like a charm.  

The antennas each retain their normal bandwidth and impedance.

I use a similar technique on my 160m/40m parallel inverted vee dipoles,
simply spacing them about six inches apart.  Again, works great! 

Vy 73,

Steve, VK6VZ