Topband: Inverted L bandwidth

[Jon Rudy-MCC Asia Peace Resource]

Hi all:

The bamboo tower featured in the ARRL Web extra article posted a 2 years back has succumbed to the elements (termites and rot).  I built one myself this time and hoisted it up yesterday with the help of 5 or 6 people.  It nearly crushed me in the process but made it up. I now have the open end of my Inverted L up about 45-50 feet (about 30 feet above my tin roof) which is higher than the old tower.

I immediately noted that the SWR went flat, as flat as I have ever seen any antenna on the Alpha 76. 0 reflected (whereas before I had about 50 w reflected with 700 fwd). The bandwidth is now from 1.800 to 1.875 for 2:1 SWR.  I am using a Battle Creek Special match box at the base (80/160 Balun switch) and feeding the antenna with about 120 feet of RG8X. I have about 8 radials over .1 wavelength bundled  together going 2 directions and about 30 that are 3-5 feet long.

My question is it seems like the bandwidth is too much and the SWR too low.  I don't trust it although the amp does not sputter and complain. I managed to work OH5VT this am so it must be radiating somewhat. Is that BW normal for that kind of matching?

I am on most evenings after SS and every morning at SR but condx have been poor and noise high here.

73...jon 


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Jon Rudy
DU9/N0NM
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
Zone 27, Grid-PJ27, OC-130
EX: 3DA0CA, 4D71/N0NM, 
       4D71NM, A2/ZS5UZ, 
       C91CO, ZS5UZ, WB0UZZ
QSL via W4DR
E-mail: n0nm at arrl.net
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