Topband: It Isn't Supposed to Work

[PaulKB8N at aol.com]

Gang,
 
I've done a lot of antenna experimenting over the years and tried many  
things that should not theoretically work.
 
I've wrestled with trying to design a good 160M antenna  system in my 
covenant-restricted neighborhood for years.  My current  antenna is a 200' stealth 
dipole at about 30'.  It has been a surprisingly  good performer, despite the 
fact that it runs along the side of my house and a  neighbor's house, and the 
houses are considerably higher than the antenna  wire.
 
My new antenna isn't supposed to work, at least if you listen to the  gurus.
 
First of all, it has no radials, per se. It uses an 8' by 8' ground  screen 
on the floor of the attic.  As the attic floor is about 28'  above the ground, 
that makes it an elevated ground system, we've heard nay  saying about that 
too.
 
Second, the vertical section is too short, about 20'.  I have a  20' 
telescoping fiberglass mast that extends from the floor of the attic,  up through a 
roof boot and sticks about 10' above the roof.  So the ground  system as well as 
half of the vertical section are indoors, in fact, the pole  stands close to 
the two tall water heaters for the house, and their associated  vent stacks.
 
Third, the wire size is too small.  I'm using #24 wire for the  outdoor 
portion of the antenna.
 
Fourth, as a variant of the inverted L, the horizontal leg isn't really  
horizontal, it droops down below the level of the vertical section, to a tree at  
about 28'.
 
Fifth, the high voltage end of the wire is almost touching the ground,  
certainly bad for losses.
 
Sixth,  the antenna has amazing bandwidth, about 70kHZ at 1.5 to one  or 
less, something must be terribly wrong here.
 
Seventh, with such a compromised antenna, you probably need high power to  
work anybody.  I'm running about 80W from an Omni VI.
 
The antenna is a sort of weird-shaped inverted U -- about 20' up  from the 
attic floor, out 70' with a slight slope, with the final leg  sloping down about 
35'.
 
To test the antenna, I got on last night for CQ160 for about a half  hour, 
and made 35 qsos, about 80% on the first call, to all  corners of the US plus 
VE3, VE7 and V31.  Not bad from South Texas!
 
I'm not writing this as someone who is lacking in experience on  160m.  I've 
operated 160M from several very good stations, running both  high and low 
power.  What's more, I'm not trying to diminish the wisdom of  the antenna gurus 
out there, but I'm experienced enough to know when an antenna  works.  This 
antenna works!  I simply want to encourage  anyone who thinks they need a huge 
antenna system to be effective on 160M to  think again, try stuff, and don't be 
afraid to compromise a few laws.   The results may surprise you!
 
Paul, K5AF



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