Topband: Antenna Question

[Arthur Delibert]

Not sure how tall the tree is or how high the house, but you may want to check out the half-square antenna (also known as an inverted U) on 10, 15, or 20.  It gives a few db of gain and puts out a very low-angle signal.  Lew McCoy said the two he tested seemed to do as well as a three-element beam.  I've logged over 50 countries SSB using 20 watts or less, and about 175 countries using 200W or less.  
 
Art Delibert
KB3FJO
 
> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:51:10 -0700
> From: adkmurray at yahoo.com
> To: Topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Topband: Antenna Question
> 
> Hello All!
> The good news from here in the Adirondack Mountains is that we now own a place in a warmer climate to spend the winters in.  The bad news is I will miss a lot of the best 160M conditions AND I have a no outside antenna deed restriction.  I don't know if I can possibly hide at least a vertical there or not.  Recently I've seen a couple of articles regarding "invisible antennas", using smaller wire etc.  I want to at least get a 20M dipole up somehow.  Aside from any possible ideas on antennas I am wondering about the efficiency loss of using small diameter wire (100W).  I  have a roll of #26 I'd be willing to blacken and try it out but will it work as good as 14 or 12?  I don't have a balanced line tuner and would feed the ant. in the center with a balun (hard to hide those).  I have one tree in the rear of the home which looks to be about enough distance for only a 10-20M antenna.  The tree could possibly hide a vertical of about 25'.  I
> don't see any other options right now and lowbands will surely be restricted up to the time the xyl decides it's time to head South.
> Regards to all,
> Jim/k2hn
> 
> 
> 
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