Topband: Topband loaded dipole?

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Ian Wade G3NRW wrote:
> "I can put up about 110 feet of wire for topband, and am toying with the 
> idea of a loaded dipole,"

The best thing IMO you could do for a DX antenna on 160 meters is to 
drop a single vertical wire from the exact center (of your 110 foot 
flattop) and feed it against ground as a Marconi T.  The antenna you 
described as a shorten horizontal would have a reduced efficiency and 
still sent most of the RF to the clouds above.   But if you want to 
cross the pond just do what Marconi did over 100 years ago, i.e. a 
Marconi "T" working against a good ground still beats everything. They 
are simple and work about the best one can get for a limited space 
antenna on top band.  If there is something better we are certain to 
hear about it on this Reflector.

Good Luck,

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ