Topband: First 160m Contest

[Mike Waters W0BTU]

> From: kd6nrp at earthlink.net <kd6nrp at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Topband: First 160m Contest
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Date: Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:48 AM
 
> Last weekend's 160-meter content was the first 160-meter
> event I have ever participated in.
[snip]
> Time to start thinking about a better antenna. A few people
> have reported success on 160m with an "inverted U". I wonder
> how well such an antenna would work on other 160m and other
> bands.
> 
> 73
> 
> Brian Webb, KD6NRP
> Ventura County, California


Me too.


I tried an inverted-U based on these web sites...

http://lists.contesting.com/_topband/2006-12/msg00161.html
http://users.erols.com/k3mt/inv_u/u_160.htm

... and mine doesn't work. Perod. :-(

Mine was based on K3LR's link (the first one) with the two elevated radials. My radials were 132' long and 10'+ high, but the antenna was 150' long. Used a series variable cap to match it @ 1830 MHz.

It's the worst antenna I have ever tried. But I'm convinced that I did something wrong, since Tim, K3LR, is a very knowledgeable guy!

I would be VERY interested to hear from others who have tried this antenna, before I take it down and try something different.

73,
Mike Waters
W0BTU