Topband: Fwd: Fw: GAP VERTICAL QUESTION

[Gary and Kathleen Pearse]

> One thing to consider (a non-Gap subject as this thread is drifting, sorry) is to make your 80M loop into a 160 dipole when desired if a 160 aerial isn't available. It can be done mechanically by separating the loop half-way around (via a relay, or connecting drooping ends from the ground...done that once), or electrically by inserting a wound coil at that point (not sure of the coil specs, however. Just read about it being done. Might be another Amateur Urban Legend). 
> 
> A side note. The tall GAP Voyager did serve some useful purpose during the forest fire that burned my tree supports out in the woods. I disassembled it before the fire arrived and used the aluminum tubing to hold several common yard sprinklers off the ground and staked in a perimeter around the dwellings. The sprinklers and water pumped from a nearby lake saved the structures. 
> 
> The Titan I returned to town, but was discarded when I put up the tower and SteppIR beam. 
> 
> 73, Gary NL7Y
> 
> 
>> Personally, I use an 80 M loop - I like it especially for stateside contest
>> like Sweep or FD.  Nice solid signal on 40M and 80M.  It does much better
>> than the Titan.  But the Titan is much less maintenance and I don't have to
>> put it up and rebuild it each year. 
>> 
>> With two hurricanes, no guying and no maintenance work at all, the antenna
>> stays up, good SWR and I can make the occasional contact.  Will I ever be
>> the big dog - nope.  I had a much better station in the mid-west, but we all
>> make compromises,.  
>> 
>