Topband: Antenna Question

[rick darwicki]

Hi all,

My current LB antenna is an old Create 40/80 Vertical mounted about 20 feet off the ground with a bunch of radials at the base. I removed the Create 40 M trap and extended the mast to about 35 feet. At about 33 feet I have a homemade 40M trap in a horizontal wire out about 85 feet with another homemade 80M trap so the whole thing works on 40/80/160. I can tune it to any band 160/10 with my Nye 3KW matchbox. I have a DX engineering choke at the base. My 40M trap died, it was resonate at 7.15 and I made loaded 1500 W into it at 7.160 chasing DX.

I had problems with the base insulators arcing when I originally tried to tune it to 160 with a base mounted coil. 

I see a lot of hype about these 43 foot verticals doing any band 10-160.  

Do you think a Nye would tune my antenna to 160/80/40 if I extended it to 43 feet or so?  Base voltage problems?

I could also remove the traps and just tune it as a bent long wire but again I worry about base voltages. 

Right now I'm considering rebuilding the 40M trap for 6.5 MHz but I'm looking for other options. Don't need for it to work above 30M.

So........ what is my best option for 30/40/80/160 ?  No traps, making the vertical 40-50 feet high, rebuilding the trap?

Thanks,

Rick, N6PE
======================================= 
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