Topband: inv. L

[Ray Benny]

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Furrey <mikefurrey at att.net>
To: Art Snapper <art at nk8x.net>, 160 <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Mon, 17 Oct 2016 12:32:20 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Topband: inv. L

Hi Art,Yes, I have done that and am doing that. I use tall trees as supports and the 160 inverted L goes up one side of the tree then bent over horizontally to another tree over yonder. From the same feed point, the 80 meter section goes up the other side of the same tree and the top actually folds over an upper limb down to the tie point. I have had the antennas separate and had them from the same feed point as I do now and I have not seen much, if any difference in performance. With 600 watts output I have about 165 countries on 160 and about 220 on 80 from a small suburban lot in Houston. I just installed the same antenna in TN and it has worked quite well there. I feed it through a ferrite bead balun and I have one elevated (up about 20') per band.Hope this helps. 73, Mike WA5POK
 

    On Monday, October 17, 2016 10:17 AM, Art Snapper <art at nk8x.net> wrote:
 

 I was considering adding a second vertical element to my 160 inverted L.
This one would be roughly a quarter wave tall for use on 80.

I tried modelling in Eznec, but wasn't comfortable with the results. I may
have screwed it up.

Has anyone tried it for real? Is it a big compromise on either band? Would
a switch at the feedpoint have any benefit?

My inverted L has about 50 radials.

73
Art NK8X
_________________
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Art,

I do the same. I have a 75 ft irrigation pipe vertical w/top hat wires and use an base inductor to match it on 160m. I also have a 14 inch standoff arm attached at the 67 ft point and run a #10 ga drop wire, I call it, to the base. This wire is not attached to the standoff arm, so it becomes a 1/4 wave vertical for 80m. It is held away from the irrigation pipe with flat fiberglass insulators. 

I feed this wire thru a separate feed line and inductor to match it on 80m. I do have plenty of ferrites on both coax feed lines. Before operating on 80m, I do have to short the irrigation pipe (160m vertical) to ground. As of now, I have to go to the base and physically short the vertical with a ground jumper.

I have about 100 radials at the base of the vertical(s) and feel I have a good signal working DX on both bands.

Ray,
N6VR