Topband: 160 Antenna

[Joe]

OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least once 
in your radio lifetime.

You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you 
connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you 
just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and 
load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed 
long wire.  Hey it works.

I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave 
elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when 
trying to use it on 160.

But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The 
antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical,  The base 
of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials that 
act as guy wires also to hold the base in place.

At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi turn 
coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing )

The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve of 
the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and 
finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet.

Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up connectors 
or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160.

1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the 
braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and does 
the radiating and receiving. YES? NO?

BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing vertical 
because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, I'm assuming 
the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the radials.

2- Apply power to only the braid?  similiar to #1 but backwards. again 
no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical.

3- short the center and shield together and run it that way.

Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts?

Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up 
work better?

Joe WB9SBD