Topband: Balloon Supported Vertical

[Dick Bingham]

Greetings to  All !

Thank you to everyone who has responded to my original note.

Looks like I will have to do my own search for the balloons as
no one included a source for them BUT did include lots of great
user info.

Again, thanks.

As in my past, I will be generating the H2 gas where chillers are
used to control the rate of gas generation (minimizes H2O vapor
condensing inside the balloon).

A medium sized party balloon supported my first attempt at a
L/2 160-meter vertical that used thin wire (maybe #28). In
still air it was nearly vertical above me but in the wind it would
approach 45-degree angles to the horizon.

All worked well and I was able to work many East coast QSO's
(70-W) until it started raining. The added weight of water on the
balloon brought it to the ground. Some will say the losses using
such small wire are excessive - probably true - but while it was
operational, it performed better than any antenna I could hide
at my HOA antenna restricted QTH.

Again, my thank you to everyone who responded.

73  Dick - w7wkr at CN97uj