Topband: What antenna would you build?

[Tim Duffy]

Hello Dino,

Take a look in the last three editions of the ON4UN Low Band book - in the
Yagi chapter.

I have described in detail the 3 element vertical Yagi for 160 meters that I
am using. Gives over 5 dB of gain (over a single 1/4 wavelength vertical)
and the front to back is over 30 dB at the peak. Four directions. It works
good for about 40 KHz of the band (great for DX contests). I do have CW and
SSB optimum settings for the parasitic elements. W5ZN, AA1K, K9CT, NR5M and
VE3EJ have built this antenna as well. It can work omni as well. Requires
one tower 120 feet tall and a LC matching network to step up the 25 ohm
feedpoint impedance.

It is easy to build and very effective. Twice from K3LR we worked over 100
DXCC in one weekend in the CQWW CW contest - from almost Ohio...

It does require five extensive ground radial systems (one under each
element). The best DX with this antenna was JT5DX in zone 23 during the CQWW
160 meter contest and this past November, RW0A in zone 18 - in the morning
local time here! 

73
Tim K3LR
-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+k3lr=k3lr.com at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Dino Darling
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2022 12:39 AM
To: Topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband: What antenna would you build?

If you may and you are willing to indulge me; if you were about to buy
5-acres with no neighbors or restrictions and wanted to erect a serious 160M
antenna system, what would you build and why? We can pass on the Radio
Arcala discussion; nobody's that cool.

A loaded 4-square? 1/4 wave stick (or longer)? Phased dipoles? (fill in the
blank)?

I've seen a 200' tower with three phased dipoles tilted on end. The end of
one side of the dipole was anchored and insulated at the top of the tower
and came down like guy cables. About half way down was the feedpoint, were
an isolated anchor cable continued down the same path to ground (like a guy
cable). However, the second half of the dipole was pulled back to the base
of the tower, from the center feedpoint insulator. It looked like an
arrowboard chevron or a regular dipole that was turned 90 degrees on its
side. The coax was horizontal back to the tower. There were three of these
spaced 120 degrees apart and fed with a phasing network to steer it. I
understand it works great.

So what would you build?

Dino - KX6D
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