Topband: What antenna would you build?

[Bob Kile]

Hi Dino,

You did not mention cost as a factor in consideration of a vertical 
array.  On 5 acres a good full sized vertical and KW with a good effort 
in ground system would likely do the job. A strong effort in low noise 
RX antennas would be required because a single vertical won't cut the 
job in that respect.

On a well sited 5 acres you could fit a 4 SQ array or a 5 el K5ZN system.

I would suggest that 1/4 wave towers are not needed in vertical arrays 
if overall cost is a factor. I have successfully used 43ft push up masts 
for almost 20 years at my remote. The driven and parasitic masts  have 
two top loading wires about 75ft long hung inverted V style with a small 
tuning inductor at the base. Feed point impedance is about 12.5 Ohms 
matched by un-un.  A full sized massive ground system is required to 
optimum coupling of elements which is no small undertaking.

The advantage of 3el end-fire or 4 element end-fire arrays is you do not 
need a lot of separate low RX antennas unless station is set up for 
multiple operators. They have a very decent RDF figure. This of course 
depends on your noise environment. there are no separate RX antennas at 
W7RH remote.

Again as suggested refer to ON4UN Low band DXing. Check out K7CA/ N7JW 
RX arrays which are also used for transmitting.

Also see my site at http://w7rh.net

73

Bob W7RH