TopBand: Need advice on EWE installation

W8JITom@aol.com W8JITom@aol.com
Wed, 11 Sep 1996 21:59:45 -0400


In a message dated 96-09-11 17:10:17 EDT, you write:

>
>Now, here's the problem... neither antenna seems to be directional... both
>receive equally well in  all directions. With or without the preamp. My
>next step is to replace the fixed resistors with variable and so some on the
>air tuning... but before I put on my track shoes and do some flashlight
>"tweaking" (not enough 160 meter signals here in daytime), has anybody else
>had
>experience in optimizing directivity of a EWE in a hillside woods with poor
>ground conductivity?

I tried EWE's here and they were useless. Soil about 4 mS/m. The only way I
could get them to work at all was with a large ground screen, and that was
too much work.

I did a EWE survey last year on topband. About half the respondents said they
just marginally worked, with only one or two reporting they worked well.
Anyone that had even a short Beverage generally reported the Beverage much
better.

But the $64,000 question is did you isolate the feedline with a good choke
balun or two and some ground rods?  The feedline can couple all kinds of
trash into the antenna.

73 Tom

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