[TowerTalk] Design Suggestion pls

[Sylvan Katz]

I like to contest! I enjoy CW  the most!

Like most amateurs I live in a residential area. At the moment I am in
the process of designing a single op, contest station that will allow me
to have fun and be some what competitive in my class and geographical
area.

VE5 land is prone to aurora blackouts and 10m/15m are  probably the best
dx bands but 20m is not too bad.

I would like some input  from the group to help me with my antenna
system design.  Here are the raw materials I have to work with:

- a  Rohn FK25G 58' folder over tower (guyed at 25' and 58') on an
insulated base
- a   35' tv tower attached to the house standing on an insulated base
- 20' of 2" OD  schedule 40 aluminum mast pipe
- 2 gem spiders and 16 quad arms
- a used TailTwister rotator with analogue indicator
- a light weight TV antenna rotator
- 2 x 35' popup masts
- a transco SP3T remote antenna switch

The Rohn will handle 100 lb load, 14 sq ft antenna surface area in 75
mph winds (we rarely get 75 mph winds). The winter temperatures go to
-45C from time to time (the wind chill can be off the chart) but the
temperature usually hovers around -20C to -35C for a few weeks in
Jan/Feb/March. The tower is situated in the center of the yard and it
can just accommodate an antenna with a 36' turning radius.

I am struggling with some standard questions like

- do I optimize for a single band - say 15m?
- if I go for all band setup what do I use on 160/80/40?
- can I use the top set of guys on the Rohn as four  40m sloping dipoles
(my guy radius is 36')?
- should I use the gem quad bits to build a 3 el 20m and, 4 el 10/15m on
say a 22' boom?
- should I buy a high performance multi-monoband yagi like the C31XR?
- how do I minimize my coax runs but at the same time keep the antenna
switching costs in check?

The summer season is coming to a close and I need to make my decision
reasonably soon so I can be ready for this year's contest season. I am
sure many of you have faced these questions. Your advice and suggestions
would be sincerely appreciated.

tnx ... Sylvan

PS - please consider  that I have a reasonable but finite budget.  1 Can
dollar = 0.68 US dolalr. Shipping costs can be high and there is up to a
10% duty on some items.

--
Sylvan Katz
Saskatoon, Sask
VE5ZX & G0TZX



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