[TowerTalk] Shortened 80m dipole/inverted vee

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I had little success getting it to tune on 160. It was just marginal.
But...
I was able to work VK0H on 80 cw with it with my peanut whistle so I can't
complain.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Norton KB8XU" <franknorton@home.com>
To: "Tower Talkians" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Shortened 80m dipole/inverted vee


>
> Hi Tom,
>
> U've received many excellent suggestions for "shortened" 80 meter antennas
> but here is one I haven't seen mentioned.  At several locations over the
> years I have used a combination antenna by Alpha-Delta called the DX-A.
It
> covers 160, 80 and 40 meters.  Many people see the ad and believe it to be
> a dipole-inverted vee however it is actually 3 slopers (trap loaded on 160
> meters).
>
> The DX-A is a great value, I couldn't purchase and assemble similar
quality
> components and wire separately for anywhere near the price u can buy the
> whole setup for (about $60 U.S. at AES et al).  It works extremely well on
> a 50 foot tower, or any tower with the connector of the DX-A attached near
> 40-50 feet.  At 50 feet u get a nice vertical type pattern on 80 and 40
> meters, very good for DX work in my experience.  U have to make sure ur
> tower, or other center support, is well grounded (I also use several
> radials tied into the ground system, but the radials aren't critical).
>
> I am recommending this antenna for 80 and 40 primarily.  The 160 meter
> section works as well as any shortened vertical on 160 but u definitely
> need separate receive antenna for Topband.  I have used the DX-A at 3
prior
> locations.  I have a new one ready to go up here once we get the tower and
> beams finished.
>
> The DX-A is very installation dependent as far as pattern is
concerned...ur
> tower or other center support...must be well grounded.  However I have
> friends who have excellent success with the center at 30 feet, on 3
> sections of Radio Shack TV mast, and ends drooping to 10 feet.  The
pattern
> remains omnidirectional, as far as anyone that I know can tell.  Almost
> certainly, at 30 feet, the pattern is much closer to a very stubby
inverted L.
>
> There are better antennas for 80 meter DX work, like a 3 or 4 square, or
> full size vertical dipole.  But for those of us with limited resources in
> tower height, I have not found a better DX antenna.  At 50 feet or
> less--let me know if u find anything that will work better for DX, I'm
> always looking, aren't we all?
>
> By the way, whatever u decide about 80 meter DX work.  I would never be
> without the ladder line fed dipole, for an all band antenna.  U just need
a
> way to support the ends and center, it's very easy if u give it a little
> thought.  W4COX makes and sells one he calls "the w4rqz" (it's another one
> of those rare antennas that are very hard to build cheaper than u can
> buy).  The W4RQZ dipole fits easily into 80 feet of length, u run solid
> dielectric coax like RG213 out to the matching unit at the base of the
> ladder line.  About 30 feet of ladder line runs up from there to the
> dipole, here is his web site: <http://w4cox.hypermart.net/>
>
> 73 and enjoy ur search!
>
> Frank, KB8XU
>
> >On Sat, 18 Aug 2001  Tom Anderson <ww5l@gte.net> writes:
> > >
> > > After taking a lightnming hit I'm redoing the antenna configuration
> > > on my crank
> > > up tower.  One question is does anyone know how efficient a
> > > shortened 80 meter
> > > dipole/inverted vee (80 ft) is versus the advertised "full size" 80m
> > > dipoles of
> > > 130 ft or so?  The highest I can get the apex of the dipole/inverted
> > > vee is 50
> > > ft. (I have a TriEx WT51 with a Mosley Classic 33 WARC (the the 40m
> > > kit on the
> > > driven element) on top.  The reason for investigating the shortened
> > > dipole/vee is
> > > my lot is just 100X150   Any help appreciated, or would I be doing
> > > better by
> > > putting up a vertical?
> > >
> > > Tom, WW5L
> > > Colleyville, Texas
>
>
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>
>


List Sponsored by AN Wireless:  AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
supporting towers up to 96 feet for under $1500!!  http://www.anwireless.com

-----
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