[TowerTalk] Shortened Dipole on 160M
Mike & Coreen Smith
ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca
Tue, 18 Sep 2001 21:42:20 -0300
Frank, et al
Guess I missed the original post and the subsequent ones, but FWIW, I've
tried hundreds of antennas over the years
for all bands 70cm-160m, many of them on 160m.
Specifcally for 160m, in no real order:
Alpha-Delta DX-A twin sloper
Low dipole (apex @ 48')
Inverted Vee (variation of same)
Carolina Windom 160
Full wave loop (rectangle) (not horizontal loop, but perpendicular to the
Earth)
Shuntfeeding a 48' Delhi tower (with 20' mast & LOTS of antennas on top)
1/4-WL inverted L wire (top 'corner' @ 50')
5/16th-WL Inverted L wire with series cap
The last antenna BAR none kicked the others butts BIG TIME.
I strung 170' of insulated #12AWG as an inverted L over some tall Poplar
trees in my yard, with a large series air variable ~800pF and it really
works well. I have about 30-some full length 1/4wl radials)
It ain't no 4-square but it is amazing. I rarely get on 160m anymore but in
a year and a half or so I worked 150+ countries
on 160m running either 100w or 1kW.(usually the latter)
I almost always had 2 or 3 antennas on the go at any one time so always did
the "A-B" comparison thing.
I can assure you, the 5/16th inv-L cracked the pileups 8 or 9 times out of
10, the first call. Now, I live in a swamp so have great soil for 160m but
this antenna REALLY works.
Save yourself some time (AKA blood/sweat/tears) and install an inverted L.
1000' unterminated BEV for RX @ times
FWIW
Mike VE9AA
Michael, Coreen & Corey Smith
(VE9AA, VE9AAA & Baby-VE9)
271 Smith Rd
Waterville, NB
E2V 3V6
Canada
http://members.tripod.com/~ve9aa/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2174/
----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Norton KB8XU <franknorton@home.com>
To: Tower Talkians <towertalk@contesting.com>; <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 9:38 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Shortened Dipole on 160M
>
> Hello again,
>
> Thanks for the wonderful information about different 160M antennas! I
> received many private emails from all over the world in addition to all of
> the posts on Top Band and Tower Talk.
>
> My summary:
>
> First, I am definitely putting up the dipole to try on both transmit and
> receive. It will be only 0.1 lambda AGL but I received so many emails in
> favor of it that I have to give it a good comparison as a combination
> antenna as well as a receive only "low dipole". I'll report back on
> comparisons.
>
> Second, I plan to shunt feed/topload my tower for the same series of
> comparisons as with the dipole. Yes, even using the vertical as a receive
> only antenna!
>
> Third, I am erecting a an inverted L in the center of my backyard where I
> can get a better radial field under it than under the tower. It will be
> fairly close to the tower in lambda fractions, but I will detune the tower
> with a relay during use of the inverted L (and other suggested shapes for
> the 0.25 lambda wire. This will also allow comparisons about diameter of
> the radiator and some other suggested "shape change" experiments that were
> suggested. (it's pretty difficult to alter the shape or slope of a tower
> ;o) !!
>
> Fourth, I am going to try several different height and length low wire
> receive antennas, even though they will be far too short to be considered
a
> beverage.
>
> Finally, thanks to Pete/N4ZR and then several others, I remembered the
K9AY
> loop array and will definitely put that up ASAP (actually a slight
> variation on the theme). I may try another small loop or larger loop if I
> can fit it in (both time wise, and space wise) on my double lot.
>
> It will be a very interesting fall getting ready for Winter season, while
> trying to get up at all hours to listen on Top Band!
>
> Thanks to each and every one of you who made a comment. Together they
form
> quite a Gestalt of antennas for 160M. (Just for info: Gestalt was a man
> who said most system views are greater than the sum of the parts.)
>
> 73 de Frank KB8XU
>
>
> 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 100 feet for under $1500!!
http://www.anwireless.com
>
> -----
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
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 100 feet for under $1500!! http://www.anwireless.com
-----
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com