[Towertalk] Antenna Suggestions Wanted!

[John Tait]

Hi Barry...

Subject: [Towertalk] Antenna Suggestions Wanted!


> Hi.  After reading many, many posts from the archives here and elsewhere I
have decided to ask for suggestions from the many experts and more
knowledgable people here.  I am looking to improve my 80/75 and 160 signals
(with 75m domestic contests the priority).  I live on a corner city lot in
central Columbus, Ohio.  I have a LOT of trees on this lot.  Currently my
station consists of a Mosely Classic 33 on a Glen Martin rooftop tower on my
garage (can't do a tower without cutting down a tree or two) and a
Alpha-Delta 40-80-160 trap dipole  with an apex at about 40'.    This
antenna is suspended in an Inverted V shape from a rope strung between two
of my trees.  These are two of four of the largest trees that are pretty
much at the corners of the house and are 60+ feet in height.  The 40m
portion of this works great.  Currently I am considering an 80 and/or 160
meter inverted L's using either an 80 meter trap and one wire or two
separate l's fed at the same point.  Being a corner lot I cannot do equal
in-ground radials but elevated radials may be an option.  Am I on the right
path with the l's or are there other (better) possibilities out there?

  I've done inverted Ls...trapped and otherwise, and they work well, but
like 1/4 w/l verticals, they are dependant on a good ground system.
IF you CAN'T get down an acceptable ground, there's an effective
alternative...vertical dipoles...
   Take a look at Don K2KQ's version at
http://www.yccc.org/Features/double_l.htm
I'm using 45ft dipoles. loaded top and bottom (cap hat wire) on 80 and 160m.
They compare favourably with my Inverted L, and various 1/4 w/l verticals
that I've built.  For some reason, the dipoles are quieter in RX than the
others...'dunno why...Not that it's an issue here, as I use a K9AY on RX
anyway.
The dipoles are much quicker to erect, as they're only 2 dimensional (no
ground system)...Those trees of yours sound ready made for the job..
    I'll send you drawings of my phased 80m dipoles directly..
        73
      John EI7BA   http://www.iol.ie/~bravo/