[TowerTalk] 80 meter double extended zepp

[Tim Duffy K3LR]

The double extended (two 5/8 wave elements) zepp is one of my all time favorite wire multi band antennas. I just picked up two of this exact antenna from open wire guru, W7FG, earlier this week This antenna has gain over a standard 1/2 wave dipole (almost 1.8 dB on 80 and more on the higher bands).  It should be fed with open wire the whole way (no coax, no baluns, no magic boxes) to a high performance antenna tuner that is balanced line capable. In my
opinion the best tuner for this application is the Johnson Matchbox. I have also had good success with the Heath 2060 and 2060A. Sure you have to adjust the tuner when you QSY, but the performance of the antenna is super! There is no free lunch!

73!
Tim K3LR

http://www.k3lr.com

Thomas Rieff wrote:

> I recently built a 80 double extended zepp using the HamCalc configuration.I cut the lengths for 3.555 MHz. Hoping for a broader multiband performance with a tuner. The lengths are as follows...168.4 ft for each top leg and 38 ft of 450 ohm ladder line for the matching section and then into a 1:1 current balun.
> My question is should the swr be 1:1 for the design frequency, is it attainable, or are double extended zepps inherently a high swr antenna. It currently runs about 5:1 without the tuner and goes higher on the other bands.I have not done any trimming or adding to the antenna lenghs. The information says to trim the ladder line matching section for lowering the swr. Another source I found said that the ladder line matching section should be cut at 30 ft.
> I see a couple of options; scrap the balun and coax and run ladder line directly to the tuner, start trimming the ladder line (what is a reasonable amount per test?), scrap the antenna entirely and put up something else. I recently built a 40 meter loop with 72 ohm matching section and it worked perfectly 1:1, at its design frequency. I have a fair amount of room to put up wire.
> Your thoughts are appreciated.
> Tom KC0PYK
>
>
> KC0PYK
> Thomas Rieff
> 2059 Sundance Lane
> North Mankato, MN 56003
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