[TowerTalk] Help with 80 meter temp antenna

[Jim Brown]

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:29:31 -0500, Stone, Gary R. wrote:

>2- I could sting up a temporary vertical wire with 40 or more radials
>laid on the ground.  To do this I could string a rope from the top of
>the tower to a large tree and drop the vertical down from the rope?

With the height you have available, this is a VERY good option if you can 
do a reasonable radial system (25-40 radials that are at least 30-40 ft, 
and not necessarily symmetrically oriented), and probably the best based on 
your description. I have a 70 ft vertical wire here over 25 radials that 
are 67 ft long. It works well on 160, and VERY well on 80 (10 dB better 
than a dipole at 35 ft). No surprise -- the dipole is better at distances 
shorter than about 200 miles. 

If you want to work 160, you could also top-load the vertical by connecting 
it to a horizontal wire to increase its electrical length, making it more 
efficient on 160. My vertical wire is top loaded by an 80/40 dipole. I 
regularly work across the Pacific with it into ZL and JA, and it's good to 
all of the US.  

73,

Jim Brown K9YC