[TowerTalk] 160m vertical

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

for 160 essentially, the more height/loading the better (up to a point, 
around 190 degrees, beyond which you start getting all kinds of high angle 
lobes, but not too many hams have insulated base fed 250 foot towers for 
160).   For loading, a top hat beats inductors at the base and middle 
always.  you want cheap height and rigidity.  not knowing your site, i'm 
shooting in the dark but if you have the time to scrounge, try rounding up a 
number of sections of used rohn r20.  these are light weight (but they won't 
be holding anything but a hat) and can be had for around $40 each, used ($80 
new).  if you can stack 5 on insulators and guy them they'll hold a fairly 
large hat, or you could add a vertical pipe extension to the top to get more 
height (another 10' would give you 45 degrees) and you could always hang a 
wire off the top for another 60 or 70 feet out to a tree or some other 
support.   Put at least 60 radials at least 1/8 w. down and a motorized 
matching network at the feed point and this thing would kill.

I know you asked about inductors, but if possible you should first consider 
something at the top, either a hat or wire, so the L at the bottom isn't 
huge--you'll gain more efficiency and make it possible to operate with a 
remoted matching network at the base, or tune it in the shack using a run of 
213 and have a wider freq. range.

rob / k5uj

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