[TowerTalk] 160m project

[Mark Robinson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett at alum.mit.edu>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, 11 January, 2009 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 160m project


> KE4VYN:
> >I am in the design stage of a dipole antenna for 160m and
> would like some professional input in case I missed something.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>         The best advice I can give you is to scrap the
> idea of a dipole for 160 and consider an inverted-L, even
> if you can only get the vertical part up 50 feet.  At any
> practical height (i.e. <1/2 wavelength or 270'), a dipole
> will mainly be a cloud warmer useful for local QSOs (300
> miles or less).  An inverted-L is a good DX antenna however
> it also requires a good ground system (at least 20 each 50'
> radials) which might be a lot to ask even of a good friend.
>
>                                         73,  Bill W4ZV
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have to agree there. I have a low 160m dipole (it works great on 30m hi 
hi) but I struggle with dx on 160m....I can just about make the Caribbean 
with it from North Carolina with 600 watts. I am looking at putting up an 
inverted L now.

Mark N1UK