[TowerTalk] 80M Inverted V - CW and SSB

[Bryan Swadener]

My 4-wire cage inv vee was cheap and easy to build.
It's a proven design (W1AW has been using one
for decades).
 
While the free design program on smeter.net gives
all the data, even using the simple dipole formula
gets you there. Mine's a bit long, and the VSWR
curve is shifted below the middle of the band (around
3600-3625 KHz).  I expect if I optimized mine for
3750 KHz, VSWR would be no worse than around 1.5:1.
See the curve here: http://tinyurl.com/wa7prc-cage-vswr
 
I've had one for 80m up close to 10 years, continuously.
It has survived MANY windstorms. I now also drive it
on 160m as a vertical against ground; the inv vee legs
work as a top hat.
 
I also use the design during FD. Even though there is
500 feet of wire in it, it goes up and comes down FAST.
 
 
 
 
vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC


________________________________
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:19:05 -0700
From: W7ZZ
Subject: [TowerTalk] 80 meter inverted V -- CW and SSB

N6RY and I designed, built and tested a truly broadband 80 meter dipole 
that offers SWR of 1.5:1 or better across 99% of the entire band, with 
the 1% being at 1.6:1 and at the absolute top of the band.  We wrote an 
article on the antenna that had been accepted by CQ Magazine for 
publication but got "preempted" when QST, by sheer coincidence, ran an 
article on a very similar design while the CQ editing process was under way.

This antenna has been up and in operation at my station for a couple 
years now at 80 feet. It is a fantastic performer. The EZNEC files model 
a refined version at 80' (mine was an early beta version but it works so 
well I never bothered to build our final version), 60' and at 35'. The 
dimensions of the antenna and the series match change at each height.  I 
also have a 40m version up with even better results in terms of both SWR 
and performance. It is at about 80 feet also (with the models at 35, 60 
and 80feet).  I have had up a 20m version which also performed as 
predicted by EZNEC.  We designed a 160 version that, while much better 
than a regular dipole, isn't anywhere near as good as the 80-10m versions.

Let me know if you're interested. 73, W7ZZ

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:44:56 -0700
From: W7ZZ <>
Subject: [TowerTalk] 80 meter broadband dipole article

By the way, I forgot to mention but was reminded when someone mentioned a 
double bazooka antenna in their message, this antenna is as efficient as 
an ordinary dipole at the same height. Most other broadband designs are 
either difficult to build, prone to failure in the real, windy world or 
inefficient (or all of the above).  This antenna, built as recommended, 
is pretty easy to build, tough and highly efficient.

W7ZZ