[TowerTalk] Beverage Antenna

[Howard Hoyt]

>>Hans Hammarquist said:
>>Hi Fellow Towertalkers,
>>I'm considering putting "up" a Beverage antenna

I just competed in the CW CW 160 Contest last week with a new pair of KD9SV reversible beverages, and they worked very well.  The S/N increase is remarkable compared to my 235' OCF transmit antenna I used to use.  It is a rare day in winter when the noise floor on 160 is less than S6-9 here with signals coming in around S9-S9+20 or so.  On the Beverages with the preamp enabled to get the same signal strength the noise floor is S1 or so, an increase in S/N of ~30dB!

I highly recommend the KD9SV system, it is a fraction of the price of some other reversible Beverage systems, and uses surplus WD-1A military field comm wire.  This wire is almost invisible strung at 8-10 feet and is VERY inexpensive on eBay.  Compare it to the cost and huge size/visibility of 450 ohm window line used by other systems, or even the THHN recommended by those who assemble their own.

As a bonus, I find this system offers excellent performance to 20M, although with less of an advantage in directivity and gain as the frequency increases.  Last year I barely heard any EU in the CQ 160 contest, this year I think I heard most of them...but as I was competing in the LP class at 150W, had trouble working many...I'll have to save my pennies to get a amp...

Gary, KD9SV is a nice guy and will answer emails as well, highly recommended!

Howie - WA4PSC