[TowerTalk] 4 square for 80

[cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

This will be my first foray into the world of 4 square xmit antennas.

Plans are to make the elements from wire, suspended from the tower by rope at about 80 feet.  Due to the slope of the ropes from the tower to the ground, the elements might wind up a little short.  Plans were to T-top them running the wire parallel to the rope.  The elements might be around 60 feet so it would not be that hard to T top them to make up the extra length needed for 1/4 wave.

I had planned to do the following:  Have an elevated ground system a 1/4 wave radials running from the base of each vertical.  Height of the system would be 10 feet.  Radial system would consist of 16 radials for each vertical using the Comtek 4 square system to control it.

In talking with the guys at DX Engineering about the planned setup I was given the not so good news.

First, I was told you CAN NOT use an elevated ground system with the 4 square.

Second, I was told the tower would interfere with the system.  They said I would have to cage the tower to make it "invisible" to the system.  Caging the tower is impossible since it is a rotating tower and the cage would wrap on the stacks mounted on the tower.

Was he right about all of this?

I can not put up another tower due to tower restrictions (one tower allowed), so the only way I can get enough height to suspend the wires is to use the tower I have.  The county thinks anything 60 feet high constitutes another tower, so I can't make aluminum verticals.  No trees around either for supports.

I really am in a bind for 80 if all this is true.  An inverted Vee  at 80 feet is far inferior to the 4 square I had planned.

Ideas and thoughts on this?

Bill K4XS/KH7XS