[TowerTalk] Yardley Beers' Symmetrical Antenna

[Dave Mueller]

Hi to the group.

I've searched the net (including the archives here) with no luck, so I
figured I'd join and ask my question.

I put down a radial field large enough to support a 160 meter inverted L.
Currently, I have an 80 meter element that I drop and add a segment to for
160 M coverage a few times a year.  I'd like to find a way to use a single
antenna on both bands.  I anticipate an amp in my future, so I'd like to
avoid using a tuner if possible (especially since a quarter wave on 160
would be a high impedance end fed half wave on 80).

I came across a few references to Yardley Beers' (W0JF) article on trap
antennas from an old HR magazine (August 1987).  The concept is interesting
but I've read it several times and am having a hard time following his
design procedure, even using his numbers.  Ideally, I'd like to put it into
a spreadsheet so I can make the iterative process faster, and easier to
modify.

A few mail list archives have referenced some DOS software by a G4 ham,
which I downloaded and ran.  I couldn't get it to provide a valid solution
with anything approaching a quarter wave of wire on 160 M.

So has anyone been able to duplicate the design process?

Thanks
Dave AA3EE