[TowerTalk] Wire antenna help needed

[Michael Adams]

I'm not an expert. But FWIW, my default "if I could only have one wire" antenna at my QTH is a Carolina Windom, mostly because my trees and shack location naturally suggest an OCF.

I do not run power. I do add an extra choke on the feedline. New England is less UV-intensive than Florida.

At 60 feet with an 80m CW, I feel semi-competitive on 80, and am able to have fun on 60 and 30-12. 40 is frustrating for me with that antenna due to the pattern and noise. The antenna will radiate on 10 and 6, but....

The 80m Carolina Windom was my first HF antenna. I had all my antennas down for several months last year when attempting to sell the house...But when circumstances evolved and the move was cancelled, the Carolina Windom was the first antenna I put back up. (And a 40m delta loop went up immediately thereafter.)


--
Michael Adams | mda at n1en.org



________________________________
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <lists at subich.com>
Sent: 22 Mar 2017 13:49
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wire antenna help needed


I would not recommend the Carolina Windom as I had one literally fall
apart due to UV degradation of the PVC DMU (feedpoint) housing here in
Florida.

Look for a product with a QUALITY *balanced* common mode choke at the
feedpoint and be prepared to find another antenna for 60, 30, 17 and/or
15 meters as the standard OCF antenna is not well matched on those
bands unless the feedpoint "matching unit" has significant losses.

Some "playing" with the feedpoint position may help with adding bands
to the typical 80/40/20/10 line up.  See W8JI's work:
    https://www.w8ji.com/windom_off_center_fed.htm

If you are capable of making your own high quality (Rutheroff style)
4:1 "balun" to handle the desired power level, it may be practical
to make your own W8JI 80/20 OCF for 80/40/30/20/15/12/10 meters.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV



On 3/22/2017 10:14 AM, K7LXC--- via TowerTalk wrote:
> Howdy, TowerTalkians --
>
>     I need some feedback on a multiband wire antenna.  I'm looking for
> something that's already assembled and works decently. 80-10  would be nice and
> we can use a tuner. It doesn't have to be a stellar performer.  DX
> Engineering has a bunch and I've installed a Carolina Windom before but  don't know
> much else about it.
>
>     I'm interested in your experience or other info you  might have. All
> comments appreciated!
>
> Cheers,
> Steve    K7LXC
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