[TowerTalk] Force12 EF-180B rotary dipole

[john at kk9a.com]

When I lived in Illinois I had a homebrew linear loaded 90+ ft element
rotatable dipole. I modeled it in AO I do not recall anything unusual but
I really think you need NEC4 to properly model the loading wires. The
antenna worked well except the bandwidth did not allow SSB and RTTY/CW
operation. I know that stainless steel is a poorer conductor but I wonder
it you could use SS wire rope for the loading wires.

John KK9A



George Dubovsky n4ua wrote:

I just acquired a used F12 80 meter dipole with the linear-loading wires. I
have read everything I can find online about this design (mostly in Tower
Talk) and I have a few questions.

Has anyone modeled this antenna with the linear loading? I am curious as to
how much L the linear loading wires present.

I have read reports of folks using coils instead of the LL wires. Has
anyone published real details of the modification, including any necessary
element reinforcing or trussing?

Is there a source of the Alumoweld wire if I should put it back up using
the original design? The existing wires appear to be in usable shape, but
all of the clamps are rusted and I don't know what  I will find when I
remove them.

Any and all advice concerning this antenna is cheerfully solicited... ;-).

73,

geo - n4ua