[TowerTalk] Low 160m Dipole - how bad?

[john at kk9a.com]

I have tried a low 160m dipole/  inverted V many times from the Caribbean
and they are incredibly bad.  I had much better luck on 80m with a low
dipole.  On top band you usually need something vertically polarized for TX.


John KK9A



Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:

So, this past weekend I pretty much got skunked on Topband as my 160m
inverted L died after the first QSO in the NAQP CW contest and I had no 160m
backup antenna.(only band I don't currently have a backup for)

 

About the only thing I would be able to manage as a "backup" antenna here is
a slightly ends-bent horizontal dipole, but only up 25' (that's roughly like
having a 20m dipole up ~3.3' if I've done my math correctly.)

 

Has anyone used a low 160m dipole at only 25'?

 

Have you worked coast to coast (NA) or any DX?

 

I know all about verticals, inverted L's etc. I have a yard chock full of
them.   I have terrible soil conductivity here, but am at pretty good height
ASL, so do "OK" on VHF/HF.

 

My specific question is for a low (cloud warmer) dipole on Topband.

 

Tnx All!

 

CU (all of a sudden!) in the next one.

 

Mike VE9AA "NB"