When I got on the air at this QTH in 2006 I installed a Carolina Windom from Radio Works. It is about 40 feet high and fed with a short piece of RG8X. I thought it a great antenna and worked some contests and a lot of DX. Later, I installed a 30 foot vertical with one radial and found it much superior on 40 and 15. Then I installed a 65 ft tower with a 3 element SteppIR 30/40 and worked DXCC in 31 days. Then I installed a 40 and 80 inverted Vee fed with a common coax. Then I installed an Inverted L with an 80 meter trap for 80 and 160. The Carolina Windom is still up, but it is not the preferred antenna for any band at any distance. I find that the OCF is the best antenna only if it is your only antenna, but I have not compared it to a Buddy Pole. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart
________________________________ From: Bill <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 3:50 PM Subject: [Elecraft] OCF antennas I have found the easiest single antenna to utilize is the OCF - it is coax fed, making easy routing of the feedline. The K3's ATU handles it fine (as does my TS-480 SAT). Dimensions for the version I use: 88' on one leg and 44 ' on the other leg. For a center insulator/balun I use the http://www.balundesigns.com/servlet/the-75/OCF-balun-4-cln-1/Detail I use #12 stranded insulated wire (not house wire) available from any of several ham distributors. Works FB for what I do with it, which is mostly rag chew on 40 and 75 SSB. However, I have used on the higher bands with good success also. The pattern does get somewhat directional as you move up from the primary design frequency. If you have room for a couple of them at right angles - that might be of an advantage. Bill W2BLC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
