Re: Topband: Need antenna help
The problem with adding a top wire to your 43 foot vertical is that it is probably not made to support a wire pulling on it at the top, unless it's cross section is uniform and it is guyed at the mid-point and top so it doesn't pull over. What is often done in this situation is that a trap is employed at the top between the vertical and wire so any RF above 160 m. doesn't make it to the wire. That was the HyGain HyTower 160 m. add-on kit design. Or, you can use the 43 foot vertical (if it is strong enough) to hold a separate wire on insulated standoffs for 160 and feed the wire at the base for 160. I do that with my 1/4 w. 80 m. vertical; the inverted L wire is about 3 feet out from the 80 m. mast. To be honest, I recommend something like that for 160 and 80 m., over the same ground system, with some other solution for 40 on up. I'm not a big fan of the 43 foot vertical which has some strange fascination for many hams. 73 Rob K5UJ _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Need antenna help
Many thanks, gents, for the responses. The intended operation would include domestic and DX work, but not to "set the world on fire." The op has a modest station, and I believe he will only be running in the 100-200 Watt class. The other intention is to use the 43 ft vertical on all bands from 160-10, so that's why I thought adding the horizontal wire and switching it in would be the solution. But I especially wish to thank Joe, W4TV, for the 2 fine articles that I think provide the best practical solution. My friend is a fairly new ham, so I can help him with building the matching network, even supplying some of the parts. Thank you all for your assistance. I will now send him the applicable info. 73 and Best Wishes for the Holidays, Fred W2AAB On Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 11:02 AM Artek Manuals wrote: > The first question to ask is what is the operating goal for 160. > > 1) Local net or rag chew with his buddies.? In that case use the > existing vertical assuming the AATU can match it is enough . Might have > to a add lump loading coil at base to get it the point AATU can deal > with it . Generally this is a low impedance solution and likely a good > open frame style relay with 10-20 amp contacts area will be fine > > 2) Casual worked all states and occasional EU DX especially from NE USA > . I worked a fair amount of DX years ago using only a 33ft Butternut > vertical and a KW which for all practical purposes is a simple base > loaded vertical > > 3) Is high power involved or is this a barefoot operation? > > 4) If he really wants to be heard ( and be able to switch the neighbors > touch lamps on and off at 25 wpm ..chuckle) then switched in top loading > wires and 1500W amp is the reality. OR move to the county and put up > some real antennas. > > Dave > > NR1DX > > On 12/7/2021 10:29 AM, FRED BELGHAUS wrote: > > Gentlemen: > > > > I am trying to assist a friend from my local radio club in his efforts to > > get his station on 160. He has a 43 foot vertical with 60 ground mounted > > radials, and an AATU at the base. He sends DC on the coax to operate the > > AATU. > > > > I would think that it might be possible to add a horizontal wire at the > > top, and switch in the > > additional length to convert the vertical into an inverted L for 160, but > > the specifics of how best to do this are not clear to me. I imagine a > > vacuum relay would be the best method, but where should it be located, > and > > so on. > > > > Rather than trying a number of possible things that might work (but not > > very well), I am asking the experts on this list to provide the best > > method, with specific instructions as to how to accomplish this, or > > provide > > a reasonable alternative method that would produce successful results on > > 160. > > > > I can furnish my friend's email for direct contact with him. > > > > Many thanks in advance for your assistance. > > > > 73, > > > > Fred W2AAB > > _ > > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > > Reflector > > -- > Dave manu...@artekmanuals.com www.ArtekManuals.com > > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Need antenna help
The first question to ask is what is the operating goal for 160. 1) Local net or rag chew with his buddies.? In that case use the existing vertical assuming the AATU can match it is enough . Might have to a add lump loading coil at base to get it the point AATU can deal with it . Generally this is a low impedance solution and likely a good open frame style relay with 10-20 amp contacts area will be fine 2) Casual worked all states and occasional EU DX especially from NE USA . I worked a fair amount of DX years ago using only a 33ft Butternut vertical and a KW which for all practical purposes is a simple base loaded vertical 3) Is high power involved or is this a barefoot operation? 4) If he really wants to be heard ( and be able to switch the neighbors touch lamps on and off at 25 wpm ..chuckle) then switched in top loading wires and 1500W amp is the reality. OR move to the county and put up some real antennas. Dave NR1DX On 12/7/2021 10:29 AM, FRED BELGHAUS wrote: Gentlemen: I am trying to assist a friend from my local radio club in his efforts to get his station on 160. He has a 43 foot vertical with 60 ground mounted radials, and an AATU at the base. He sends DC on the coax to operate the AATU. I would think that it might be possible to add a horizontal wire at the top, and switch in the additional length to convert the vertical into an inverted L for 160, but the specifics of how best to do this are not clear to me. I imagine a vacuum relay would be the best method, but where should it be located, and so on. Rather than trying a number of possible things that might work (but not very well), I am asking the experts on this list to provide the best method, with specific instructions as to how to accomplish this, or provide a reasonable alternative method that would produce successful results on 160. I can furnish my friend's email for direct contact with him. Many thanks in advance for your assistance. 73, Fred W2AAB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector -- Dave manu...@artekmanuals.com www.ArtekManuals.com -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
