My dos centavos...sent direct to K7XQ yesterday evening. Sounds like the other responses, but I think more radials should do the trick even if they are not straight or uniformly spaced, although elevated ones should be as straight as possible. 73, JH W6UQZ
--- On Sat, 1/12/13, jh-...@sbcglobal.net <jh-...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: jh-...@sbcglobal.net <jh-...@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA To: k...@elite.net Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013, 7:14 PM Some advice, from a ham who worked 93 countries on top band from an apartment in Monterey, including 9 EUs in one nite, several African countries, and deep into Central Asia, using a full-sized zig-zagged and bent inverted L. YOU NEED MORE RADIALS....7-9 minimum if your feedpoint is on the ground, only 4 if it is raised 10' off the ground. Do you have a metal fence around your property? If so, connect that up to add to your radial system. You can also use a Folded Counterpoise system (look up W0UCE and K2AV). A listening loop (made of hardline) or rotatable Waller flag RX antenna would also help immensely. I used my TX ant as the RX ant. So....adding radials (up to 60 if you can manage it) and an RX ant is what you need. 73, JH W6UQZ --- On Sat, 1/12/13, k...@elite.net <k...@elite.net> wrote: From: k...@elite.net <k...@elite.net> Subject: Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA To: topband@contesting.com Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013, 12:49 PM Hello All, I just assigned myself onto this forum, its been a long time and needs some help and would appreciate some questions answered on this huge experienced based forum. First, I want to describe my problem. I have a 1/2 acre lot in the back property where I install my antennas. The largest HF antenna is a HyGain Hy Tower which works great on 40 and 80. On 160, I run a separate radiator that runs up the side of the hytower separated by 6 inch insulators up to the top and then runs horizontal sloped from the top of the hygain hytower downward to a fence support that results in a full sized 1/4 WL inverted L on 160. The 160 meter feedpoint is common to the hytower feedpoint. I live in the central valley of California which is only about 300 feet ASL. I do not live near the coast nor live in the "high desert ". Some facts regarding this station: 1. I still have not copied or worked into Europe. I have been on this band somewhat seriously for at least 5 years 2. I hear a few Russians but they don't hear me. 3. I heard a FM5 last few nights peaking 559, called him countleesly with no QSO. My power is about 800 W on this band ( single 3-500 ). I am looking into finding a single GS35 amp for all bands on HF....love that tube. 4. I don't have the capacity to erect a full size radiator on this band although I am curious about the Titanix 160 vertical, what it is and is it worth looking into ? 5. I have read a lot about the K9AY RX loop. I have room for is antenna but before I construct one, what are your opinions ? 6. I also read about a 225 foot beverage run close to the ground as a RX ant. How does this compare to the K9AY loop ? 7. What is the best "short 160 vertical configuration" that has the best performance for working DX ? 8. You will notice I mentioned that I only run a single ground radial on each band. Would adding lets say 3 more Make the difference between night and day for TX or RX ? I think that's about it for now...73..... Jeff K7XQ Atwater, CA. K7XQ website: http://users.elite.net/k7xq/k7xq.html _________________ Topband Reflector _________________ Topband Reflector