Re: Topband: Band Report
Hi Dave and Gang, This morning I was on from 0600 to around 0730 UTC and the band was in great condition into Europe from the Midwest (but lots of QSB), and at the same time I heard KH6 really pounding in strong. I typically call conditions like this morning as one of those special days that occurs only a handful of times a year on 160 meters. Stations like DL5AXX and SM5EDX were at times peaking 25 to 30 dB above my noise floor, but there were lots of smaller stations easily workable which is an indicator of very good conditions. Here is a link to a recording of DL5AXX that I made this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEqLKMjG7L8 73, Don (wd8dsb) On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 3:47 PM wrote: > Greetings Topbanders. . . > > Tree’s recent post commenting that “the band is in great shape” has some > truth. Conditions on topband this morning from the Midwest (Iowa) to JA > were outstanding. Conditions to at least part of VK were also good as the > VK4CT RBN had me at 14 db. . .virtually the highest I’ve seen > (simultaneously Luke/VK3HJ, 1000 miles to the south, said I was weak). Not > only were conditions good but the QRN level was the lowest I’ve seen it in > quite a while. While the quiet band certainly helps S/N and pulling out > the weak ones, absolute signal levels this morning were on par with the > highest so far this season. I only worked a total of eight JA stations . . > .six of which responded to my CQs and two of which were CQing and I > sought. After about 60 minutes I finally gave up and went QRT. Five or 10 > years ago these kinds of conditions would have easily netted 15, 20, or > even 30 JA QSOs and probably a couple in Z19. Needless to say, things have > changed. > > 73. . .Dave, W0FLS > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Band Report
I heard TZ4AM last night here in AZ on my one and only antenna, my 55' inverted-L. I didn't call, since I've worked him before. Wes N7WS. On 12/17/2018 3:33 PM, Gary Smith wrote: Last night around 0500Z or thereabouts, TZ4AM was coming into Connecticut at an easy 15 over 9 on the HI-Z Circle 8. I haven't heard any signal from that part of the world that strong in some years. He was working EU & Russia, didn't return to me but truly amazing signals. Maybe tonight if the conditions are duplicated. 73, Gary KA1J _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Band Report
Hi Gary, Jeff, TZ4AM just got back, and does not have a Beverage up for NA yet. He is in a high noise area ,and receiving is difficult. 73 Bruce-k1fz On Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:33:42 -0500, "Gary Smith" wrote: Last night around 0500Z or thereabouts, TZ4AM was coming into Connecticut at an easy 15 over 9 on the HI-Z Circle 8. I haven't heard any signal from that part of the world that strong in some years. He was working EU & Russia, didn't return to me but truly amazing signals. Maybe tonight if the conditions are duplicated. 73, Gary KA1J > Greetings Topbanders. . . > > Trees recent post commenting that "the band is in great shape" > has some truth. Conditions on topband this morning from the Midwest > (Iowa) to JA were outstanding. Conditions to at least part of VK were > also good as the VK4CT RBN had me at 14 db. . .virtually the highest > Ive seen (simultaneously Luke/VK3HJ, 1000 miles to the south, said > I was weak). Not only were conditions good but the QRN level was the > lowest Ive seen it in quite a while. While the quiet band > certainly helps S/N and pulling out the weak ones, absolute signal > levels this morning were on par with the highest so far this season. > I only worked a total of eight JA stations . . .six of which responded > to my CQs and two of which were CQing and I sought. After about 60 > minutes I finally gave up and went QRT. Five or 10 years ago these > kinds of conditions would have easily netted 15, 20, or even 30 JA > QSOs and probably a couple in Z19. Needless to say, things have > changed. > > 73. . .Dave, W0FLS > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Inverted L improvement question
Mt 2 pence is I'd do the vertical wire to the 100' limb and if possible, get the remaining 30 or so feet out as horizontal as possible to make an inverted L, you have a nice vertical component with 100'. I have a sloper using a radial bed somewhat like yours and it works very nicely. I don't need a tuner anymore and I think I get out pretty well, all considering. 73 and good luck, Gary KA1J > Hello, > > Yes, I'm a 160m newbie but have been licensed and active since 1990. I > have CW/Phone experience on HF but I'm just getting my feet wet on > 160m. I participated in the ARRL 160 CW contest and had a great time. > I will also be particiapating in the Stew and the CQ contests in > January. I'd like some opinions or thoughs on making my modest > antenna a little better. I have worked and confirmed 40 states in a > couple of weeks on CW and FT-8 but the DX (both hearing and > transmitting to by PSK Reporter stats) has been elusive. > > So, here's my setup. I made an inverted L using a DX Engineering 43' > vertical and I attached a 90' horizontal wire (that slopes up a > little) to the top. I have a radial field of 60-70 radials with > varying lengths from 125' to around 40' with the overall average being > about 60' in length. I have a remote tuner at the base of the > vertical. Also, I'm only running 100 watts, so that may be an issue. > Furthest I've completed and confirmed a QSO is South Africa but > nothing to Europe. I am in the Seattle, WA area. Overall, I guess I'm > happy it works at all but I'm ready for some ideas on improvement. > > My situation/question is this: I could, with minimal effort, attach a > vertical wire to a tree limb at about 100' height right over the > existing radial field. That would then replace the DX Engineering > vertical and I would run a horizontal capacitance hat wire from the > top of the 100' tall wire. My plan would be to use the existing radial > field, disconnect the current vertical and connect the new wire to the > tuner/radial field instead. > > Would you wise and experienced Topbanders expect any performance > increase from the increased vertical length or should I just stick > with what I have now? Also, if I do this, what length of wire would be > recommended for the top horizontal section? > > Any ideas or thoughts would be great. Be gentle... > > 73, > Todd - NR7RR > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Band Report
Last night around 0500Z or thereabouts, TZ4AM was coming into Connecticut at an easy 15 over 9 on the HI-Z Circle 8. I haven't heard any signal from that part of the world that strong in some years. He was working EU & Russia, didn't return to me but truly amazing signals. Maybe tonight if the conditions are duplicated. 73, Gary KA1J > Greetings Topbanders. . . > > Tree´s recent post commenting that "the band is in great shape" > has some truth. Conditions on topband this morning from the Midwest > (Iowa) to JA were outstanding. Conditions to at least part of VK were > also good as the VK4CT RBN had me at 14 db. . .virtually the highest > I´ve seen (simultaneously Luke/VK3HJ, 1000 miles to the south, said > I was weak). Not only were conditions good but the QRN level was the > lowest I´ve seen it in quite a while. While the quiet band > certainly helps S/N and pulling out the weak ones, absolute signal > levels this morning were on par with the highest so far this season. > I only worked a total of eight JA stations . . .six of which responded > to my CQs and two of which were CQing and I sought. After about 60 > minutes I finally gave up and went QRT. Five or 10 years ago these > kinds of conditions would have easily netted 15, 20, or even 30 JA > QSOs and probably a couple in Z19. Needless to say, things have > changed. > > 73. . .Dave, W0FLS > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Inverted L improvement question
Hello, Yes, I'm a 160m newbie but have been licensed and active since 1990. I have CW/Phone experience on HF but I'm just getting my feet wet on 160m. I participated in the ARRL 160 CW contest and had a great time. I will also be particiapating in the Stew and the CQ contests in January. I'd like some opinions or thoughs on making my modest antenna a little better. I have worked and confirmed 40 states in a couple of weeks on CW and FT-8 but the DX (both hearing and transmitting to by PSK Reporter stats) has been elusive. So, here's my setup. I made an inverted L using a DX Engineering 43' vertical and I attached a 90' horizontal wire (that slopes up a little) to the top. I have a radial field of 60-70 radials with varying lengths from 125' to around 40' with the overall average being about 60' in length. I have a remote tuner at the base of the vertical. Also, I'm only running 100 watts, so that may be an issue. Furthest I've completed and confirmed a QSO is South Africa but nothing to Europe. I am in the Seattle, WA area. Overall, I guess I'm happy it works at all but I'm ready for some ideas on improvement. My situation/question is this: I could, with minimal effort, attach a vertical wire to a tree limb at about 100' height right over the existing radial field. That would then replace the DX Engineering vertical and I would run a horizontal capacitance hat wire from the top of the 100' tall wire. My plan would be to use the existing radial field, disconnect the current vertical and connect the new wire to the tuner/radial field instead. Would you wise and experienced Topbanders expect any performance increase from the increased vertical length or should I just stick with what I have now? Also, if I do this, what length of wire would be recommended for the top horizontal section? Any ideas or thoughts would be great. Be gentle... 73, Todd - NR7RR _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Band Report
Greetings Topbanders. . . Tree’s recent post commenting that “the band is in great shape” has some truth. Conditions on topband this morning from the Midwest (Iowa) to JA were outstanding. Conditions to at least part of VK were also good as the VK4CT RBN had me at 14 db. . .virtually the highest I’ve seen (simultaneously Luke/VK3HJ, 1000 miles to the south, said I was weak). Not only were conditions good but the QRN level was the lowest I’ve seen it in quite a while. While the quiet band certainly helps S/N and pulling out the weak ones, absolute signal levels this morning were on par with the highest so far this season. I only worked a total of eight JA stations . . .six of which responded to my CQs and two of which were CQing and I sought. After about 60 minutes I finally gave up and went QRT. Five or 10 years ago these kinds of conditions would have easily netted 15, 20, or even 30 JA QSOs and probably a couple in Z19. Needless to say, things have changed. 73. . .Dave, W0FLS _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Boring Report - N6TR
I heard you in Tucson with a good signal (559) this morning 1 hour after my sunrise. Wes N7WS On 12/17/2018 12:07 PM, Tree wrote: Last night was a pretty decent evening with good propagation into most parts of Europe. Managed a QSO with F5IN - first time in many years. This morning - RA4LW checked in with a good signal - but no other Europeans were worked. I have worked at least one European about half of the mornings during the past 10 days. Was listening to Ross, 9M2AX who was CQing for awhile. His signal was pretty much just a faint whisper about 10 minutes before sunrise - but his signal peaked up to 559 just a few minutes before sunrise. It peaked for maybe a few minutes and then disappeared. I haven't heard this distinct of a peak since I worked Oli, W6NV, at ZD7. Seems like this peak happens more with signals that come from non-polar paths from a great distance. The first time I really noticed it was from ZS4TX back in the 90's. The band is in great shape!! Tree N6TR _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Boring Report - N6TR
Last night was a pretty decent evening with good propagation into most parts of Europe. Managed a QSO with F5IN - first time in many years. This morning - RA4LW checked in with a good signal - but no other Europeans were worked. I have worked at least one European about half of the mornings during the past 10 days. Was listening to Ross, 9M2AX who was CQing for awhile. His signal was pretty much just a faint whisper about 10 minutes before sunrise - but his signal peaked up to 559 just a few minutes before sunrise. It peaked for maybe a few minutes and then disappeared. I haven't heard this distinct of a peak since I worked Oli, W6NV, at ZD7. Seems like this peak happens more with signals that come from non-polar paths from a great distance. The first time I really noticed it was from ZS4TX back in the 90's. The band is in great shape!! Tree N6TR _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Antenna
On 12/17/2018 9:10 AM, Gary Kohtala - K7EK via Topband wrote: Short the braid and center conductor and attach that to your tuner single wire connection.. It will work much better than connecting only one side. This willgive you a top loaded vertical or semi vertical. I've done it with100w without issues of RFI. Higher power might be a different story,depending on the physical placement of things in and around your shack.Having a decent ground If you feed a dipole with a balanced line, then shorting it together at the bottom properly turns the antenna into a T top vertical. If you feed a dipole with coax possibly including a balun, the scheme you describe doesn't really work like the balanced line system. Shorting the braid and center conductor at the bottom is only really effective if the electrical length of the coax is a multiple of a half wavelength, and only if there is no balun at the feedpoint. If the coax is an odd multiple of a quarter wave, then the short at the bottom does nothing. The leg connected the center conductor will not be driven. There are so many random variables that any given antenna might sort of work by chance. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Antenna
Short the braid and center conductor and attach that to your tuner single wire connection.. It will work much better than connecting only one side. This willgive you a top loaded vertical or semi vertical. I've done it with100w without issues of RFI. Higher power might be a different story,depending on the physical placement of things in and around your shack.Having a decent ground connection to the tuner chassis would be a plus. Best regards, Gary, K7EK On Monday, December 17, 2018, 2:47:32 PM GMT, K4SAV wrote: Joe said "You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. " Back many years ago I did the same thing. Well, I knew better but I had this flash of stupidity overcome me and I wanted to use it while it was fresh. I blew out all the horizontal drivers in the big projection TV set. Jerry, K4SAV On 12/17/2018 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: > OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least > once in your radio lifetime. > > You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you > connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but > you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is > touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, > vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. > > I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave > elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when > trying to use it on 160. > > But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The > antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical, The > base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials > that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place. > > At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi > turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing ) > > The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve > of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and > finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet. > > Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up > connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160. > > 1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the > braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and > does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO? > > BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing > vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, > I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the > radials. > > 2- Apply power to only the braid? similiar to #1 but backwards. again > no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical. > > 3- short the center and shield together and run it that way. > > Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts? > > Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up > work better? > > Joe WB9SBD > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Antenna
Traditionally, the 80 meter dipole example you sited was the typical improvisation guys used to get on 160. How well it worked depended on how long and vertical the feedline was and a lot of luck, basically how close to a "T" top loaded vertical fed against ground it ended up being . But a little intention could make it work much better. When I put up my first antenna at this QTH (a 92 ft dipole fed with 42ft of open wire line aka ZS6BKW antenna), I put a switch box at the base that shorted the bottom of the feedline and fed it to a matching network to make it an actual "T" on 160 and put down about 30 random length radials at ground level. It has worked pretty well for what it is. In your situation, you don't really have anything approximating the traditional "T" . So applying intention to your case , since you already have a vertical with radials, I would say that the easiest good solution would be to put a loading coil between the antenna end of your feedline choke and the radiator of your 40 meter vertical and tap it for resonance. You cou ld just physically switch it in and out to change bands, but ultima tely you will probably want to work out a way to use relays to remote switch the taps, with no inductor in series on 40 meters and progressively more on o ther bands (you cou ld add 60 and 80 meters in addition to 160 if you wanted). You would ne ed to either run a control cable or build an arrangement to inject the switching voltage on your existing coax. What you would end up with is a base fed vertical, basically a version of the Butternut vertical system which works reasonably well on 160. You may want to add a few longer radials to help further on 160. The low wire would probably be a very poor antenna on 160. 73, K3OX - Original Message - From: "Joe" To: "TopBand" Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 9:31:49 AM Subject: Topband: 160 Antenna OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least once in your radio lifetime. You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when trying to use it on 160. But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical, The base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place. At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing ) The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet. Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160. 1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO? BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the radials. 2- Apply power to only the braid? similiar to #1 but backwards. again no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical. 3- short the center and shield together and run it that way. Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts? Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up work better? Joe WB9SBD _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Antenna
When I was a newlywed in 1975 and lived in a downstairs apartment of a two story house, I put up a quarterwave wire that started at ground level, never got over 20 feet high, zig zagged around the yard from tree to tree. I think I drove in a short piece of aluminum tubing for a ground connection. Drake T-4XB and R-4B, about 150 watts. One magical night around this time of year, the band opened up and I worked several Europeans who were all over S9 on the meter. You never know. Stan, K5GO On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 8:47 AM K4SAV wrote: > Joe said > "You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you > connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you > just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and > load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed > long wire. Hey it works. " > > Back many years ago I did the same thing. Well, I knew better but I had > this flash of stupidity overcome me and I wanted to use it while it was > fresh. I blew out all the horizontal drivers in the big projection TV set. > > Jerry, K4SAV > > > On 12/17/2018 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: > > OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least > > once in your radio lifetime. > > > > You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you > > connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but > > you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is > > touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, > > vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. > > > > I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave > > elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when > > trying to use it on 160. > > > > But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The > > antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical, The > > base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials > > that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place. > > > > At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi > > turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing ) > > > > The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve > > of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and > > finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet. > > > > Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up > > connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160. > > > > 1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the > > braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and > > does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO? > > > > BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing > > vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, > > I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the > > radials. > > > > 2- Apply power to only the braid? similiar to #1 but backwards. again > > no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical. > > > > 3- short the center and shield together and run it that way. > > > > Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts? > > > > Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up > > work better? > > > > Joe WB9SBD > > _ > > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > > Reflector > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Antenna
Joe said "You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. " Back many years ago I did the same thing. Well, I knew better but I had this flash of stupidity overcome me and I wanted to use it while it was fresh. I blew out all the horizontal drivers in the big projection TV set. Jerry, K4SAV On 12/17/2018 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least once in your radio lifetime. You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when trying to use it on 160. But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical, The base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place. At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing ) The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet. Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160. 1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO? BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the radials. 2- Apply power to only the braid? similiar to #1 but backwards. again no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical. 3- short the center and shield together and run it that way. Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts? Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up work better? Joe WB9SBD _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: 160 Antenna
OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least once in your radio lifetime. You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire. Hey it works. I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when trying to use it on 160. But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical, The base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place. At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing ) The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet. Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160. 1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO? BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the radials. 2- Apply power to only the braid? similiar to #1 but backwards. again no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical. 3- short the center and shield together and run it that way. Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts? Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up work better? Joe WB9SBD _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
