> I've been a ham for 37 years, but I've spent my entire ham "career" on > 80-10m (with the exception of 7 countries worked on 160m about ten years > ago). For the most part, the same obstacle has kept me off TopBand that > prevents most - antenna space. > > My goal is simple - make DXCC on 160m within the next 2 years. >
Hi Mike - welcome to the topband reflector and 160 meters. I think the first thing would be to turn you 90 degrees and get you thinking vertically. Most any modest vertical with a decent ground system will kick the pants off any horizontal piece of wire. If you are able to get a wire up about 60 or 70 feet - then an inverted L antenna will be an excellent choice. Essentially it is a half piece of wire - with half of it vertical and it acts like a top loaded vertical. This and a couple of beverages if you can manage (and a KW) should put you in excellent position to work DXCC quickly. The Cushcraft 160 meter vertical also works well. I have worked VK6 from Oregon with 100 watts with one of these. However, an inverted L antenna will work even better. See you in the pileups. Tree N6TR/7 _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
