Nick, A 50ft tophat vertical is a good antenna. I would suggest that you put down as many 135 ft long radials as possible, at least 25. If this is not feasible, put down as may random lengths radials as you can.
The problem is that it is a vertical antenna and will be noisy, particularly if you are in a populated area and near the equator. You will hear hear the loud signals, but I'm guessing, not the sigs below S4. I would suggest some sort of long wire for an RX antenna, perhaps a 300 ft BOG, beverage on ground. You may have to roll it out in the evening, and after sunrise, roll it up. We will be looking for you from W6/W7 land. Working 5X on 160m will be difficult, but on certain days condx will peak at your sunrise, and we might be able to make it. GL, Ray, N6VR Near Prescott, AZ On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 6:43 AM, IZ5MOQ <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Nick, > > nice to read you here and nice to know that you are on the way to put 5X > on the TopBand. > > See you on the air, to complete our band slots on 80 and... 160. > > I do not give you any tech-advice because am novice too :), just my GL 'n > see you there. > > 73 > > Alessandro, IZ5MOQ > DX'ing between the mountains! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nick Henwood" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 11:24 PM > Subject: Topband: 160m from 5X > > > > I have been v QRV from 5X in past 5 years. > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
