I use my 80 foot doublet by tying the ladder line together at bottom and feeding against ground+radials as a "T", in every 160 contests with excellent results. It helps that mine is up 75-80 feet but even if yours was only up 40 feet I'm sure it would be fine.
80M was in excellent shape last night, despite ongoing local thunderstorm I was hearing lots of EU, and I was being spotted all over western EU with excellent levels at just 100W out: http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=0&c=n3qe&t=dx Tim N3QE -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Add top loading or invert-L 43 ft vertical From: Philip Zminda <[email protected]> To: [email protected] CC: I would like to try my hand in the 160 contest this weekend. My antenna is a 43 ft vertical. I don't intend to use it as-is or add a base loading coil. I have heard of adding a wire to the top to act as an inverted-L or adding several wires to act as a top-hat. I will be using the internal tuner in my K3 and running 100 watts. I have 60 radials, mostly 43 ft and a few 60 footers. I don't have many options for supports but could put a 23 ft fiberglass mast temporarily at my shed about 100 to 120 ft from the antenna and run a sloping wire. Which might be more effective? What wire lengths should I try? My only other option is an 80 meter doublet fed with ladder line that put up for Field day. If I put it up it wouldn't be very high. For receiving I have a magnetic loop. Any suggestions appreciated. Phil N3ZP All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _________________ Topband Reflector All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _________________ Topband Reflector
