There are antennas and there are better antennas. We use what we have and always dream of something better.
73, Ken - K4XL On Tue, Mar 27, 2018 at 4:45 PM, Wes Stewart <[email protected]> wrote: > My first 67 entities worked on 160 were with an inverted-vee with apex at > about 45 feet and the ends about 5 feet high. Actually a few were with the > antenna cut for 80 and using a tuner. I couldn't even run full power > (500W) with that configuration. > > Wes N7WS > > > > On 3/27/2018 11:49 AM, Carl Luetzelschwab wrote: > >> Pete N4ZR said one option was to "Suspend inverted vees for 80 and 40 from >> the top of the rocket launcher (right under the tribander)." >> >> Gene AD3F commented on low inv-vees: "From what I've read on Topband and >> TowerTalk over the years, a low Vee as you're proposing is likely to be a >> cloud warmer." >> >> Yes, a low inv-vee will radiate more energy at the higher elevation >> angles. >> But it still radiates energy at the lower elevation angles that are useful >> for longer distance contacts. For example, a 160-Meter inv-vee at an apex >> of 45 feet is about 10 dB down (approx 2 S-units) at an elevation angle of >> 15 degrees compared to a quarter-wave vertical over average ground. >> >> For the CQ 160M CW contest in January 2017, I used a 160-Meter inv-vee at >> 45 feet, with the last third of each end running horizontal and bent 90 >> degrees from the main portion to fit on our property. Yes, it's a >> compromise antenna, but I worked 44 states (missed ME, ID, NE, AK), 7 >> Canadian provinces and 17 DXCC entities (mostly Carib, Central Amer and >> South Amer, with some EU and a North Africa). My amp at 800 Watts >> certainly >> helped, along with a Shared Apex Loop array for receive. >> >> I wasn't first in most pile-ups, but perseverance got the job done most of >> the time. So don't count out a low inv-vee if you have trouble putting up >> something better. The inv-vee is relatively easy to erect and it's >> efficient in terms of not needing a ground system. Of course an 80-Meter >> inv-vee at 45 feet will be better than a 160-Meter inv-vee at 45 feet, as >> it's twice as high in terms of wavelengths. >> >> Carl K9LA >> _________________ >> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband >> >> > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > -- Ken - K4XL BoatAnchor Manual Archive BAMA - http://bama.edebris.com _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
