Hi all:
The bamboo tower featured in the ARRL Web extra article posted a 2 years back
has succumbed to the elements (termites and rot). I built one myself this time
and hoisted it up yesterday with the help of 5 or 6 people. It nearly crushed
me in the process but made it up. I now have the open end of my Inverted L up
about 45-50 feet (about 30 feet above my tin roof) which is higher than the old
tower.
I immediately noted that the SWR went flat, as flat as I have ever seen any
antenna on the Alpha 76. 0 reflected (whereas before I had about 50 w reflected
with 700 fwd). The bandwidth is now from 1.800 to 1.875 for 2:1 SWR. I am
using a Battle Creek Special match box at the base (80/160 Balun switch) and
feeding the antenna with about 120 feet of RG8X. I have about 8 radials over .1
wavelength bundled together going 2 directions and about 30 that are 3-5 feet
long.
My question is it seems like the bandwidth is too much and the SWR too low. I
don't trust it although the amp does not sputter and complain. I managed to
work OH5VT this am so it must be radiating somewhat. Is that BW normal for that
kind of matching?
I am on most evenings after SS and every morning at SR but condx have been poor
and noise high here.
73...jon
================================
Jon Rudy
DU9/N0NM
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
Zone 27, Grid-PJ27, OC-130
EX: 3DA0CA, 4D71/N0NM,
4D71NM, A2/ZS5UZ,
C91CO, ZS5UZ, WB0UZZ
QSL via W4DR
E-mail: n0nm@arrl.net
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