My short/low horizontal wire didn´t do a great job
during the CQ 160/CW last weekend. My next plan was
to put up a half wave horizontal wire at 15m/50ft
for the upcoming topband/SSB and the ARRL DX contests.
Several of you guys have advised me against a
horizontal-only antenna for 160 and suggested an
inverted-L. Now, the only practical way for me to
feed the inverted-L from my attic shack location
is into the horizontal part (the very end or
somewhere off the end). I would appreciate any
comments on this, including the questions:
1. Has anyone you know done this?
2. What do I do with the bottom end of the vertical
part? I would think it should be connected
directly to the radial wires I would bury in the
ground. An alternative is leaving the wire just
suspended a little above the ground, but I suspect
this will give me low current in the vertical
section - and correspondingly low radiation there.
3. Any comments on how to feed the horizontal part?
Tuning out reactances, etc.
4. Any comments on the desired length of each
section? I guess most would say "the longer the
vertical part, the better". I would be stuck with
about 15m/50ft vertical and approx. 25m/82ft
horizontal to my shack window.
5. I have space to add another top section of almost
any length, resulting in a "T" rather than the
inverted "L". Both US/VE and EU would be broadside
to this "T" (or the horizontal part of the "L").
Any opinions on the performance of "T" vs. "L"?
Again, any length suggestions for that one?
6. And finally there is one thing that concerns me a lot.
Is there an RF hazard with the inverted-L? I can´t
see the vertical leg from my shack and there is no
way to guarantee that kids won´t be curious and tug
the wire. I would assume that if I can guarantee that
the part of the wire that is within reach is at
maximum current, the voltage will be minimal and
probably harmless. I could also insulate the wire
and hope it holds during wet weather conditions, etc.
Now, I hope I´m still within the purpose of the reflectors
with this (both words TOPBAND and CONTEST are used)!
I will summarize the answers to the lists if there is
interest.
Thanks and appreciations - 73 de Kristinn, TF3KX
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