Topband
[Top] [All Lists]

Topband: 160 Antenna

To: TopBand <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: 160 Antenna
From: Joe <nss@mwt.net>
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:31:49 -0600
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
OK, as users of this band, we all have probably done this at least once in your radio lifetime.

You want to get on 160, but do not have an actual 160 antenna. So you connect the largest antenna ya have, usually a 80 meter dipole, but you just push the connector in just so only the center pin is touching, and load the whole thing up like a top capacity hat, vertical, or end fed long wire.  Hey it works.

I'm thinking of doing something similar, because a full sized 1/4 wave elevated vertical for 40 meters, works as well as a cannenna does when trying to use it on 160.

But I never thought of what might be the best way to do this. The antenna as stated is a full sized 1/4 wave elevated Vertical,  The base of the vertical is 10 feet above the ground with sloping radials that act as guy wires also to hold the base in place.

At the base of the antenna right at the feedpoint, is a large multi turn coax choke. ( Ya know the so many turns on a PVC pipe thing )

The feedline is then ran through the air for about 60 feet to the eve of the house where it runs along the eve of the house on 2 sides and finally into the shack. Total length is about 100 feet.

Now I am trying to decide without actually trying to make up connectors or whatever, what might be the best way to use this on 160.

1- As described above just the center pin, touching. I guess with the braid floating the braid gets capacitivly coupled to the power and does the radiating and receiving. YES? NO?

BUT I can see the RF actually also going and using the existing vertical because of the touching center pin. BUT, the braid signal, I'm assuming the RF is not getting past the Coax coil and using the radials.

2- Apply power to only the braid?  similiar to #1 but backwards. again no power to the radials probably?, and only cap coupled to the vertical.

3- short the center and shield together and run it that way.

Anyone have any thoughts of the best configuration any thoughts?

Or how would a end fed random wire like 1/4 wave long about 10 feet up work better?

Joe WB9SBD
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>