If you like to use it for chasing DX on 10 meters, you'll get better results with a slightly shorter radiator - something about 42 feet overall. That's because a longer antenna generates a big lobe pointing straight up on 10 meters - not very helpful for DX-ing on that band. At 42 feet the main lobes are still down near the horizon on 10 meters.
At 42 feet, the efficiency is excellent down as low as 40 meters. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of k3...@comcast.net Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:37 PM To: Ken G Kopp Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: G5RV's and variants >From my experience, hams misunderstand antennas more than anything else they have as a part of their station. What I've been able to discover for the popularity of the G5RV is that you have an "all band antenna" in just 102'. The other issues have to do with the concept of resonance in an antenna system and the need for it. I guess I'm just not smart enough to worry about all of the issues. My approach has been to just hang up 132' or 66' of wire fed in the center with open wire to a 4:1 balun near the house. My transition into the house is either something like LMR-240 or LMR-400 to my tuner. I can use this configuration either 80-10 or 40-10. Resonance? I really don't worry about it too much as my tuner can address the issue for me thereby making my transmitter happy. I don't worry about losses either. With low loss feeds, there is little loss, even at 10 meters, with SWRs as high as 10:1. Simplicity is key here. The antenna that I now have up is roughly equivalent to a 40 meter Carolina Windom, modified. My thinking on this gets a little convoluted, but it works. For a new installation with the room, I would suggest the center fed dipole with low loss feeds into a good tuner. And, oh yes, get it up as high as possible. 73, Barry K3NDM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken G Kopp" <kengk...@gmail.com> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 6:06:25 PM Subject: [Elecraft] OT: G5RV's and variants It's already been pointed out that the original article by G5RV indicated that the antenna was for 20M only. I have the original article in my files. I've always wondered why builders of the antenna simply don't make an open-wire fed Zepp and stop there. Why add a "magic" length of coax ... without any kind of impedance matching ... to what would otherwise be a Zepp? Yes, the length of the coax portion of the feeder acts as an impedance transformer ... on 20M. On other bands, all bets are off. (:-) The antenna requires an antenna tuner to operate on bands other than 20M. Many tuners contain a balun so one has the option of either coax or balanced line feeders. Why not avoid the coax-to-balanced line splice with it's almost certain mismatch losses and connect the balanced line portion of the G5RV's feeder directly to the tuner? If the tuner as no internal balun, one can be made or purchased. I once knew a local who actually coiled the coax portion of his G5RV's feed "system" behind his desk and then connected it to his tuner. The end of the balanced portion was within inches of his tuner's balanced line connections. The G5RV certainly qualifies as a "cult" antenna. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
