I live in a small suburban lot, 65 x 125 +/- and have used simple vertical antennas remotely tuned for years, several variations. My main operating consists of casual DXing, contesting, and a lot of Emcomm operating. I settled on this type of antenna because on my sailboat I have used a remotely tuned back stay to great success. Of course all that salt water doesn't hurt either. My shack is about 125 feet from my antenna so I have a long run of coax and it had to be buried.
Currently I am using 55 feet of tubing purchased from DX engineering, on their tilt over bracket with about 40 radials as long and straight (although some are bent or curved) as possible. Non are cut to a particular length. I laid out the radials using an edger so they are just under the sod. Yes it looks bizarre for a few weeks until the grass covers over the slits, but I have tried the yard wire staples and have found that they work their way up in a few spots in my yard. My current tuner is the MFJ 998RT. Although it doesn't get good reviews, I have had no problems. In the past I have used SGC tuners and they work flawlessly. I purchased the MFJ because the 998RT comes with the power injectors, and it is capable of 1500 watts tuning. Currently I am using the KPA500 with this set up and have received very good signal reports. I just have to tune the vertical for the band barefoot and then activate the amp. Yes, there is an extra step that takes time and in a contest a second here and there can make or break you. So here's the bottom line, a vertical antenna is a very low take off antenna when properly installed (good DX antenna). Remote tuners REQUIRE A GOOD GROUND SYSTEM. Note the caps!!!! The ground wires act like the salt water, so the more the merrier. I have found a simple vertical pipe remotely tuned works far better and with less trouble than the several commercial multi band ham antennas on the market. Remotely tuning this type of vertical is MUCH BETTER than the tuner in the shack and running coax out to the antenna. The SWR for coax effectively should be flat, so it makes sense to put the tuner at the antenna, as that's what you have to tune,not the coax. Sometimes vertical antennas are susceptible to vertically polarized QRM (human generated noise). The K3 and KX3, because of the phenomenal filtering and noise reduction circuitry can make signals readable that were not with other radios I have owned. Is this the greatest antenna on earth? Certainly not, but it works and you will easily make contacts even QRP. It gives 80-10 meters and some 160 in a tiny foot print at generally a 1.2 /1 SWR. If you wish more input or construction details feel free to email off list at my call at arrl.net. 73 de, -- John Fritze Jr K2QY AARA president 2013 ACACES secretary 2013 Albany County RACES Radio Officer ARES ENY DEC Northern District Hudson Div. Asst. Director Twitter: @k2qy ______________________________________________________________ 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
