RE: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
I would suggest a fanned dipole configuration with elements cut for 80, 40 and 20 meters - feed it with the RG-213 directly (or through a balun if you have one). Cut the elements for 40 and 20 plenty long (about 15%) and cut the 80 meter elements for the low part of the band (3.5 MHz). You will have to do a lot of cut and try to get it tuned - fan the elements for each band as far away from each other as possible to reduce interaction (maybe easiest to guy them in a circle 60 degrees apart around your center support), then start tuning on the lowest band and work upward. The theory is that the 80 meter wire will also serve on the 3rd harmonic at 30 meters and the 40 meter element will similarly serve on 15 as a 3/2 wavelength antenna, giving you coverage of 80 thru 15 meters with the 3 elements. The harmonic operation will only provide a low SWR if you cut the 80 and 40 meter sections for the low end of the band. The SWR may not be perfect on all bands, but then you have a tuner to compensate, so it will be tolerable with the RG-213. Try it and see - it would give you a good multiband antenna even without a tuner in many cases. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- My only antenna currently here at the home QTH is an HF2V vertical which does great for long haul DX on 40 and 80 but in general is not good for local or regional work. I just launched some monofilament over the only high branch in my yard at 50'. As I only have a single support, I'm looking at some suggestions on constructing a multiband vee wire antenna but have limited materials on hand and even more limited $$ to go out an buy stuff at the moment. Here is what I have in the junk box: 75' of RG213 ~30' of solid conductor commercial ladder line ~800' of 14ga stranded insulated THN wire Assortment of dog-bone style insulators Wide assortment of PVC and nuts/bolts What can I do with the above and the internal tuner in my K1 without going out and buying anything? Ideally, I'd like something that will load well on 80/40/30/20/15 but will settle for 40-15. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks -- JT Croteau - W6FO - Canton, GA | K1 #292 ARS #2,147 | NoGA-QRP | SEDXC | ARRL ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
Don W3FPR wrote: The theory is that the 80 meter wire will also serve on the 3rd harmonic at 30 meters and the 40 meter element will similarly serve on 15 as a 3/2 wavelength antenna, giving you coverage of 80 thru 15 meters with the 3 elements. - Ha, Ha! Good point, Don. Shows how long it's been since I used a fan dipole: since before 30 meters. Yes, a dipole for 80 is about 134 feet long and 3/2 waves on 30 meters is just about 141 feet, allowing for nominal end-effect. That's close enough to use one wire on both bands. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
Take a look at the Ten Tec Vee beam, then remember that a non terminated Vee beam is bi directional, so you do not need the termination resistors. Make it up as a one support sloping vee as long as will fit your lot with the angles suggested, 45 degrees. You can stake out the lower ends with tent stakes and then move the direction by moving the stakes to steer the beam for time of day and conditions. Feed it with the ladder line and to a tuner for all band use. Stuart K5KVH ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
Gee, I live in a restricted neighborhood and I could not be happier with my 40M off center fed dipole I have stapled to the ridgepole in my garden home. I mounted a 4:1 balun at the feed point and fed it with 1/2 wavelength of coax. It works 80 thru 10 meters and is easily tuned with my KAT100 to 1:1 on 40 thru 10 and 1.2:1 on 80M. Moving from band to band changes the radiation pattern and on 20M, it has a pipeline into Europe and the Middle East. Made some nice contacts on the K2 alone, I very seldom QRO up to the big gun, the KPA100. 73s Jim, W4ATK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
Jim, That OCF sounds interesting, and I'm also in a restricted neighborhood, but what is a '1/2 wavelength of coax' for an antenna that covers 80 thru 10 meters? Mark AD5SS On 6/12/06, James T. Jim Rogers, W4ATK [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gee, I live in a restricted neighborhood and I could not be happier with my 40M off center fed dipole I have stapled to the ridgepole in my garden home. I mounted a 4:1 balun at the feed point and fed it with 1/2 wavelength of coax. It works 80 thru 10 meters and is easily tuned with my KAT100 to 1:1 on 40 thru 10 and 1.2:1 on 80M. Moving from band to band changes the radiation pattern and on 20M, it has a pipeline into Europe and the Middle East. Made some nice contacts on the K2 alone, I very seldom QRO up to the big gun, the KPA100. 73s Jim, W4ATK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
Hi JT You mentioned the tree with a 50 ft support point. What do you have to support the ends of your wires? Also, what kind of real estate do you have to spread out over? That would help us a lot in suggesting something. Good luck and 73 Bob N6WG - Original Message - From: JT Croteau [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: QRP-L [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 11:25 AM Subject: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build? My only antenna currently here at the home QTH is an HF2V vertical which does great for long haul DX on 40 and 80 but in general is not good for local or regional work. I just launched some monofilament over the only high branch in my yard at 50'. As I only have a single support, I'm looking at some suggestions on constructing a multiband vee wire antenna but have limited materials on hand and even more limited $$ to go out an buy stuff at the moment. Here is what I have in the junk box: 75' of RG213 ~30' of solid conductor commercial ladder line ~800' of 14ga stranded insulated THN wire Assortment of dog-bone style insulators Wide assortment of PVC and nuts/bolts What can I do with the above and the internal tuner in my K1 without going out and buying anything? Ideally, I'd like something that will load well on 80/40/30/20/15 but will settle for 40-15. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks -- JT Croteau - W6FO - Canton, GA | K1 #292 ARS #2,147 | NoGA-QRP | SEDXC | ARRL ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] What antenna should I build?
If you just had another few feet of ladder line to reach from your shack to your feedpoint, Ron, my answer would be easy. The classic 88 ft center fed doublet which your tuner would load fine on 80 thru 10. With the center at 50 ft, it would give you good coverage over the US on the low bands. But guess you will need to cut some spacers from your PVC collection and make some additional ladder line from your AWG 14 wire. Will take some time but work just as well. Have fun! ... Craig AC0DS ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
