Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Mike, definitely worth a go. I had used a quarter wave raised vertical on 40 metres for some years. The feed point was at 11 feet above ground with sixteen quarter wave radials dropping down from 11 feet to about 7 feet but I wanted to get on 80 and 160 as well with no room for more antennas. I increased the total height to about 58 feet and kept the feed point at 11 feet (about as high as I am happy to go on a ladder to adjust the matching). The only practical way to get multiband operation was switched base loading, totally against all the advice. I got the antenna working in October last year and have been amazed at the performance, still with only the sixteen 10 metre long radials. I thought it would get me around Europe on top band but I've now worked 63 entities on top band, with 36 confirmed including Amsterdam Island, Ecuador, South Sudan, Trinidad Tobago and Thailand. Still hopefully awaiting a QSL from Mongolia. The antenna also performs well on 30, 40 and 80 metres, with Amsterdam Island confirmed on all three bands. 73 Roger G3TQZ -Original Message- From: Jim Brown Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 6:09 AM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160 On 6/1/2014 9:49 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Is this worth trying? Sure, especially if you can use a decent radial system or counterpoise with it. Would a taller antenna be several dB better? Of course. But as one presenter at a Dayton QRP conference said so poetically ten years ago, any antenna that is up on the air will outperform one that's rolled up on the floor of your basement by at least 60 dB! 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Depending on the exact configuration and surrounding antennas and objects you may see some high angle radiation on 80 meters. I use what I call a fan vertical. I have 80 and 160 meter wire elements sharing a common feed point. The 80 meter element is 62 feet tall and the 160 meter element is 129 feet long with a 62 foot vertical section. The elements are supported by an oak tree. I use the DX Engineering relaxed #14 stranded wire for the elements and the radials #6 solid bare copper wire. Also connected to the radials is 300 feet of #6 solid bare copper wire buried 3 deep that encircles my house. Attached are six eight foot ground rods, plus the three eight foot ground rods for the power mains, cable TV and telephone. The ground rods do nothing for collection of RF and are tied in per NEC standards for lightning protection. It's fed with 80 feet of RG-213 and sits over twenty five 64 foot long radials and one 129 foot radial, all stapled to the ground surface. The 160 meter element is self resonant between 1851-1872 kHz with a VSWR of 1.5:1 and the 80 meter element at 3759-3946 kHz with a VSWR of 1.1:1. Do the two elements interact with each other in some form or fashion? Sure, but I've had great success in working DX and CW/phone contesting with the 160 meter element and great success with the 80 meter element working DX and contesting on CW/phone and RTTY. 73 God Bless, Thomas F. Giella W4HM Lakeland, FL, USA thomasfgie...@gmail.com W4HM's Amateur SWL Autobiography: http://www.w4hm.org --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: South America (our summer their winter) 160M opportunities
Among the south american DXCC's I need to still work are the entities below. I thought I had worked PZ1AA in a 160 test this winter but that appeared to have been pirate operation. Anyone know of planned operations during our summer/their winter to take advantage of? Maybe IARU HF? Seem to recall at least one of CP/FY/PZ/ZP activating HQ station for 160M in IARU HF in past years but missed them. 8R CE0X CE0Y CP CX FY HC8 OA PY0F PY0T PZ VP8 (I have VP8H but need the others) ZP Tim N3QE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: W1AW/0
FYI Topbanders...tonight is the last night to get W1AW/0 - Missouri on 160m until October. Freq about 1826, receiving up 1. 0200-0400Z or 9-11pm Central. There's a ton of static this time of year, so turn on those amps if you want to be heard! :D) 73, Charlie, N0TT _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: W1AW/0
Any chance for some SSB for us mid-west stations? ( Yes, with amplifier ) On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 4:00 PM, n0...@juno.com wrote: FYI Topbanders...tonight is the last night to get W1AW/0 - Missouri on 160m until October. Freq about 1826, receiving up 1. 0200-0400Z or 9-11pm Central. There's a ton of static this time of year, so turn on those amps if you want to be heard! :D) 73, Charlie, N0TT _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Hi Mike, I have a dual-band 160/80 meter vertical system that is based on 1/4-wave verticals on 80. I switch in loading coils to make them work on 160. The 160 capability was added as an afterthought, a few years after it had been set up for 80. Perhaps top loading would be somewhat more efficient on 160, but it would be difficult electrically and mechanically to switch out top loading on 80. The key is many radials, over 100 of them ranging in length from 30 feet to 200 feet, depending on the space available. I won't claim to be the loudest guy on the band, but it does work. And the real key, as everyone knows, is being able to hear (I have a separate RX array). Without really chasing countries (I am missing many easy ones) I have something like 250 countries worked and 38 zones towards WAZ from an unexceptional suburban location. 73, John W1FV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of W0MU Mike Fatchett Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 12:50 AM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160 Is this worth trying? -- Mike W0MU _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Thanks all for the comments. I am putting up a single DXE 80m 1/4 vertical. I can put out the proper radials. I will have to add some longer ones for 160. Now to figure out switching in and out 160 and the matching. Mike W0MU On 6/1/2014 10:49 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Is this worth trying? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Hello Mike, There are a couple of guys in IL that have 80M zero-five verticals with a vacuum relay at the top. The relay switches in a top loading wire to make an inverted L/T antenna for 160M. They run the control wires down the inside of the tubing. On 6/2/2014 10:09 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Thanks all for the comments. I am putting up a single DXE 80m 1/4 vertical. I can put out the proper radials. I will have to add some longer ones for 160. Now to figure out switching in and out 160 and the matching. Mike W0MU On 6/1/2014 10:49 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Is this worth trying? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 160,80,40 antenna
Interesting stuff from you all on success of using a quarter wave vertical for 80. Yes it does also play on topband. I am using remote relays at the base of the vertical, I switch it from 80 meters to a base load for 160 or to a half wave with a condenser for 40 meters. maybe not the best antenna on 160 using a base loading coil but better than nothing and I have worked a lot of DX on topband. For 40 80 it plays very well. In town with a small lot my worst problem is noise. No room for a beverage and my pennant is not to good. The problems with relay switching at the tower is when the 62 foot vertical gets hit by lighting is very hard on the relays which has happened twice Jim W0NFL _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
On 6/2/2014 7:50 PM, Ashton Lee wrote: Ahh to be on the East Coast. No one works 250 countries from Colorado without a Herculean effort. I've got a 160M antenna farm to die for, and have worked hard at it, running legal limit. After 8 years in CA, I've worked 131, all confirmed. Yes, it sure is different on the east coast. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
On 6/2/2014 6:07 PM, John Kaufmann wrote: Perhaps top loading would be somewhat more efficient on 160, but it would be difficult electrically and mechanically to switch out top loading on 80. Not as difficult as you might think. Certainly worth some modeling. Add a 80M trap at the top between the vertical and horizontal portions. Below 80M that circuit would look inductive, which adds loading on 160. In the model, play with values for the trap and the top wires to maximize efficiency. My guess it that might be good for another dB or two. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
