Topband: Beverage Wire field installation video

Here is my latest video showing some of the techniques and methods I use for installing Beverage wire antennas in the field: https://youtu.be/l91JL2ImEbk Described are methods for wire layout, tree clearing, wire support and both feed-point and termination

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

I am going to add what may be a meaningless post to this thread. I live on a 1/4 acre lot in the black hole of San Jose California. Until very recently I was using a base loaded 1/8 wave vertical for 10 years. The vertical is on the side of the house 10 feet from the property line. I run eight

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

I guess I should have added "useful to me."  At my location, I wouldn't dream of having elevated radials less than 6 feet above ground.  Running them through the cactus and bushes could be just as difficult as on the ground, especially when they need to be considerably longer.  There also needs

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

On 7/25/2019 11:55 AM, Brian Campbell wrote: You can put me in that group as well. Here are just two recent examples. I'm with you both, never rule out your vertical! During one ARRL 160 contest a few years ago, conditions were such that I used my inverted-L over 90% of the time *even

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

Hi Wes, I have also always had the highest regard for 99.9% of anything that W8JI has stated. However, I feel exactly the same way about K2AV (and, of course, Rudy too). In this particular case, I am inclined to listen to Guy and the others here who have discussed and used the FCP. Probably,

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

On 7/25/2019 12:01 PM, Wes wrote: As to gull wing radials, Rudy Severns has looked at these too: https://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/files/antenna_ground_system_experiment_5.pdf Rudy's work is a treasure trove and I think I have everything he's written in a folder on my hard drive.  Believe me,

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

Personally, I would and do, avoid a FCP antenna.  W8JI has done some analysis on these and I value his insight. http://www.w8ji.com/fcp_folded_counterpoise_system.htm There is simply too much handwaving going on to suit me. As to gull wing radials, Rudy Severns has looked at these too:

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

You can put me in that group as well. Here are just two recent examples. VE3MGY 2018 ARRL 160 -1001 QSOs - QSOs Received on TX antenna alone - 996 (99.5 %) VE3MGY 2019 CQ160CW - 938 QSOs - QSOs Received on TX antenna alone - 930 (99.1%) I usually run diversity in which case I will have a

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

I'm with you both, never rule out your vertical! During one ARRL 160 contest a few years ago, conditions were such that I used my inverted-L over 90% of the time *even though I had two 580' switchable-direction Beverages*. Signals at my central USA location were coming in from all directions.

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

Hi Mark, I suspect the current -- and hence the radiation -- from the bottom of the vertical radiator is somewhat suppressed by proximity to gull wing radials. When I first installed a 160 vertical using two gull-wing resonant radials eight feet high I had to increase height of the

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

I agree with Ed, never rule it out. Me, I tried beverages over my available space (Salt marsh with phragmites everywhere) and they were more than worthless in this specific location. I think between the proximity to salt water and the dry leaves making static, the beverages were much louder

Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

This kind of goes with the other thread that has morphed into the FCP topic, but is a bit different. With an FCP feeding the INV-L, the bottom of the INV-L will be at least 10 feet off the ground.With my existing trees I can barely get up 50 feet from the ground. So, the INV-L will have 40

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

I use beverage "almost" all the time for receive on 160M. However, there are times, clearly a minority, when listening on my phased array of 2 verticals is better. When conditions are super quiet in the winter and signals are weak from a very distant station. Don't rule out your Transmit

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

I am using it on a base insulated vertical antenna. the relay closes to connect it on transmit.An L would be the same. The L antenna would float while listening You need to know your transceiver well and program it to close the relay before transmitting. Hot switching is destructive.If in doubt

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

How are you using this on the L ? NO on receive, then apply voltage to close it on TX ? When open , does the L float or go to ground? Sent from my iPad > On Jul 25, 2019, at 8:36 AM, FZ Bruce wrote: > > Mark > Although I am using the RF Parts relay on transmit verticals they work > great.

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

Hi Mark, Response to David farther down. Short answer: Just one relay, really. Long answer: There is a lot of misinformation about FCP's floating around out there, essentially because most don't know anything at all about FCP's and a certain few of those keep talking anyway. I don't have a

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

Mark, Are you ready to take the red pill or the blue pill? If you take the red, be prepared to spend endless time and money, and the experts on this list will help guide you down the 160m rx rabbit hole. I was where you were a few years ago... then I started with a k9ay loop, slinky

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

>This has got to be on a case-by case basis. I don't have any listening >antennas, so i listen on my transmit vertical. It works fine. For me. Most >of the time. Would I hear more stuff with listening antennas? I bet the >answer is yes under certain conditions. Yes under certain

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

Mark Although I am using the RF Parts relay on transmit verticals they work great. They are 12 volt DC coils and are marked so on the relay. I test checked mine with a little 9 volt battery and pulls great.In the advertisement blog it says " Rated coil voltage VDC: 26.5 " This is an advertising

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

I’d be interested in hear about this also. I’ve always used ground radials for my INV-L but this year I’d like to try an FCP. I’ve read that the INV-L as well as the FCP need to be floated during receive, which means two relays at the INV-L. 73 Mark K3MSB On Thu, Jul 25, 2019, 4:11 AM

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

Guy Slightly OT, but how do you deal with re-radiation from your inverted L? I'm about to erect one of your inverted L on FCP and my rx loops are about 50m away in the other corner of the field. Is that far enough? David G3UNA/G6CP > On 24 July 2019 at 07:13 Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > > > I