Mack, I use two DXE bi-directional beverages, each 720 ft long, fed with a single 300 ft length of direct burial quad shield RG6. The DXE transformers and relay switching boxes use high quality weather-proof construction. That said, the ladder line caused me nothing but continuing maintenace headaches. Furthermore, the little DXE plastic ladder line clamps are very flimsy and broke within a few months. I finally gave up and replaced the ladder line with parallel lengths of WD-1a field telephone wire (the twisted pair version), supported on 4x4 posts with ceramic insulators. The electrical performance appears to be the same as with ladder line, but it makes for a much more robust installation and the field wire is much cheaper than ladder line. 73, Jim W8ZR
> -----Original Message----- > From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mack McCormick > Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 7:12 AM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving > > Friends, > > I need to really increase my country count on 160M so I've decided to > installed dedicated receiving antennas. My home is on a 6 acre rectangular > lot so I have room for a couple of 800 ft beverages at 90 degree angles or > an 8 element circular array. > > I've been carefully following the discussion about the merits of various 8 > element arrays and beverages. > > *I "believe" the consensus is that a set of bi-directional beverages will > generally perform better than any 8 element circular array. Am I correct? > I'm specifically speaking about working countries on 160M and 80M.* > > I also "believe" the bi-directional antenna choices come down to two > flavors. > > The DXEngineering ladder line version or the BevFlex-4 that uses RG-6. *I'm > leaning toward the BevFlex-4.* > > I would REALLY appreciate your views on the recommended receive antenna > system if space and money are not big concerns. I'd like to do it correctly > one time and the first time. > > Vy 73, > > Mack > W4AX > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband