Posted by
Bob & Debbie Fish on
Feb 04, 2010; 1:14am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/OT-Interesting-Accident-with-Homebrew-Vertical-tp4511024.html
This is slightly off topic but I was using my K3, so it is close. I was
trying to set up a 2 element Vertical array in the back yard today
(actually for the last couple of days). A couple of 17 foot aluminum
tubing elements spaced 1/4 wavelength apart. With the bottoms of the
verticals about 6 feet high so I could run elevated radials to the top
of the surrounding back yard fence. (My wife loves the new view out the
back window, but, I digress). I could not get the verticals to play with
each other, I think the elevated radials were detuning each other or
something. So I gave up and decided to take down one vertical and just
run a single regular vertical with elevated radials.After I set up the
single vertical I went in the house and found the K3 had come alive with
lots of signals on the band and even some DX. I found a pileup working a
gent in Senegal on the CW part of the band and after ten minutes of
trying I worked him. So I was pretty happy with my project. I just went
out to put a plastic bag over the feed point because I haven't
waterproofed it yet and don't moisture in the open coax end. I noticed
that I had hooked up the shield of the coax to the vertical element and
the center conductor to the radials. (I was experimenting with running
180 deg out of phase for end fire and forgot to change it back). I am
not sure what that proves except that he radials really are half the
antenna. Working Africa from here on the west coast with only 100 watts
is pretty rare these days, so the backwards hookup is obviously working.
I guess it makes sense that it shouldn't matter. What do you guys think?
Bob K6GGO
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp:
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:
[hidden email]
This list hosted by:
http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list:
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html