Posted by
Rick Bates, NK7I on
Mar 13, 2020; 7:02pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Off-Topic-Your-advice-suggestion-about-antenna-tp7658892p7658900.html
Duane,
I agree on both points. The antenna is THE most important element of
any station (the accepted maxim is it's 90% of the budget but most hams
are 'cheap'). The radio is useless without a decent antenna. An EDZ
can work well but the peaks and nulls vary on every band and wind in the
trees can be an issue. Height matters, a LOT too.
I also hid (in plain sight) a similar 370' EDZ (at 35') antenna IN the
HOA space (shot a wire over some oak trees) for years without it being
seen and it worked well (other than the noise floor was obscenely high,
all the time because it was urban). It absolutely ROCKED on 40M (the
noise precluded hearing much on 160M but I got 15-20 countries).
If budget is less of a concern, you might want to consider SteppIR,
starting with the 2 element Urban beam (40-6M). The only other comment
along that line is leave a LOT of headroom capacity when selecting a
rotator, they take a lot of wind abuse. There are other beam antennas
worth consideration, many are less expensive.
When I moved away from the HOA infestation area into rural with a 40 db
(average) lower noise floor, in time I went from all band (R7, dipole or
vertical) wires to a SteppIR DB36/80 (80-6M) which gave me an average of
another 10 dB of GAIN in reception (plus directivity to null noise even
further AND transmit gain too).
I bought the antenna, rotor and tower at an estate sale (SK sale),
saving many thousands of dollars. The son (a non-ham) just wanted it
all gone, I assisted ;-) so keep watch, ready to 'attack'.
The sole remaining wire is an Inverted L for 160M. I greatly prefer
this to any dipole because the one wire is not pulled/stretched between
multiple trees when it's windy (and the trees NEVER sway in sync at the
same moments). It moves precisely WITH the tree motion, it isn't
stretched or pulled. However, it's moderately deaf on 160M, I'll have
to add an RX array (RBOG or 8 square are the current considerations) yet
I'm now at 131 countries worked on 160M.
The sole sticking point remaining is my requirement that NOTHING antenna
can be seen from the house (I bought an amazing view, it came with a
house), so even with the acres I have, I'm limited to a few acres total,
further reduced by proximity to the power lines along the road.
Fortunately my neighbor (700' away) is also an HF active ham with even
more acres (same visual rule) so we're considering a shared RX array
(SDR and wifi based, which removes much of the desense issue too).
So my suggestion is that you look at the larger picture and perhaps even
start fresh, not re-modify the original plans (make it a Revolution, not
just an evolution). Part of my move (escape to) here was just for that
reason, to start with a fresh station based on simplicity of operation
(which takes a LOT of planning and work to obtain; in a couple years,
it'll be there, I hope.)
GL,
Rick NK7I
On 3/13/2020 11:19 AM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
> Duane -
>
>
>
> I am of the mind that the antenna is the most crucial part of any station,
> and probably the most often maligned. I have made a number of presentations
> to ham groups on the design and construction process involved in getting
> the most bang for the buck, depending on your wants and needs (everybody's
> are different).
>
>
>
> In my own situation (2 acre semi-rural lot approx.150 feet x 600 feet
> running E-W feet, and active HOA) the goal was to have a single antenna that
> would provide the best primary signal on 80 meters in a North-South
> direction, while providing the best possible signal on 40 meters in an
> East-West direction, consistent with the 80 meter performance and without
> unduly provoking the HOA (or my XYL).
>
>
>
> I decided on an Extended Double Zepp, cut for 3.5 MHz. That resulted in a
> length of 360 feet, which worked nicely since I have 400 feet clear from the
> house (West end) to a perfect tree for the far East end. And another tree
> in the center for support of both the antenna and the feedline.
>
>
>
> I am feeding it with a 160 foot length of 600 ohm "true ladder line." I can
> go into more detail if this sounds like something that would work. Modeling
> this antenna with EZ NEC shows a maximum theoretical gain of 4.7 dbi in both
> North and South directions. With the ladder line, a dual hybrid balun and
> short length of coax into the shack, my KAT500 tunes it very nicely on all
> bands 160 m thru 6m.
>
>
>
> I don't have your call so can't see where you are, but would be happy to
> make other suggestions based on the coverage you seek.
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Lyn, W0LEN
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
[hidden email] [mailto:
[hidden email]]
> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 11:52 AM
> To: Lyn Norstad;
[hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Off-Topic: Your advice/suggestion about antenna
>
>
>
> Hi Lyn - thanks for the reply!
>
> I have 3 acres of wooded land.
>
> Its pretty much on two different levels.
>
> The house is located on the lower level.
>
> And from there the grade goes upwards about 30 feet- and then levels off to
> the second level.
>
>
>
> Many elm trees which can support an antenna height of about 45 feet.
>
> And I can cut through a path through them if necessary.
>
>
>
> I have a 40m moxon pointed towards Asia at 45 feet hanging over solid rock
>
> I've made a few DX contacts with it during the years when propagation was
> peaking.
>
> But right now I think its really to low to the ground to be useful.
>
>
>
> I'm interested in what you have in mind.
>
> Thanks
>
> Duane
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020, at 12:31 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
>
>> Duane -
>> There are other wire antenna options that will far outperform a simple
>> dipole, or for that matter a 2EL yagi.
>> How much space do you have available?
>> 73
>> Lyn, W0LEN
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:
[hidden email]
>> [mailto:
[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
[hidden email]
>> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 10:38 AM
>> To:
[hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Off-Topic: Your advice/suggestion about antenna
>> From what I understand - solid rock below a raised vertical is not the
> best
>
>> option for performance.
>> With an underlying geography of many feet of solid metamorphic rock - that
>> would probably rule out the low angle benefits of vertical antennas.
>> Consequently, over the years, every 40m vertical I've ever put up has been
>> out-performed by a dipole at .41 wavelength. I've also tried the DX-Half
>> Square and vertical Delta Loop with the same results.
>> It looks to me like my only option to outperform a 40m dipole - is a tower
>> and (at minimum) a 2EL yagi.
>> Would that assumption be correct?
>> Thanks
>> Duane
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