What Can I Build With ...

[N2CHX]

Well once it goes up, it doesn't come back down except for catastrophic failure. I've considered using a pulley system at 4 points to raise and lower it. That would mean counter weights at each of the 4 points.

I always make my antenna's so they can come down and go back up easily. You have some pretty interesting stuff to work with. Might I suggest an end-fed Zepp? Good performing antenna and it seems it would maybe alleviate your not having the room to put up a proper inverted L. It seems you already have all the ingredients you need to build one and it might work out quite nicely for you as long as you have a good ground to work with. You will also need a balun or a tuner with a balanced output. Design it for the band you use most and it should also tune and work well on other bands.


I once built an end-fed Zepp to get an AM station back on the air after a tower failure. It worked quite well.

[W2NAP]

I once built an end-fed Zepp to get an AM station back on the air after a tower failure. It worked quite well.

got pics?

[K7SGJ]

I kind of agree but lately I've been going more Zen. I'd rather ask what the happy people think.

Problem is there are no happy people left over there. The've all come to de Island.

[N2CHX]

got pics?

Somewhere on a disk, yes. This was about eight years ago. I have video of the tower coming down too. Somewhere.

[KJ3N]

Just some random thoughts:

If I have 500 feet of wire, I'm making more than 1 antenna.

You mention some rather tall trees, but you don't give any dimensions as far as distance between trees. Also, what's the orientation of these trees? N-S, E-W, something else?

What bands do want this antenna to work on?

[KG4CGC]

One leg will run E to W and then turn 90 degrees an finish out N to S. The other leg may only run N to S but there are other possibilities. It could go W to E and then turn N to S.
I could conceivably put up enough wire for 160m but that is only a consideration. It'd like to center it at 40m and overlap to 80m with possible overlap to 20m.
I intend to use a completely different set up for 17m. A simple dipole, sloper, etc. I have an A-99 that works 10m through 15m like nobodies business and I switch back and forth between the 80m dipole and the A-99 for 20m depending on which one pulls in the signal better.
The current 80m dipole that some of you guys have heard me on will be relegated to receive only status after the higher new ant goes up.

[W2NAP]

Somewhere on a disk, yes. This was about eight years ago. I have video of the tower coming down too. Somewhere.

tower coming down. that should be on youtube!

[N2CHX]

tower coming down. that should be on youtube!

It was recorded on VHS-C. I could dub it into an mpeg but I'd have to dig up the tape first.

[W2NAP]

id still love to see the AM station running on a zep.

what was the power level 1KW?

[W3MIV]

I am limited for space, occupying only a 1/3-acre lot and being surrounded by neighborhood nazis for whom the sight of any wire that suggests an antenna is anathema. :(

I had a 100' flat top dipole strung in my maples and fed by about 30' or so of 300 Ω window line (cut-n-fit for minimal reflections with analyzer). It gave me excellent performance on 80 through 10, and that despite being only a bit more than twenty-four feets off the ground and buried in lots of maple branches. I do have a very comprehensive system of ground radials cut to the bands (roughly) that were originally installed with ground rods for the AH4 installation, though that tuner and its antenna is no longer being used. The few TB contacts I have in my log were garnered with the ICOM AH4 antenna tuner located on the outside wall feeding a 90' wire. Unfortunately, that lash-up resulted in bizarre RF effects -- especially touch lights in the kitchen, which cycled through the dimmer's range with every key; at night the kitchen might look like a naval bridge with a yeoman sending by lamp. XYL was NOT a happy camper. Hence, the dipole. With the simple flat-top I collected cards from Asia through Eastern Russia (incl Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Iceland, most of Europe, east and west, including Romania, also Peter I Island and a host of other pile ups -- all without using the AL80B, which is more of a PITA to tune quickly than it is worth). I used to log them fastidiously on both computer and paper log, also uploading them to LOTW and EQSL, but have not logged on to either in more than two years. I have not been on HF for that same period of time.

I am now in the process of reinstalling the same design since the last one was brought to the ground by a neighbor's tree falling into my yard. Reusing the same Ten-Tec "Acrobat" center insulator; it is an excellent fixture and very durable. Cost me ten bucks. Twelve gauge insulated wire for the legs, and the window line (which is 14ga copper stranded) to a 1:1 current balun just outside the house. About 25' or so of coax to the IC756P3 and the MFJ993B auto-tuner, which worked flawlessly for me, tuning instantly wherever I wandered on the bands.

If ever I finish the rigging of my leafy masts, I shall announce it with a holler.

The antenna design, BTW, is Walt Maxwell's basic dipole. His book, "Reflections" is a must-have in any ham library. Busts many of the "SWR" myths that plague many amateur minds.

I guess what I am rambling on about is that I am a fan of simple wire in the air. Before too much longer, I shall essay to prove it.