Mike:

I actually have a 102-foot G5RV, just sitting here doing nothing, but my 
concerns in using it are as follows:

1.  I don't have 102 feet of space to work with, and

2.  I don't think I could get it high enough to work well, especially on 40 
meters.

If you have other suggestions for easy-to-deploy wire antennas, feel free to 
send them my way.

I'm looking for something to cover 40 through 10, and 80 through 10 if at 
all possible, although I realize that is a very tall order.

73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:16 PM
Subject: Re: End Fed Zep Antenna


> Tom,
>
> I ran one on 80 meters for several years.
>
> They work, but the internal automatic tuners are not likely to be able
> to handle them.
> For those who do not know what this antenna is, it is a half wave
> length of wire at the lowest frequency you wish to work. As the name
> implies, it is fed at one end by connecting one side of a piece of
> open wire line or more likely now days, 450 ohm window line to the end
> of the half wave length of wire. The other wire in the window line is
> left un-terminated at the antenna end, but connected to the ground
> terminal, or to the other side of the balun of the antenna tuner. This
> un-used conductor basically works much like a counterpoise, and thus
> becomes more or less the second half of the antenna.
>
> The advantages of the end fed Zep are that it will tune on several
> bands above the design frequency. Also because it is end fed, it is
> often much easier to keep all or most of it hidden from the antenna
> police.
>
> One disadvantage is that it tends to be a little less efficient than a
> center fed, although it certainly works well enough if you can get it
> tuned.
>
> The biggest disadvantage, however, is that matching the end fed zep is
> very tricky.
>
> The matching problem occurs because the antenna is fed at the end of a
> half wave. This means the impedance is extremely high. Also, because
> it is fed at a high rf voltage point, rather than at the high current
> point in the center, not all tuners will handle the high voltage, even
> at the 100 watt power level.
>
> The one I ran was cut for 80 meters. It would tune fine on 40, 20, and
> parts of 10 meters, but not well anywhere else.
>
> There are some end fed zeps on the market that have a matching network
> for one specific band, and that match the antenna directly to coax.
> There is also at least one out there that claims to work on 40, 20,
> and 10 meters.
>
> We were trying to use that multi band model for our GOTA station at
> field day last weekend. However, when we changed to a G5RV Junior, it
> blew the end fed right off the planet on both 40 and 20 meters.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 4:18 PM
> Subject: End Fed Zep Antenna
>
>
> Hi, all.
>
> As many of you know, I have been struggling with the Predator
> screw-driver
> antenna on my 31-foot Holiday Rambler RV, ever since my N2VZ
> Turbo-tuner
> became non-functional back about a year ago.
>
> The Turbo-tuner issue is another story for another day, but suffice it
> to
> say that, due to the fact that N2VZ won't honor is "Lifetime
> Warranty", it
> is now not a viable option for me.
>
> Anyway, in the interest of moving on, and pursuing other
> possibilities, I am
> wondering if something like an end-fed zep antenna might be an
> easily-deployable HF antenna for the RV.  There is not much room in
> our RV
> spot for a traditional half-wave dipole, or even an antenna like the
> Alpha
> Delta DXCC, but I thought an end-fed zep might be fun to try.
>
> Does anyone have experience with these?
>
> How much wire  would I need to get up and running, say on 40 through
> 10
> meters?
>
> How easy or dificult would it be to make one?
>
> I think I could run the antenna from the RV to a tree on the other end
> of
> our RV lot, if that would help.
>
> Just exploring options here.
>
> With the North American QSO Party CW contest coming up in early
> August, I'd
> like to have something up and running from the RV by that time, even
> if it
> is temporary.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>