here is an alternative that is pretty easy to build.
1 you will need 50 feet of PVC pipe and at least 1/4 wave of enameled magnet wire. the idea here is to make a helical wound antenna (much like a firestik. the windings will need to be widely spaced at the bottom (about 1 turn per foot and gradually reducing to a tight wound coil near the top. You can also create loaded ground radials this way. The ground radials definitely need to be 1/4 wave long (electrically). the vertical element can be 1/4 up to 3/4 waves (wound). THis will make an excellent low space vertical antenna.
as a second (receive only) you can create a magnetic loop antenna that is not much larger than 10 feet in diameter. the top will be split and a tuning cap placed there. there is also a secondary coupling loop (this will directly connect to the coax). with the addition of a preamp, you will have a station that can produce a decent signal on 160 with the ears to match.
DE n7zzt Eric
On Sep 30, 2015, at 10:16 AM, Steve Forst wrote:
> Mike,
>
> I don't have any experience with any of the antennas you mention, but
> perhaps an inverted L would be better than the long wire. For long haul
> stuff on 160, vertical antennas are the way to go. You would get that
> from the inverted L, or the other 2 antennas you mention.
>
> I'm using what is probably the worst antenna for 160, a loaded dipole
> that isn't very high. You have a better location than me, and would
> probably do well no matter what antenna you use.
>
> While there is plenty of SSB activity, and even DX, my experience is
> that CW is the better mode on this band. I have 19 DXCC countries on
> 160 SSB worked, and 60 countries on CW. Only country I worked on phone
> that I couldn't repeat on CW was Gambia.
>
> Of course, your location may give you nice SSB contacts into western
> Europe, that I could only dream about.
>
> Good luck. Now is the time to do something before the snow flies.
>
> Do you know what the bandwidth would be for the Zero 5 antenna with the
> optional coil?
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 9/30/2015 11:35 AM, Michael Ryan wrote:
>> Hi all:
>>
>> This may open up a flood gate but what are your decent 160M antennas and experiences with these?
>> I'm hoping to put up a 330 foot long wire on a 20 foot high mast in a few weeks but not sure how well it will get out with 4 or 500W. I think another favorite is the Hy-gain high towers, which are 50 feet tall with a coil and require radials. There's now a coil I can buy for my Zero Five vertical which makes it a better performer on 160 with radials. I'm pretty sure I could get this coil and some radials for 160 for a 3RD the cost of the Hy-gain high tower.
>>
>> 73:
>> Mike DE VO1AX
>>
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