There was a recent article in 73 Amateur Radio magazine (yes they still exist, and Wayne Green is as opinionated as ever).  I believe it was in the October issue and talked about VHF and UHF dx via repeater linkups.

If they do nix the CW requirement, I don't think they will nix the CW only band portions.  CW has actually passed SSB in some contests recently and it is far more fun for general working the bands.  It is also easier for operators lacking a common language to make QSOs in CW/English abbreviations than in SSB.  CW will be around for a while yet, whether or not it is required for a license grade.

Thanks Tom,

This is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for.  I plan to do some work next summer and will try the new dimensions and see how it works.  One of my favorite bands is 15 meters.  The half G5RV seems to cover it fine, but that is because it is a half g5rv.  I will probably install a 15M monoband vertical to cover that band.  But I will work out the details before next summer.

Thanks Tom.

John Pawlicki, K8AG

Thanks for the response.

I have seen the analysis and agree wholeheartedly that g5rv and inverted vee do not belong in the same paragraph!  I also realize that this is not a set of quads on a tower.  I just wanted to know if anyone had actually cut a g5rv that way and did it work acceptably.

I also understand that the author seemed to use swr as a performance measure, not actual signal performance or improvement in lobe direction or other actual performance factors.

Guess I will just have to try it.

Thanks again.  This is great getting opinions before hoisting up a wire.

73

JP, K8AG

Thanks for the reply.

I do realize that the antenna will only be somewhat better than the half g5rv i am currently using.  I really wanted to add 80M if I can.

All in alll, I am very pleased with this antenna.  I have never had beams and do not plan any high maintenance antennas in the forseeable future.  I am basically lazy, hi hi, and I find fun ragchewing and generally sticking my nose in the bands (careful to avoid stepping on QRPers and others).

Looks like I will just have to try it.  I also realize that the site talks about swr more than actual performance.

73

JP, K8AG

I have been contemplating a full size G5RV for next summer and found the following related URL
http://www.qsl.net/zr1dq/antenna-202.htm
My question is, has anybody tried this altered design?  Does it really improve things?  I have a 1/2 G5RV now and it works very well.

Thanks

John Pawlicki, K8AG

I have been running a 1/2 G5RV (40 - 6 mtrs) for a few months.  1st thing is, do not run ladder line right to the tuner.  That defeats the g5rv and makes it into some sort of double zepp.  The length of ladder line provides the impedance match and it should be relatively low at the coax end only if the ladder line is the proper length.  I have over a hunderd feet of coax running through my house to my tuner (an mjf cheapy) and it tunes pretty well so far everywhere I have tried.  I also have tried an FT-920 with an autotuner that should match 3.0 swr or less.  It seemed to tune on every band (40 thru 10 meters, I didn't try 6).  I have 12 turns of coax about 6 inches in diameter right at the connection to the ladder line.  I don't know if it was necessary, but the antenna is still balanced at that point so I did it.

I have read that the newer balun materials do not heat up like the older materials when used for the g5rv.  I also figured, however, that 12 turns of coax makes less connectors to allow water in and cause more problems.

FWIW

JP

If you are talking strictly about the download, I can't say.  I have, however, noticed that a high %age of cw senders are quite sloppy and variable when it comes to word and character spacing.  I'm not talking about rattling through the ID so the ragchew can continue.  Varying the speed of code within words when combined with the sloppy use of a bug can make cw impossible for the best operator.

I would agree with those who recommend the W1AW broadcasts.

I have worried about an antenna not being high enough to the point where I didn't have an antenna up at all.  G5RV will work to some degree at nearly any height.  Mine is at about 30 feet on one end and 15 feet on the other.  I avoided the inverted V as I have seen reports of signal cancellation problems.  Get it up as high as you can, but get it up.