I am constructing a close spaced 3 element inverted vee 40 meter beam. My plan is to make it as unobtrusive as possible by hanging it at 50 feet between two available trees. The new part to me will be the extremely close spacing, 10ft, between the elements with the total resulting length of 20ft.I will be using 22 guage wire for the elements and fishing line for the end tie offs at 30 feet high for the 6 ends. My modeling capabilities are still in the primitive stage so my question for the elmers is whether or not this design is valid. I am not concerned about the front to back values as my aim is for max. gain. At present it is partially completed and practically invisible except for feedline so any thoughts on design parameters would be most appreciated.
Tnx,
Bob

If you are referring to how much power can be fed to an antenna that is determined by the manufacturer's specifications, most commercial antennas are more than capable of handling the max of 1500 watts, some verticals are limited by design. If you are referring to power out, ERP, than that is a factor derived from number of elements and beam type configuration.

My trusty old icom 751A is showing signs of old age. What I thought was a microphone switch problem has evolved into something else.
I tried transmitting with 3 different microphones and after releasing the PTT the transmit clears but the receiver goes pretty much dead until I flick the PTT a few times and then all is well. This occurs often enough to be a real pain. I do not have the schematic for this radio so any direction on where to look for the culprit would be most appreciated.
Tnx.
Bob

Cecil, that would be most appreciated, it's the setting it up on eznec that ties me up, will have no problem adjusting spacing etc. now that you did the hard part. email; bobr1919@hotmail.com

Thank you.
Bob

Just a little more info, antenna is up at 1/2 WL and Chris, tnx for Cebik website, which I did review before posting this question, I gathered that the reflector elements should start at the far ends which I believe is what Tom is saying. I believe that the 3DB of gain ascribed to edz is worthy of improving with a possible doubling of erp with the parasitic reflectors added. Not gonna get more than .12 spacing but it has worked as good as the two element reversible quad it replaced as a single wire so I appreciate the pertinant comments.

Tnx, Bob

I posed this question on the antenna forum awhile back and did not receive a specific answer to the following concept. I want to add a second element about 15 feet behind this edz because the possibilty of an additional 3db of gain seems quite possible. I know I am sacrificing the bi direction gain but I can flip flop it from the ground if so desired. Specifically I need to know how to configure the reflector element. Should it be two peices of wire split at center with both at 5% longer than the 1/2 WL sections, OR; two peices at 5% longer than the 5/8 WL sections, OR; one continous length 5% longer then the driven element? I have checked all my antenna books and have not seen this discussed specifically and my modeling capabilities are less than stellar so any help from the antenna elmers would be welcome.
Tnx Bob

Dave, if you have any interest in making your 2 element loop reversible I would like to direct you to an article I wrote on 9/12/06  called "This ones a Keeper". At the height and configuration you describe I think it might be worth the extra effort. I did use a tuner for the final version and experienced wonderful results at a considerably lower height. Good luck and feel free to email me if you try the reversible idea.

Bob

Not sure how your gonna run an 80 meter 1/2 wave sloper on a 65 foot tower. In my experience unless I can get around 45 degrees of angle referance to the ground it won't do anything that the inverted vee already does in half the space. Unless I am misunderstanding the question you will need a tower twice the height you describe to acheive the benefits of a true 1/2 wave sloper on 80, should work well on 40 though.

Bob N4JTE

Just a small comment a little off your question, I have found that a vertical noise antenna does the best job and I use the AM mode most often for ease of nulling out a buzz or static type interferance. As said before it takes awhile to juggle all the controls but try to keep your main antenna knob as high as possible. This peice of equipment has been a lifesaver in my noisy environment.

Bob N4JTE

Well the ice is finally melting so it's time to screw up a perfectly good antenna. At present I am using a EDZ on 40 and it has worked so well in the intended directions (East-West)that I am interested in adding an element and sacrificing the East lobe. In theory I could double the ERP in one direction with 6db of possible gain. The question is, if I use the typical parasitic reflector configuration how long should it be ? My instincts tell me to make it the usual 69 or so feet and center it behind the EDZ at whatever spacing I can physically acheive mechanically at the end connections. I am still evaluating how I'm gonna get both wires up in the air symetrically with equal spacing but that will work itself out. So any thoughts from the antenna elmers would be most appreciated.
Tnx, Bob

You might try the OMISS net which is on at 0100 every night.Usually at 7.185 or 7.188. It is a very relaxed worked all states type of net that does not require membership to participate. We usually end up with 30 to 50 checkins. Even with the crappy conditions I have WAS by the date of admission to the union, the award is called the Statehood award so there is life on 40 after sunset, hope to see you there.
Bob, N4JTE

Problem solved, perhaps my methodoligy might help some others with similar tvi problems. I disconnected main cable in from box, still had tvi. This led to the thought that the power in cord was causing the situation so I put come toroid filters on the line. This did not help so I disconnected the cable line from box to TV input, voila, interference gone. I had about 50 ft of cable line available and wrapped it into a 8 inch choke and put it in line between cable box and tv input. Tested at 1500 watts just to be sure and not a flicker. I have solved a previous tvi problem on upstairs tv by using a similar approach of placing a homemade cable choke line of 25 feet in the circuit. Hope my experiences might help others with this problem.
Bob

TV is RCA 32 inch, regular picture tube, Walmart special. Had interferance on old tv but got control of it by regrounding cable at demark and rerouting cable thru basement instead of previous outside location. That concept worked till all the snow and ice appeared 2 weeks ago. The 40/80 edz is over 50 foot high and 100 feet away from cable service. Ladderline which feeds to one to one balun is about 100 ft.away by way of remote ameritron antenna switch.
When running 800 watts on 40 resonant antenna tv shuts off, no problem on 80 on same antenna and power.
Gonna try a few ideas to verify whether the signal is getting in on power line or something else. But if it due to the cheap design of the tv guess the family will have to give up tv watching, yeah that will solve the problem.
Any ideas will be welcomed.
Tnx, Bob

This one is a little bizarre, got a new TV and when I run 1000 watts on 40 meters the TV shuts itself off.
I've had my share of TVI problems on the cable and solved them with chokes, re routing cable lines, grounding splitters etc, only happens on a 40 EDZ no problem on 75 meters, gonna try everything I can think of tommorrow but so frustrated had to get some ideas tonight from the elmers.
Tnx,
Bob, N4JTE

Forgot one thing Jim, it does work on 160 to certain degree at 100 watts, enough to check in and be heard on the net by most stations, easy fix to that would be to add 30 feet or so hanging down from each end.
But I am concerned about changing properties of 40 edz.
Bob, N4JTE