which antenna would you choose. - Elmers Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : Elmers : which antenna would you choose.

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which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by KF4AGD on January 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Background: I live in a rural farming community and have plenty of space for an antenna farm. I am looking for a temporary 2-3 year solution for a good hf multiband antenna as I will probably build a house at another location on the farm then. I also prefer not to erect a tower until I get to my permanent location. I currently have an IMAX 2000 for 10 and 15 meter coverage and a 20 meter homebrew vertical with aout 40 radials. Problem: I have a low (15 ft) center-fed multiband dipole in the flat position for NVIS on 40 and 80 meters which works very well for regional contacts. I would like an exposure to dx on 40 and 80 meters, which is really the reason for the post. Strictly for dx, would you prefer a ground mounted vertical such as the Hustler/Butternut with ample radials or a multiband dipole in the inverted v position at a center height of say 45 ft. Thanks for your help!

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by K4ZN on January 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I have a 132ft inverted "V" couplet 46ft at the peak and 20ft at the ends. If I remember correctly this set up is pretty well documented in the recent handbooks. At 80m this is a NVIS antenna (which is what I want it for). You will not see a good lower angle pattern from a dipole or couplet until it is up at least 1/4 WL. At 80m this means 20 meters up (66ft?) If you goal is DX and you don't want to install towers and/or pole and no one was thoughtful enough to plant trees in the right places 50 years ago, then I would work on a vertical with a good radial field. Also, I would google "K9AY Loop". Remember, hearing is everything.

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by N6AJR on January 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Most any home brew antenna will work, and I am partial to the fan dipole, but there are a couple of things to google on , beside the run of the mill verts like hustler 5btv etc.

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by KC8VWM on January 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
On a sidenote, Although it may "help", DX or NVIS antennas don't always perform to how the antenna is specifically intended or designed. Sometimes DX or NVIS propogation is more of a matter of maximum useable frequency, workable signal paths, time of day and real world shifting band propagation patterns. Another consideration is that a horizontal dipole mounted high in the clear may very well outperform a ground mounted DX vertical which is "intended" for working DX becuase sometimes DX verticals can catch more noise than DX. I found that sometimes horizontal dipoles can work more DX than vertical antennas. It all just depends. Because of this, I generally prefer to put up more than one type of antenna. In other words, with two antenna's you get to choose whatever antenna will make the most smoke at the time. Sometimes things work completely opposite to what you might normally expect. NVIS sometimes works better on the vertical antenna when the dipole is doing all the longhaul DX to South Africa and vice versa. Sometimes, two antenna's are better than one. 73 de Charles - KC8VWM

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by KE4PTM on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
It sounds like you have plenty of room to work, so it would probably be a good idea to go with a well built 40/80 oriented vertical. Put in a good ground radial system and you're in business.

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by WW5AA on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I would go for a raised vertical. However, for temporary DX and not spending a lot, I would get that wire up higher (see my article "antenna primer"). Even at 60' I work a lot of DX on 160/80 meters with my 252' doublet. Although the verticals usually work better for DX, I spent a lot more money on them. As said, the best thing you can do is read up on RX antennas. Good DX! 73 de Lindy

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by KB9CRY on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Strictly for dx, would you prefer a ground mounted vertical such as the Hustler/Butternut with ample radials or a multiband dipole in the inverted v position at a center height of say 45 ft. The former. The latter is a NVIS antenna.

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by WA3SKN on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I would first raise that multiband dipole up to about 40-60 feet, it would still work NVIS on 40 and 80 well and you would be able to work some DX, too! Verticals have great low angle radiation, but do pick up lots of noise when storms are in the area. So, it is always good to have multiple antennas. Do you have plans for a loop? Sounds like you have the real estate, so start building! 73s. -Mike.

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by K1WJ on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Run a ground mounted Hustler 4BTV for 10m-40m, with as many 33ft radials as you can. 33ft is 1/4w for 40m,but you can use any length radials on the ground. Then: Get a dipole as high as you can for 75/80 band. Tune to the section of band you want. Mine is 120ft total. 73 K1WJ

RE: which antenna would you choose.	Reply
by KG6WOU on January 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I'm assuming you would prefer NOT to leave any concrete in the ground - so my recommendations do not include any tower installations....<G> You can always move most verticals you buy and install - and for real DX probably a good choice, a vertical with radials will give you a better low angle. But initially, I'd probably look to get some sort of supports [push-up masts are inexpensive and you can move them when you do] to raise your existing antenna - if you could get a 50' cushcraft mast holding up a 40/80 fan dipole, that would be a help over your current antenna for DX - 80 takes a lot of elevation to get a favorable DX signal out of a dipole. You are on a farm - do you have a silo? Seems to me you have 1/2 of a good antenna support right there. If you had a 66' tall tree, you have a 1/4 wave 80 meter vertical if you can get a wire into it. You are lucky, you at least have some land to work with - I have a 125' x 40' lot.....I would almost kill for 10 flat acres with a dozen mature trees well spaced...<G>

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