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Author Topic: Asked and answered many times I'm sure . . . which antenna . . . HF . . vertical  (Read 396 times)

WB6BYU

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  • Posts: 20894
    • Practical Antennas

Quote from: K1KIM

...As stated, a vertical atop the tower will be your least expensive option, but still pushing your budget. At the proposed dollars, a Yagi etc with a rotor for legal limit is out of the question.



Well, that does depend on what assumptions you make...

A large commercial multi-band yagi capable of handling
full legal limit will be pretty expensive.  But if you are
willing to buy a used one, or build your own for one or
two bands, it reduces the cost greatly.

I built a 3-element yagi for 10m and a 2-element version
for 15m using parts from old TV antennas and some stray
pieces of aluminum tubing from scrapped CB antennas.
Yes, it requires some salvage work, but neither of them
have any parts that shouldn't be able to handle full legal
limit (although I'd want to upgrade the coax).

Would they survive a hurricane?  Maybe not, but I can
take them apart and stick them in my car for portable
use, and they are relatively light.

Hex beams and the like aren't difficult to build, either,
although some designs can get rather complex.

So an important part of the discussion needs to be the
trade-offs between buying new, used, or building,
with the corresponding investments in time vs. dollars.
And along with that is the number of bands you want
the antenna to cover. 

We built a 5-element delta loop beam on a 60' boom
for 20m for use on Field Day, basically using a spool
of aluminum electric fence wire and another of baling
twine (with plenty left over).  No, it isn't the best
solution for everyone, and it isn't easy to rotate, but
it didn't cost much.  That's an example of what can
be done with some creativity.

W4PCK

  • Posts: 8
    • HomeURL

Unless I've missed it, 'twould appear this site does NOT implement LIKE.

If it did, I would be issuing a bunch.

I'm so impressed, and so thankful, such wonderful people so giving of your knowledge, and so articulate, with real-world experience and practical approaches have posted here.

You have given me much food for thought - much appreciated the various links I will follow, and more ideas for me to research.

As it is, y'all have moved me off my going in assumptions and some requirements.

I do have a 47' Rohn 25 tower (four 'standard' 10' sections topped by a 7' top section), and I do have a "complicated yard" poorly suited for any kind of radials.

THANK YOU !!!
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