‘Tis the season for antennas
With the Stew Perry Challenge coming this weekend and a few others dedicated to that band over the next few months, I decided it was time to hang some additional Christmas lights outside.
Or so the neighbors think.
At no other time of year could I walk around my yard securing elevated radials into trees (at about 8 feet) without getting funny looks from passersby. 500 feet of wire later – nothing on Topband, I know – my 10-80m dipole is now serving the dual purpose of being a “T” antenna on 160 meters.
In addition to two elevated radials, I have others laying on the ground and have incorporated the house’s cold water pipes into the RF ground system as well.
10-80m dipole or 160m "T"? Both!
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Themocracy
John that was a great idea!!! To think the common folk would just think you are so so so much into the Christmas spirit. Well good luck in the contest. I am going to give the Canada Winter contest a go this weekend…..seems I have been saying that about a few contests and the “season” seems to get in the way.
Maybe they’ll drive by my house this weekend expecting to see all the “new lights” – instead, they’ll hear dots and dashes…
85 foot top loaded vertical, gangbusters on 160, even with a
mediocre ground system.
73, have fun.
Jim
AB9CN
Hi John, nice idea. Hope this 160m “vertical” is doing a great job for you. 73, Bas