[AMRadio] LINK COUPLING)

[Rob Atkinson]

On Sat, Sep 21, 2013 at 7:40 AM, W5AMI <ars.w5ami at gmail.com> wrote:

> Oh someone asked me how high I plan to get the new antenna.  Well about as
> I high as I can get it is around 60 feet.  I'll have the center up on my
> repeater tower which is right at 60', and the ends will be suspended by
> trees on each end slightly less than 60'.  It will be somewhat "NVIS" like
> that, at least on 80 and 160...

It will certainly be NVIS and if you have a lot of local hams on 160
FB; otherwise, on 160 it will be like a dipole at 30 feet on 75.

You'll be far better off on 160 with some sort of vertical hanging off
the tower, an inverted L going up 60 feet and out 60 or 70 feet at a
right angle to your dipole.

You'll need around 80 or more radials on the ground for a ground
system.     They don't all have to be 1/4 wave but it certainly
doesn't hurt if they are.  That antenna will be vastly superior to a
60 foot high dipole on 160.   I work guys with such an antenna and if
they are within 100 miles they're okay; not great.  Beyond that
they're often piss weak.
Use your flat top for receiving.

All you need for a stand off arm at the tower top is 3 or 4 feet of 2
or 3 inch OD PVC strapped to the tower with s.s. hose clamps.   Maybe
down where you are in the sun you need something UV resistant.

73

Rob
K5UJ