[Antennas] 80 Meter Antenna

[Les Severson]

Hi J,

IMHO the McCoy dipole. (named for the late QST writer Lew McCoy)  For 
80M,  As long as possible, center fed with 450 ohm (typically)open wire 
or ladder line or 300 ohm twin lead or home-made parallel line.  Almost 
any length or spacing. The feedline impedance is not critical.  The 
length of the antenna is best over 1/2 wavelength (130')    Balanced 
line tuning is required, of course, with a tuner with a 4:1 6:1 balun 
(or use a balanced line tuner such as a Johnson Matchbox)   Height above 
ground depends on
your 80M operating needs... If you want a strong signal around your part 
of the country, it need not be more than 20-40' high.  At low height the 
signal goes mostly straight up and for the most part is non directional. 
  If you want broadside directivity and a lower angle of radiation to 
compete with the "big boys" on 75M phone at night or 80M long dx, you'd 
best get ANY dipole up a quarter wavelength or so.  You didn't say that 
you were short on horizontal space so if you have the option, this 
antenna can be ANY length more than a half wave.  Don't be concerned 
with cutting it to any resonant fqy. The longer the better.
Shorty antennas are always a compromise although a shorter balanced fed 
will work reasonably well.  There is no substitute for
stringing "bunches" of wire out.  Wire is cheap.  Even if you can't get 
it up very high or you have to bend the ends down or send them off in a 
different direction.  (but not doubled back)

There are issues about getting the feedline into the shack sometimes if
you can't (or wont) drill holes in the side of your house but that can
be handled with 2 SHORT pieces of coax spliced in the feedline. 
(instructions available on request)

One of the best features of a balanced fed dipole is that it can be used
on all HF bands.  This type of antenna has served me VERY well for 50 
years in several locations..  Inverted Vee's work but....... horizontal 
works better.
IF you MUST feed a dipole with coax, it is always best to use a tuner
anyway cuz your swr will skyrocket if you get too far from the resonant
frequency of the dipole.  Also with coax feed, you are stuck to using 
the antenna on one band..   Remember the 3 key words of hamming: 
antenna, antenna and antenna.  Also... a dollar in the antenna equals
a hundred in the transmitter.. hi

Good luck J !    Feel free to write if you wish.
73,  Les,  W�OJH