[Antennas] CAROLINA WINDOM???

[Gene Mason]

   Sir  Simpler is always best !

       ARRL has several good books on DX antennas.

        Any  vertical   1/4,  5/8's  or  1/2  wave will  out perform most
   horizontal  antenna's on any given band opening. Phase two of them  or
   4  of them in a 4-square configuration or listen to the big signals on
   75m  dx  window  any  evening,  An evening of reading the ARRL antenna
   Compendium,  Vol  6, specifically the article about the performance of
   the  verticals  on  the  beach  will  make a believer out of most open
   minded  purists. Tom Shiller ( Force -12) points out the model results
   and  the  actual  contest  performance  results   of  how  4 verticals
   outshine  a  4  element beam at 200 ft.  (A 1/2 wave vertical does not
   require  any  radials)   My 1/2 wave 40m vertical is 24 ft tall total,
   yes it has a coil in the center, but is measured at 92 % efficiency.

      If you get real brave , search the Internet for Cebik's website and
   read  the  section  on wire arrays. a bobtail curtain, sterba curtain,
   Bruce  Arrays  are discussed in detail. Most or all of the wire arrays
   can be used on all bands, with a  little compromise, yet effective.

      My  recommendation,   invest in a MFJ  antenna analyzer, a few good
   books,  a  30$  500' spool of stranded wire #14AWG, from Home Depot or
   Lowes, a 4:1 balun and 100' of RG11 or RG 8 X. Turn your radio off for
   a  few  evenings,  and read the results of modern day technical Giants
   dedication  to scientific principles.  Then string up an array of your
   choice  about  the  total  length  of a 80m dipole and hold on to your
   chair,  turn  your radio back on, and listen to signals 10 db stronger
   than you have ever hear them, and compete with the big linears and big
   towers, much to your surprise , only exceeded by theirs !

     GooD DX

   KZ5V


   From: fkamp at comcast.net
   To: w2yj at highstream.net
   CC: antennas at mailman.qth.net
   Subject: Re: [Antennas] CAROLINA WINDOM???
   Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 09:17:27 -0600
   w2yj at highstream.net wrote:
   >
   >  Anyone  have  any experience using a Carolina Windom? I do a lot of
   DX'ing and am
   >  considering  this  make  of  antenna as it has a vertical radiation
   section for low
   > angle radiation.
   > My other choice is a 80, 40 trapped sloped dipole.
   >  At present I use a 270 foot flat-top fed with open wire feeders for
   the low
   > bands and a StepIR 3 element beam for 20 through 10.
   George,
   I  have  used  a windom.  It probably did have some vertical radiation
   from
   the feedline but I would not consider its performance superior to the
   80/40 trap dipole I now use.  I would not consider either of these
   antennas particularly suited for serious DX work.
   I would also think that a 270 foor flat-top dipole would beat out both
   antennas for DX performance if the flat top is at a decent height.
   My  best, wire, DX antenna is a 40 meter right angle loop.  Apex up at
   50
   feet with base at about 15 feet.
   Regards,
   Frank Kamp
   K5DKZ
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