[Boatanchors] Beam elements

[Robert Nickels]

Dave Reynolds wrote:
> Hi ,
>    For what it's worth, if it were me I would buy or build a linear loaded 40m rotatable dipole. 
I think I'd second that idea, Dave.

I lucked into a deal on a Newtronics "Cliff-Dweller" if anyone remembers 
that antenna from the early 1960s.  It's a rotatable dipole for 80 and 
40 meters that uses motors to move the ends of the loaded elements in 
and out to QSY, and a separate motor to move a shorting bar to switch 
bands.  Although the loading is not linear, the overall dimensions are 
similar and it works very well.   Linear loaded elements are a bit more 
efficient I think, and eliminates the mechanical complexity of trying to 
tune the thing in the air, (although SteppIR seems to have that down pat).

I've always believed that it's hard to beat a quarter wave dipole, but 
the ability to put these shortened dipoles up higher and rotate them 
seems to close the gap quite a lot.

73, Bob W9RAN