[Elecraft] Verticals

[K4IA@aol.com]

Jason

Consider this: Run ladder line to your V.  Get a tuner.  You could use the 
Elecraft tuner and run it to a small balun then to the ladder line.  The 
Elecraft tuner might not be broad enough.  Maybe someone on the list can 
comment on their experience.  If needed, you can pick up a used tuner on eBay 
in the $100+ range.  You'll be able to work all bands.

Consider also changing your Vee to an L.  I use an inverted L and feed it at 
the top.  One half the antenna is horizontal (51 ft drooping down to about 40 
ft) and the other half is vertical (51 ft).  It works very well.  The L's 
advantage is that it is more omni directional and has lower takeoff angles 
than the Vee.  Check out the excellent article on this antenna at Cebik's 
website <A HREF="http://www.cebik.com/ltv.html">http://www.cebik.com/ltv.html</A>.  He concludes, "The center-fed 
inverted-L has the potential to be a quite satisfactory all-band wire antenna 
suited to certain environments. The length can be almost anything about 3/8 
wl or longer for the lowest frequency of intended operation. Although the 
overall gain will be lower for each band than the gain of a horizontal 
doublet using the same overall wire length, the elevation angle of maximum 
radiation for the L will be lower than for a doublet with the same top 
height."

I too have a GAP vertical (Titan) and my inverted L almost always sounds 
better for about half the cost and a lot less aggravation.

Radio K4IA
Craig Buck
Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
QRP ARCI #2550  FISTS #6702 CC 788 Diamond #64
K1 #470    K2 #2460 (a work in progress)
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