[Elecraft] Re: [Icom] Opinions re: HF Verticals?

[Dave Larson]

As the owner and user of one of the Sigma 5's that Hank refers to, let me
say that it is an outstanding antenna for dx work. It does, however, have a
low angle of radiation and would not be an antenna for emergency work for
that reason. Ted, K8AQM, and I made 7500 Q's in the 9 days we were in 5W0
using the 2 Sigma 5 antennas on 20 meters and up. We worked a large number
of QRP stations on RTTY, CW and SSB. We received many comments about how
loud we were.  WE tuned the Sigma's so that we had a low SWR from 14.025 to
14.260 and stayed well below the 2:1 SWR given in the specs. I've made a
comparison from home (Michigan) comparing the Sigma to a R8 vertical and the
Sigma is the winner on DX but the R8 beats it for stateside.  The Sigma 5
will be going with me on the next DXpedition.

Dave, K8AA 5W0DL
K2/100 #2657

----- Original Message -----
From: <kc4kgu@ENTERZONE.NET>
To: "Hank Kohl" <k8dd@arrl.net>
Cc: "Elecraft" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 1:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: [Icom] Opinions re: HF Verticals?


>
>
>
> On Mon, 14 Oct 2002, Hank Kohl wrote:
>
> > The Sigma5 is 20-17-15-12-10M with relay control to change bands.
> > A friend of mine used a couple of these on his last trip to the Pacific
and
> > said they performed great.
> > Not bad for $349 and very portable.
> >
> > 73    Hank    K8DD
>
>
> I just looked at the site and it looks "interesting" except for the fact
> that they claim 2:1VSWR over an adjustable 320Khz segment of 20m.  Am I
> just anal retentive of are there others out there that consider any
> supposedly resonant antenna that presents a 2:1 VSWR as a NON-RESONANT
> antenna?
>
> If I want 2:1, I can switch in most any of my antennas, on nearly any band
> and get very close to 2:1 with no tuner.  When it comes to resonant
> antennas, I want to see 1.2:1 or better and will spend quite a bit of time
> looking for as close to 1.0:1 when putting up an antenna.
>
> My 75m antenna is 1.01:1 at 3.875 (one of my ragchew favs) and the 160m
> loop is 1.03:1 at 1.898.
>
> I consider an antenna that requires a tuner to operate at its design
> frequnency with less than 1.5:1 to be a compromise at best.  When the fit
> hits the shan and I need to get on the air in an emergency, I don't want
> to be twiddling with a tuner and I also don't want to risk blowing up the
> amplifier.
>
> Maybe I just think differently.  To me, the transmatch, in the grand
> scheme of things, is another potential point of failure when you're
> DEPENDING on your communications equipment for emergency comm.
>
> For ragchew, no problem.  Twist some knobs, press the tune button, do
> whatever it takes.
>
> 73 de John - KC4KGU
> K2/100 #2490
>
>
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