[Elecraft] The Zepp is gone...new goal for Pacificon

[Don Wilhelm]

Trev,

I have had good luck with an old HiGain R3 that I still use.  It is quite
sturdy and does a good job.  The R3 is no longer available, but I speak to
the brand that I have had good success with - at least mechnically,
electrically, it is like any other commercial halfwave vertical.

Have you considered making the support mast for your Inverted Vee into a
vertical antenna (serves dual purpose).  If I were in your situation, I
would consider putting up a 22 ft. 'mast' as an insulated pole and since it
is on the roof, I would lay out 4 (or more) 22 ft. wires on the roof
surface.  Put a pulley (insulated of course) at the top so you can haul up
the inverted vee - two wires on the Vee for 80 meters and two cut for 40
meters (these wires also serve as guys for the mast).  Feed the junction of
the mast and radials with open wire line and run to a tuner in the shack.
This 22 ft. radiator should do a fine job on 30 meters through 10 meters
(and 40 too even though it is a bit short.  The inverted vee with coax feed
could serve with no tuner on 80 and 40.  You may need a tuner to cover the
whole of 3.5 to 4.0 MHz.  The vertical radiator should be more efficient
than the trap or linear loaded verticals that are available commercially.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 


| It's been a crappy day here in Burbank! First the election results
| yesterday, and then as I walked out the door to go to work this morning,
| I noticed the sound of chainsaws at the next door neighbors. Turns out
| she was having the huge tree that leaned over into our back yard cut
| down. Unfortunately, this tree suspended my antenna, so without an
| antenna support, no more antenna. About the only option I have at this
| point is a roof mounted vertical or perhaps a mag loop (been wanting to
| play with small mag loops, but not as the main antenna!). With Pacificon
| right around the corner, I figured that I'd pick up some literature on
| commercially available verticals. Thought I'd mention this to the list
| as I've never owned a commercial vertical, pretty much a wire antenna
| guy in the past. Any suggestions for a decent multiband vertical? The
| other thought I had was a mast on the roof for an inverted vee, so I'll
| be looking into that as well. As busy as I am with work though, looks
| like it might be a while until I'm on the air again from here (good time
| for a camping trip if I had time!) So much for FOXII Hunting this
| season.
|