[Elecraft] Longwire and K2

[Daniel Reynolds]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I know that at 10 ft up, I won't be working Europe. That's not my intent. When
I made a half dozen contacts Sunday evening with the Buddipole and then modeled
conditions and the antenna, I was surprised to see how accurate the predicted
areas were. I was also saddened by how little area was actually covered with
the Buddipole (which is why I only made a half dozen contacts, only 13 total
over 2-3 hours of WPX).

Likewise, I utilized the same software and corresponded with Ken/KD5ONS, the
ECN net control operator, and tried to model his set up at the times he uses to
call both ECN nets. He was pretty surprised at how well the modeling software
corresponded with his experience.

The inverted-L that I modeled (3m up/27m long ~ about 100 ft of wire) showed
six lobes on 20m, 4 lobes on 40m, and oblong coverage on 80m. The plots of the
antenna suggested mostly high angle (NVIS) type radiation, but because of it's
length, it seems to lower the angle somewhat on 20 and 40m compared with the
quite short buddipole. Coverage improved dramatically when compared with the
buddipole's modeling. Maybe it won't hold a candle to a halfwave dipole up 1/4
wave, especially when it comes to working DX. However, it seems to contain my
signal to the lower 48, which is exactly where I want it on Field Day (no use
skipping over stations that you really want to work). When you've only got 5
watts to work with, you obviously want to be careful with where you send it.

I'd like to try an 80m loop since I've heard a lot of good reports about it. If
anyone with NEC4WINVM can produce an ICEPAC 'model 13' output file of an 80m
loop (285 ft) at 3m, I'd really like to try to compare that with everything
else I've tried modeling.

3m (10 ft) is about the limit of my temporary antenna efforts this Field Day
(crappie fishing poles). I may move up to 10m (33 ft) next year with a
fiberglass push pole.

I don't really want to go much longer than 2-3 wavelengths on 20m because my
goal is NOT to have a true 'longwire' with end-directed gain. I really want the
multiple lobes at higher angles which are better suited to keeping my signals
inside the U.S.

I will post results after Saturday or Monday (TAC contest and Spartan Sprint)
and let you all know how it compares with the modeling. If it performs half as
well as the modeling suggests, then I'll be doing quite well. I just wanted to
know whether it was best to use the BL1 or not. Since it's not really a
balanced load (end fed long wire), then it probably is best to avoid the balun.

I've looked for some time at Radio Shack to try to find the BNC to banana post
connector some folks refer to, but I haven't seen it at any of the Radio Shacks
around here. Right now, I've got a 2 ft short piece of coax with bnc on one end
and alligator clips on the other end that might work just as well.

Thanks again for all of your help.

- Daniel/AA0NI

K2 #3421 (itching to get out and load up a 100' wire)