[Elecraft] 43 ft vertical

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > I collapse it down to 33ft6in.

Why bother?

Insert an 8' piece of fiberglass tubing in the top ... now you have a
50' +/- support.  Install two 8' pieces of PVC or fiberglass tubing in
a horizontal cross at 30 to 35'.  On one, run your 80 meter wire - tie
it back to the tip of the antenna and run any remainder horizontally
(or bend it back down to the opposite spreader).  On another, run your
33' piece of wire - tie it to the spreader.  On the third, run your
17.5 foot wire - tie to the spreader.  On the fourth, run your 160 or
a 30 meter wire.

Even better - since we're talking about compromise antennas ... dig
out information on coaxial traps.  Put a 30 meter trap in the 80 meter
wire, put a 15 meter trap in the 40 meter wire (reduce the wasted high
angle radiation), put a 17 meter trap in the 160 meter wire, and put a
10 meter trap in the 20 meter wire.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 8/5/2016 8:50 AM, Morgan Bailey wrote:
> I personally love the idea of a 43 foot vertical. I use the Dx Engineering
> Thunderbolt for 60 meters, it is 1.5 inches at the top. I collapse it down
> to 33ft6in. Gives a fully resonant antenna on 40. Add a 17.5 foot wire with
> outrigger (pvc supported on vert by hose clamp) and now you have 20meters.
> Next run a wire with another set of out riggers up to the top and out 33
> feet and you have 80 meters. Next wind 132 turns 18ga wire on 1.5in pvc and
> add to the 80 wire end then add about 15 feet of wire and you have 160.
>
> What you have when you get done is:
>
> 160 meter inverted L with a bit of compromise. but still workable on a city
> lot.
> 80 meter inverted L no compromise with full size.
> 40 meter 1/4 wave full sized vertical
> 20 meter 1/4 wave full sized vertical
> 15 meter fully loads on 40
> 10 loads on 80
>
> It works well for me. I live on a city lot and it plays great. I use a
> receiving array for 80 and 160 with phasing and preamps. NCC1 Dx
> engineering system.
>
> Most 42 foot /43 foot verticals require 150 feet of coax to balance out the
> loss/swr to hook you in to thinking that you have a great antenna. But most
> any antenna is better than no antenna. And, if all you have is a 43 foot
> vertical, use it. Enjoy it. There is a qrp op on CWOPS that all he has is a
> 43 ft vertical. He does great with it but also he can walk out his back
> door and pee in the ocean, so that is really not a fair comparison due to
> the salt water and the magic it gives.
>
> Vy 73,
>
> Morgan NJ8M
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