[Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

[K9MA]

There's an unavoidable tradeoff using an end fed wire with an ATU of 
limited range.  Since the ATU can't match the high impedance of a half 
wave multiple, the lower impedance of the wire will lead to larger 
ground/counterpoise currents.  Even with a decent ground and/or 
counterpoise, some power is lost, and at 100 W or above, you might need 
to keep you fingers off the metal stuff.  That said, it can be a simple, 
effective way to get on the air.

I've long been a fan of the EFHW, but I've always used an external 
tuner.  The impedance should be somewhere in the 1K-5K range.  An 
internal ATU might be able to match that with an external transformer, 
say with a 3:1 turns ratio, though I'm not sure one could make such a 
transformer with low enough stray capacitance to work on the higher 
bands.  Has anyone tried it?

73,

Scott  K9MA

-- 
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us