[Elecraft] Inverted L for 160 meters

[Jim Bruce]

For mine I have 1/4 wave wire for 160, goes up 35-40 ft and over to pole 
in corner of the yard with the remainder of the wire. I use mostly 
random length ground radials on top of the ground, some 1/4 wave, some 
sorter, some longer, mostly shorter,(someway shorter thanks to the lawn 
mower height), 12 so far and I add more when I get extra wire. 100 watts 
I work from here in Maryland to US west coast, Caribbean and into Europe 
and north Africa. I am happy for now but want to get more vertical 
height some day. Radials are sections of free 2 each 1000 foot rolls of 
4 pair cat 5 cable.

Jim/W3FA

On 8/25/2020 19:23, kevinr wrote:
> From what I can find, and what I can calculate, five wires, each ~130 
> feet long, could make a nice inverted L for 160 meters.  One leg for 
> the vertical and horizontal portion of the antenna.  Four legs for the 
> counterpoise (ground plane).  There are many broken wire antennas 
> stored in my shed which are fodder for the radials. Do all of the legs 
> for the counterpoise need to be 1/4 wavelength or can I substitute 
> some shorter lengths?  The feedpoint should somewhere above 50 ohms 
> impedance.  As I add more radials that number will reach 50 ohms 
> asymptotically.
>
> I can get the vertical part up to 70 or 80 feet above ground with the 
> rest of it horizontal.  Most of the radiation should take place from 
> the vertical part since it is closer to the feed point.  But there 
> should be some effect from the direction of the horizontal portion.  
> How strongly does the direction of the horizontal portion effect the 
> radiation pattern of the antenna system?  My property allows me to 
> point it from 300 degrees around to 200 degrees so I have plenty of 
> options.  Between 200 and 300 degrees there is a road used by loggers, 
> and the folks maintaining the towers at the top of this mountain.  
> They can break any antenna lower than 80 feet above ground.  Spar 
> poles and cranes clear out any dead limbs across the road.
>
> Inquiring minds...
>
> Kevin.  KD5ONS
>
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