[Elecraft] Inverted L for 160 meters

[Rick Bates, NK7I]

I will interject here that when I lived in Mordor, er, CA, I also used a 
low (35' max height) EDZ (370', window line fed dipole).  I was able to 
work 200+ countries on all bands (I used a J pole on 6M) within an HOA 
environment (I put it up on a weekday when no one was home, it was 
'invisible').  Then I came to my senses and left the state.

For the first two years here, I used an 80M Sloper (was originally a 
dipole, but a branch took out one end, in the middle of winter snow) and 
a 160M Inverted L which I used on all other bands (except 6M).  In many 
ways, that was better than the EDZ (not enough trees to reuse that) but 
mostly due to the lower noise floor (dropped by ~40 dB in the move).

Now I use a SteppIR DB 36/80 at 60' (and the L on 160M) and it easily 
blows everything I've used out of the water, always in resonance too.  
Not only does it hear better (by nulling out noises, favoring the 
intended direction) it provides gain as well.  A HUGE difference to the 
untuned (but matched) Inverted L (what was unheard, is now workable).  
(Adding a proper grounding system also lowered the noise floor another 
20 dB on average; the house Ufer ground, while legal, was not 
sufficient.  At many times, the floor is at the MDS of the K3.)

The Inverted L at 500 watts out, talked better than it could hear (on 
the K3), frustrating everyone, proving that mismatch losses cost in both 
directions (and costing me a lot of DX).  After installing a proper 
grounding system AND bonding EVERYTHING; the next challenge is to lower 
the noise floor further (remove or reduce all noise sources).  I can now 
hear a little more than I can work (the 'other' side has noise to deal 
with) but will add an array for low band RX.

So you're both right, everyone is limited by what is available on the 
property and budget; I've used all the antennas mentioned in this 
thread.  And that, is the rest of the story (and even in the low range 
of the solar cycle, I have added some ATNO and numerous band slots).

Jim, I'd submit that not only is 160M more challenging on the left 
coast, but 6M is worse since it tends to be N/S much of the time and 
even the coastline leans left so not many stations are south. ;-P   6M 
like 160, also 'spotlights' but in pinpoints.  I have managed DXCC on 
160M since the move, 6M is still a greater challenge (up to 6 so far, 
it's a start).

I'm pleased your place has survived the fires (please do your PRC 4291 
'homework' to continue that good fortune).

73,
Rick NK7I


On 8/27/2020 9:43 AM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
> That being said, when working within a limited budget (ham radio IS
> important to me but it's not my whole life) and limited antenna options due
> to HOA restrictions, I think my Extended Double Zepp performs exactly as I
> hoped it would and pretty much maximizes the use of the space available.  At
> its design frequency, it produces 4.7 dbi gain with exactly the radiation
> pattern I want, namely N-S NVIS on 80 meters for statewide EmCOMM purposes,
> E-W for 40m, Increasing numbers of lobes as we go up to 6 meters and thusly
> becoming more omni. All are as desired.
>
> How does that compare to your Inverted-L? (Serious question ...)