[Elecraft] Subject: The G5RV trivia

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

The same antenna, although not named the G5RV, is described in the 1956 
ARRL Handbook, Chapter 14, page 343.   Fig 14-19 "Practical arrangement 
of a shortened antenna."    It may have been described in an earlier 
publication, however the 1956 Handbook is the earliest I have for 
reference.

The description shows "A" as the length of 1/2 of a dipole where "2A" is 
the dipole total length and with the total length being less than 1/2 
wavelength as shown in table 14-1.  The open wire feed line "B" is then 
1/2 of "A".   Therefore A + A + B + B becomes the length of the standard 
1/2 wave antenna.  When the length of A + A is is greater than a 1/4 
wavelength the effectiveness of the antenna is not changed.

Table 14-1 shows the length of the antenna to be 135 ft with a feeder 
length of 42 ft. covering 3.5 - 28 MHz which uses parallel feed for 3.5 
- 21 MHz and series feed for 28 MHz.     A shortened version shows the 
antenna length to be 67 ft with 42.5 ft feedline.  In this case 3.5 MHz 
is series fed and 7 - 28 MHz is parallel fed.

Regarding connecting a balanced feed line to the transmitter, Fig 14-21 
(B) reference is made to do so using a pair of "balun" coils.   This 
would imply a proper balun would contain two separate coils existing on 
two separate cores.   The discussions by W8JI and DJ0IP would imply a 
single core will not be the correct design although it may contain 4 
windings existing on a signal core.   The original Heathkit balun, being 
two separate air wound dual winding coils would satisfy the requirement.

Yes, more interesting trivia.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 3/23/2020 8:18 PM, Jan wrote:
> I first learned of the G5RV Antenna back in early 1963 in Malaya ~ as 
> the Editor for the *M*alayan *A*mateur *R*adio *T*ransmitter 
> *S*ociety's /NewsLetter/ .   Jim, 9M2DQ (a rubber estate manager) sent 
> me a copy of Mr. Varney's article; a simple wire antenna that covered 
> 80-40-20-15-10 Meters.
>
> It became a popular antenna in South-East Asia ~ with many using it 
> for chatting on 14.320 MHz ~ which became the SEA-NET in 1963 and 
> beyond.   I have fond memories of using it at 9M2JJ for two and a half 
> years at the Secondary Trade School; where I taught as a Peace Corps 
> Volunteer.
>
> Cheers, Jan K1ND
>
>
>
>
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