[ICOM] Windoms and other things...

[JerryM]

N5ZC should look at other antenna possibilites if all he wants to do is have some domestic QSO's. A horizontal loop at that 15' height is a worm burner or a cloud warmer but will produce great results out to a thousand miles or so (except 160m) depending on size/freq, and if feed with ladder line and a balun should easily be handled by the tuner on all bands including and above the primary. It will even produce some DX under the right conditions on the higher bands. 

A 40m loop will easily fit in a back yard (most back yards anyway) and does all the above. An 80m might go around the house and include the back yard, and a 160m takes about a 1/2 acre, but at that height will be nothing more than a great receiving ant on 160... (I've done 'em all). I stub-tuned the 40m loop, but the rest were fed with ladder line and a 1:1 balun. Delta, Square or what ever, they all work. 

Biggest advantage to the loops is that they are QUIET! Far less QRN in the summer and for somebody in Texas that might be important with the electrical storms there?

Jerry WC8R