[Lowfer] Antenna design idea question

[Paul Daulton]

I have done this with 1/4 wave on 160 meters with an 18 foot cane pole. But I think the coil will be too lossy at 185khz. A 30 ft verticle wire and 20ft dia top hat seems to be the best, that would require a loading coil of apx 2500uh. Loading coil should have l/d ratio of 2/1. A five gal bucket is good form for coil. 

Calculate the inductance of the coil you propose, figure about 5pf /ft of capacity for the verticle then calculate the resonance, it will require much less than1/2 wave of wire. My verticle has something like
350pf capacity measured to ground, my loading coil trimmed out to less than what I calculated for resonance. The difference is the inductance of the tower( even a straight wire has inductance) one has to consider this in series with the loading coil and in parallel to the capacitance to ground for the numbers to match. 

Paul k5wms

Quoting Michael Lodico <k1eg at matrix-computers.com>:
> Good morning all you Lowfer's out there. 
> 
> I am trying to plan for an antenna for this winter and came up with an
> idea based upon what a ham did for a shortened 80 meter vertical.  The
> plan is as follows:  you take a 1/2 wavelength of wire and wind it on a
> rod like a solenoid so that it is shortened considerably.  He claims
> that it performs quite well. 
> 
> What I have in mind is to take 4 lengths of PVC heavy wall pipe, 4", 3",
> 2" and 1 1/2", and wind a 1/2 wavelength of wire over the 40' length.  I
> would do this in 10' lengths and dope the windings in place to hold them
> and then connect them together at each joint.  At the top I would add a
> 10' diameter capacitor hat.  By using the different diameters this gives
> me  anchor points for  Dacron guys. 
> 
> My question is has anybody tried this?  Is it a feasible design idea
> worth pursuing?  Any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> 73,
> Mike
> K1EG
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Paul Daulton K5WMS
beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
Jacksonville,Ar 72076
em34wu