[MRCA] Week End Brain Fart Antenna

[W2HX]

> What do I call this antenna?
I vote for “the inverted Z (for zoro)”

From: MRCA [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of B. Smith
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 8:58 AM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [MRCA] Week End Brain Fart Antenna


      We had some nice wx here in Chicken Land so I decided to go out to the antenna range (vacant lot) and experiment with a half wave antenna.

I was looking to improve my signal on a USAF MARS frequency in the 7 to 8 Mc range. So I decided to add some additional length to a 20 foot section of the AT-1011 to make it a full half wave. I built a make shift half wave antenna tuner using a large toroid and a 10:1 winding ratio.This way I could use a 5000 ohm resistor to calibrate the tuner to 50 ohms.On the capacitor scale I had a mark  that told me to either add or subtract wire from the overall length The tuner is  held it to the sugar scoop mount with a quarter inch bolt and a wing nut.

Due to "ground effect" my over all length was all most 6 feet shorter than a calculated half wave and this was detected by the minus side on the capacitor scale on the tuner.

The knurled nuts on the make shift tuner allow for easy changing of Configuration such as using the station coax and jeep as a  ground or throwing out approx 8 feet for a counter poise.

I only used 20 feet of the AT-1011, any higher and I am unable to hold the antenna and keep it vertical while I lift it up to the mount.  But the good news is I can erect this antenna in about 5 minutes and need no other supports.

It works great and is easy to tune and has the advantage of a half wave doublet but fed from the end.



The question now is - -  What do I call this antenna? An inverter L? or a sloping inverter L? half inverted V?   :-\

Z



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