[OKDXA] Balanced Line Feed

[Jerry Chouinard]

Roger on the reputation.

Likely the antenna is the type you describe.  Wireman called it a "Mystery 
Antenna" on the label but it's actually his CQ881.  133' of stranded copper 
wire, 75' of ladder line and the necessary insulators.  Split the wire in 
two and attach the ladder line in the middle.  Heck, even a yagi enthusiast 
can do it.  Supposed to handle the legal limit which is a requirement here 
in Claremore.  In a short while, using the tuner, we did load the antenna 
on all but the WARC bands and I was surprised at the performance.  I'm sure 
it will load on the WARC bands too.  Worked several folks on 20 SSB and 
PSK31 and got a good report from New Orleans on 40 CW.  Ask a 75 meter SSB 
camper for a signal report and he gave me a 59+ in NE Ohio.  Tried a couple 
of CQs on 160 - no takers but was nice to watch the SWR meter on that band 
wiggle only slightly.  Didn't figure I could raise anyone on 15 or 10 ( 
duh! ) but 20 was still open when we shut down at 2AM.  Hollered at NH6P a 
few times but he had a European pileup going so didn't get to log him.  All 
this was with 100W on a TS850 - compromised the Claremore requirement for 
these tests.  So even with my hands tied behind me it was fun.  I think 
I'll give 6 a try using my ICOM.  The last QSO I had on 6 was with you when 
I checked in your net a few years back.  I understand there are signals on 
6 now and then!  We'll want every band and mode we can get on FD next weekend.

K5YAA

At 09:38 AM 6/17/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>Yo, Jerry...
>
>Let me know how the new wire works for you. What you described sounds like 
>a variation on the traditional All-Band Doublet (66' on each side, 66' 
>open wire feed to a balanced tuner). The basic design has been around 
>longer than you have and works almost as well...
>
>Last year a Bradford Pear in my neighbor's yard decided to split in half 
>and took out the south end of the Wonder Wire (136' off center fed dipole, 
>AKA 'Windom'). Then I mowed the coax. Let's just say the Wonder Wire has 
>seen better days but prior to the tree incident it was the best universal 
>signal snatcher I've had. Best wire ev-er was an Extended Double Zepp 
>monoband on 20. Big signal into Maui and Morocco but I never did come up 
>with a good way to rotate the yard. Wonder Wire had a pattern like a four 
>leaf clover with lobes at NE, SE, SW and NW which is a good choice for 
>this part of the world.
>
>I'm tempted to replace it with a Doublet as I do prefer large-ish wires 
>that offer good RX from AM broadcast through HF, but it could be a while 
>before I get around to it.
>
>Got a reputation to protect...
>
>_______________________________________________
>OKDXA mailing list
>OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa