[PVRCNC] Cheap and Easy 160M Vertical

[k4tmc at aol.com]

There are no excuses for not having a good 160M antenna for the CQ 160 
SSB Contest on Feb 23-24.

If you have a decent height tree, then try the K3LR 160 1/4 quarter 
wave Inverted-L 
(http://lists.contesting.com/_towertalk/2007-10/msg00289.html).
In getting ready for the upcoming CQ 160 SSB Contest, I went to Home 
Depot yesterday and got a 500 ft spool of 14 ga stranded THHN wire and 
followed Tim's instructions. With the vertical section at 70 ft and two 
radials, I have 1.2:1 (per MFJ259B, or 1.4:1 per the K3) SWR at 
1850KHz.  The flatter the horizontal leg the lower the SWR.  I will 
probably add some more radials just because I have the room and extra 
wire. Tried it out last night and was hearing stations all over the 
Eastern US.  Worked stations in GA and VA.  The 2 radials do not have 
to be straight.  I routed mine around the edge of the yard in the 
shrubs/trees.

So, for $35.00 of new wire and a SO239 connector, you have a decent 160 
antenna that does not need a matching network at the base.  Go for it!  
See you on 160M.

I’ll be monitoring around 1850 for the next 2 weeks to become familiar 
with current band conditions.

Next project: 160M NVIS dipole.

73,
Henry - K4TMC


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