I've made a #HamRadio #AntennaExperiment decision. I'm going to switch my #ShortyVertical from #TopBand & instead work on it for #80meters ...& here's why:
My #TuneATenna could only get to the top edge of 75m because of the size of my yard. But I actually have some friends who are on that band regularly. It'd be good to be able to do 3825kHz AM without a tuner.
And my #DxCommander only goes down to 40m. If I get the shorty to work, I'd be set for winter.
I’ve just started another experimental tweak on the #HamRadio #TopBand #ShortyVertical. I took up “slack” in the #MeanderLoading section by increasing the number of zigs/zags from 6 to 18 (triple), & brought the hula closer, so they’re about 6’ apart (about half what they were). I was hoping this would lower the SWR dip down into 160m band. Nope; it rose to 2.58MHz.
Counter-intuitive.
Not sure what the next tweak will be.
Maybe add element length at the base; it’ll have to slope a lot more.
The #TopBand #160meter #ShortyVertical #AntennaExperiment for #HamRadio is probably done for the year. Thunderstorms all night. Wind gusts. The hula-hoops meander-loading part is the highest wind resistance section of it, and morning evidence suggests it done got darned windy. Wire ripped out of SO239.
Next iteration will have 12 or 18 zigs/zags between the hoops, instead of just 6. Use up same electrical length in 1/2 or 1/3 the load length, & keep it lower to ground. Much more lone wire up.
Yes, my #160meter #ShortyVertical #HamRadio antenna is very compromised.
No, I have not made any further tweaks, including not putting out proper ground radials (it has one ground radial loop going 50' NW).
But even so, I'm pleased that I'm able to do 160m at all - new to me. The tip's only 50' up. It could go in a city back yard!
Behold: the #160meter #MeanderLoaded #ShortyVertical made with a #HulaHoop on each end of the loading section.
Yes, it looks like a rat’s nest. I’m still refining & adjusting. Once I’ve got it well sorted, I will tidy up all the extra tails of paracord.
#GoodNewsBadNews ...I went out and un-folded the top portion of the #ShortyVertical - there had been about 5' folded over, now there's none.
The Good News: The usable bandwidth is decent. The 2:1 SWR range is 130kHz. That's more than enough elbow room for my intentions.
The Bad News: Un-folding the top to make it 5' longer did not move the lowest SWR frequency one bit. It's still at 2.15MHz.
It feels like 50' AGL just may not be enough to do this. I can go longer, but it'll REALLY slope.
Kelvin n0mql EN35ld