Mike, I agree 100% with Price and Tree. As a relative newcomer to 160, from personal experience my suggestion would be to go with an Inverted-L with raised radials -- no need for a ground connection and more efficient than buried radials. Check out the March 2010 issue of QST for an excellent article by Rudy Severns, N6LF, who did real-world comparisons of various ground system configurations for verticals and found that in his testing that 4 raised radials were within .2 db of 64 radials on the ground. Something else to consider: elevated radials will require less work than a bunch of buried radials you'll be walking away from in a couple of years.
Last season was my first on 160 from this QTH. With 100 watts and an inverted-L with the top at about 70' and the end sloping down to only about 15' high, with two 1/4-wave radials six-feet high, bent to fit in my yard, I worked 77 countries, including ZL8X. Needless to say, the antenna works better than I ever imagined. As for receive antennas, DXCC would be a lot closer now if I had a decent receive antenna last season, which is crucial on 160. So, if you have the room definitely put up a Beverege or two. And if you don't go with a Beverege, plan on an alternative receive antenna. Like the old saying goes; "you have to hear 'em to work 'em." Nothing's more frustrating than hearing guys work a DX station that's in and out of the noise, knowing you could possibly work him too if you could only hear him just a little better. That happened to me many times last winter and it's why the off-season antenna work here is focused on installing a couple of receive loops. Welcome to 160 and good luck this season. 73, Jack K2RS On 9/5/2011 11:21 AM, Price Smith wrote: > > Mike, > > I have to agree with Tree. > A vertical antenna is the way to go. With your trees, an Inverted L would be > a great transmit antenna. > I would also recommend that you get a copy of "Low Band DXing" bu John > Devoldere ON4UN. It is available > > From the ARRL. Great source of information. > > 73 de > > Price, W0RI Near St. Louis 160 DXCC 180 countries > > > > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- "Sent from my computer, 'cause phones are for talking." _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
