I built my K3LR 160 TX array 8 years ago and have not once regretted the investment in time to construct it. If you are considering this array, I will offer one point that is extremely important. While the base insulated tower (driven element) and parasitic elements are relatively easy to erect do NOT skimp or cut corners on the radial field. That consumed almost 90% of the time for me to construct this array. Follow the process Tim used, described in Low Band DX'ing, for radials.
The work performed by W8WWV on this array is extremely valuable information. Even though it was published after my array had been in operation for a few years it provided additional insight to a couple of items I had noted in my experience with the array but didn't completely understand. If you have one of these arrays and haven't studied Greg's paper, or you're considering constructing one, do so! 73 Joel W5ZN -----Original Message----- From: Topband <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Tim Duffy Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 1:22 AM To: 'Rob Atkinson' <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: Re: Topband: The Big Guys Speaking of base fed insulated towers on 160... that happen to be 90 degrees high (about 120 feet) - by design... I have had this for over 30 years - it is what I think is the best vertical antenna array for 160 that I have found. Bandwidth performance is narrow - but it tunes up easy and it really works. AA1K, VE3EJ, K9CT, W5ZN and NR5M and others all use the K3LR Yagi vertical design. WA3FET and K3LC worked with me on the early designs. This is a very effective gain antenna (almost 6 dB) with good front to back ratio (30 dB and can be used on RX with attn.) is described in editions 3,4 and 5 of the ON4UN Low Band DXing book by ARRL. Only takes a single 120 foot tower (all tower sections must be Cad welded together). It is a Three element vertical parasitic beam (shoots in four directions). BUT needs FIVE radial systems of 1/4 wavelength radials... I use 120 radials per element - one quarter wavelength long - 130 feet. The most recent version of this antenna has been updated by work (28 pages) from Greg, W8WWV here: https://www.k3lr.com/engineering/160m/K3LR160m2024Revisit.pdf This is currently what is in use at K3LR. Twice this array/station at K3LR worked more than one hundred countries in a single CQWW CW weekend on 160 (48 hour contest). We have just installed a brand new broadcast style radial system (all silver soldered) for all five vertical elements - this summer of 2026 (old one was 35 years old). Thanks W3YQ for engineering the installed solution. The performance is spectacular. 73 Tim K3LR -----Original Message----- From: Topband [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rob Atkinson via Topband Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2026 8:29 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Topband: The Big Guys you can have a broadcast tower that's too tall for 160 m. which results in high angle lobes. For this to work well you need one for a station that's up near the top of the broadcast band. A good way to tell is whether or not the tower is lamped. The ground system certainly helps but a ham can put in a good ground system on his own monopole. Don't believe that only broadcasters can do this, although nowadays a lot of radials on 160 costs a lot more than they did 25 years ago. These antennas will likely stink on receive. You'll just pick up noise. Expect to have to set up some sort of separate receive arrangement. By the way, there are and have been a few hams with base fed insulated towers and ground systems on 160. They don't chase DX or contest so you may not have run across them. 73 Rob K5UJ _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
