The Search for the Perfect Antenna . . .

[Riverman]

Amazing.......a fluid flush and fill kit and that knot in your back gets flushed right down the toilet.

My Gramma used to say....."You just need a good Poop!"

Grandmas are smart.
However, my back pain from falling off the ladder preceded the second malady. Don't think they were related.
And my back still has a ways to go but at least I now don't think I broke anything.

In the next day or two, the end fed is going in drawer and Wolf River coil makes its return. Yippee.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

A ground will help but dont make it an "Unground". Each coax needs to be choked so the ground wires will be the only RF ground. Otherwise you will have ground loops. The station should also be isolated from AC ground too.

http://www.radioworks.com/nbgnd.html

 

[Riverman]

My search is tentatively over.
See my Post #34 here: https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/wolf-river-coils.197773/page-3#post-664043

 

[Riverman]

Well, my Wolf River Coil vertical worked great until mowing season arrived.
Dealing with the coax and wire radials (no, don't care to bury them) is a hassle.
So it went into storage and a 20 meter half-wave dipole with 1:1 balun @ in an inverted V @ 20' (yeah, needs to be higher, I know) took its place. Noise level went from S3 (never really a problem) to S1. Sometimes even less.

SWR after carefully tuning:
1.15 @ 14.150
1.05 @ 14.250
1.10 @ 14.350

Workin' good!

 

[binrat]

Well, my Wolf River Coil vertical worked great until mowing season arrived.
Dealing with the coax and wire radials (no, don't care to bury them) is a hassle.
So it went into storage and a 20 meter half-wave dipole with 1:1 balun @ in an inverted V @ 20' (yeah, needs to be higher, I know) took its place. Noise level went from S3 (never really a problem) to S1. Sometimes even less.

SWR after carefully tuning:
1.15 @ 14.150
1.05 @ 14.250
1.10 @ 14.350

Workin' good!

Hey,
If you have room for that, then try a Half Square. But get the vertical portion to at least 22'.

 

[Riverman]

Hey,
If you have room for that, then try a Half Square. But get the vertical portion to at least 22'.

Just researched those. Interesting.
But with a 20 meter version wouldn't it only need to be about 17' high (1/4 wave)?

 

[binrat]

You want the vertical elements off of the ground some. My sota 1 is about 42" off of the ground which is alittle low but for the terrain is ok. 6' is safe unless you are tall.

 

[Riverman]

You want the vertical elements off of the ground some. My sota 1 is about 42" off of the ground which is alittle low but for the terrain is ok. 6' is safe unless you are tall.

Ah! I understand.

 

[TheRATT]

I keep eying this one....

https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/store/products/dx-commander-premium-build-hf-multi-band-vertical-system/

 

[Riverman]

Been looking at that for a while now myself.
Get one and let us know!

 

[TheRATT]

Been looking at that for a while now myself.
Get one and let us know!

I've been told in another thread that it is nothing special - I understand he has no "magic" that any other antenna may have it just seems pretty "tight" and built with quality.

I don't have rights to broadcast on most of the bands yet, just a tech, but I am eyeing this one!

 

[Riverman]

I've been told in another thread that it is nothing special - I understand he has no "magic" that any other antenna may have it just seems pretty "tight" and built with quality.

I don't have rights to broadcast on most of the bands yet, just a tech, but I am eyeing this one!

Quality looks great. The fella's videos are pretty funny but he appears to know what he's talking about.

 

[Riverman]

Well, after four days I am back to my Wolf River Coil vertical.
Because of its relatively low center height, my inverted V dipole was actually closer to being horizontal than an inverted V. Don't know if that or propagation was to blame, but it made a pretty good NVIS antenna. I talked to Arkansas and Louisana from Texas and I am never able to talk to those states. Found myself talking mostly to Missouri, Tennessee, the Carolina's and such. That was fun for a while but I prefer a longer reach. And the vertical does that. Am guessing the lower takeoff angle is responsible.

As before, the feedpoint is only 4' above ground. This time (being lazy) I only installed a single wire radial (16.5') sloping to a lawn ornament about 2' above ground.

SWR:
1.2 @ 14.150
1.1 @ 14.200
1.0 @ 14.250
1.1 @ 14.300
1.3 @ 14.300

Working great!

(Old pic taken in winter)

I know some of you are probably thinking, "Who gives a flip?" and that's okay.
But sharing experiences and info is what this site is about and that's all I'm doing in this thread. And others.

 

[Riverman]

Just talked to S5AN in Slovenia on 14.261 using 50 watts!
This antenna works great even with just the one radial!

 

[binrat]

Well, after four days I am back to my Wolf River Coil vertical.
Because of its relatively low center height, my inverted V dipole was actually closer to being horizontal than an inverted V. Don't know if that or propagation was to blame, but it made a pretty good NVIS antenna. I talked to Arkansas and Louisana from Texas and I am never able to talk to those states. Found myself talking mostly to Missouri, Tennessee, the Carolina's and such. That was fun for a while but I prefer a longer reach. And the vertical does that. Am guessing the lower takeoff angle is responsible.

As before, the feedpoint is only 4' above ground. This time (being lazy) I only installed a single wire radial (16.5') sloping to a lawn ornament about 2' above ground.

SWR:
1.2 @ 14.150
1.1 @ 14.200
1.0 @ 14.250
1.1 @ 14.300
1.3 @ 14.300

Working great!

View attachment 29535 (Old pic taken in winter)

I know some of you are probably thinking, "Who gives a flip?" and that's okay.
But sharing experiences and info is what this site is about and that's all I'm doing in this thread. And others.

My low height inverted vee supported by a 8'6" avi probe, dipole is for 20 mr. Numerous contact NA as well as NZ on 1 occassion.