The antenna I use is rather simple. It's an inverted V dipole, 2x13 meter for 40 and 80 meter. I do not have more space for a longer antenna. I thought that it maybe good for 20 meter too. I tried once but the SWR was unacceptable. Now I tried again this weekend during the PACC contest, and yes, I had a good SWR with the ATU. Only a small part of the 20 meter band. It's good from 14.060 till 14.175 KHz. The best part, so I can work QRP on 14.060, and PSK on 14.070, and JT65A on 14.076, and RTTY on 14.080 and SSB from 125 - 175 KHz. What can I want more? The dipole is much more better then the Miracle Whip + 10 meter wire. Yesterday I heard a station from Norway with no S-meter reading with the MW+wire and FT817, but on the FT450 with the dipole I had a S5. So I am in no hurry to put up the vertical. 73 Paul
Monday, February 15, 2010
My Inverted V dipole
The antenna I use is rather simple. It's an inverted V dipole, 2x13 meter for 40 and 80 meter. I do not have more space for a longer antenna. I thought that it maybe good for 20 meter too. I tried once but the SWR was unacceptable. Now I tried again this weekend during the PACC contest, and yes, I had a good SWR with the ATU. Only a small part of the 20 meter band. It's good from 14.060 till 14.175 KHz. The best part, so I can work QRP on 14.060, and PSK on 14.070, and JT65A on 14.076, and RTTY on 14.080 and SSB from 125 - 175 KHz. What can I want more? The dipole is much more better then the Miracle Whip + 10 meter wire. Yesterday I heard a station from Norway with no S-meter reading with the MW+wire and FT817, but on the FT450 with the dipole I had a S5. So I am in no hurry to put up the vertical. 73 Paul
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The inverted V looks good. And, you can operate QRP cw on 14.060 plus your favorite digi modes. Continued good luck with the new wire. 73 Dick
ReplyDeleteI am sold! You seem to be having some good success with the dipole.
ReplyDeleteI think I might revisit putting up a dipole again. I don't have much space, though, so I need to plan carefully. My main antenna currently is a G7FEK, two element Marconi 1/4 wave. It does work will, and I have had some DX, but it can be a tad noisy at my QTH. Resonant on 80 and 40m, good tuner required for other bands, unless one adds tuned elements, but then it looks messy!
I think the performance of the inv-V will be better then the vertical when you compare it on 20m. Time will tell. But for the 10/15m you will need the vertical. 73, Bas
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether you are using a "bought one" or home made. I had a lot of joy with a dipole with open feederrs with a tuner. (Always use a tuner btw)
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Wally
The 15 metre band is pretty good now, and will be better in the future. Have you thought of home-brewing a half-wave 15 metre mono-band vertical. I would...if I could. 72 Dick
ReplyDeleteIf you replace the coax with open wire feeder, you'll be able to use that antenna on all bands, 10-80m, with much more efficiency than you currently have.
ReplyDeleteFeedline loss will be only a fraction of what it is now.
My antenna is similar to yours except that each leg is 21m long.
Hi Dick, yes I have considered a dipole for 15 meter. I can place the dipole instead of the Miracle whip wire. Maybe I'll do that. 73 Paul
ReplyDeleteHi Andre, city QRM is often a problem for many of us. Some antennas seems to be quiet, such as the EH antenna. They don't pick up a lot of noise. 73 Paul
Hi Bas, I think your right. Now I can work on 3 bands. When the weather improves, I raise the vertical. 73 Paul
Hi Wally, this one is a Diamond W735 with coils for 80 meter. 73 Paul
Hi John, Yes, you are right about that. Maybe I change the feedline for an open feedline one day. 73 Paul