Testing Vertical Antenna Wire
Antennas
Added Note January 30 - 2025Hello everyone, while I wait for better weather conditions this spring to assemble the Versa Yagi Mod. KA1-406S, I have done several tests on 5/8 wave vertical antennas for the frequencies 10/12/15/17/20/30 m. and 1/2 wave on 40/60/80 m. and I must say the results are extremely convincing, for the frequencies of 10/12/15/17 m. I used a 10 m. fishing rod which carries the respective 5/8 wave length elements made with 1.5 section insulated electric wire, duly spaced from each other on the rod itself and initially in the testing phase I fixed it on a 6 m mast. anchored to one of the three anchors of the braces of my tower, here I added 6 radials inclined at 45° for the lowest band (17m.), in a second phase of experimentation I said to myself: why not put the antenna on top of the mast of my tower at a height of about 30 m. and so I did, I did not put any radials, the power supply is made with 450 homs window line, tuned in the Shack with a Palstar AT2K, the results have improved, everything works wonderfully, especially on DX signals, often in FT8 the received signal as + 15 -25 db and more from far places as NA West coast and Pacific, but not only also the signals from Europe up to 2000/3000 Km are consistent.
We must say however that by raising one, two, three or more waves from the ground a vertical antenna of 1/4 wave will form a third lobe at a high angle, and therefore the radiated power will be divided among the three lobes, in the case of the 5/8 wave antenna I think the situation will be similar.
but let's get back to us, about 20/30/40/60/80 m. I proceeded in this way: considering that I have a lot of space available on my land of about one hectare including the house, the land used for grassland, has a perimeter of 160x40 m. my tower is 24 m high. and is located behind my house, I came up with the idea of stretching a steel cable from the top of the tower (24 m.) to anchor on a tall tree at the bottom of my property where the anchor point is at a height of about 7 m. (I can however further raise the anchor to about 12 m useful).
1°) The same steel cable is feed as 160 m. Long Wire Antenna.
2°) The same steel cable supports at a distance of 8 m. from the tower and duly spaced from each other and down to the feeding point on the ground of 4 antennas made with 1.5 mm square insulated wire, two of which are 5/8 wave for 20 and 30 m., the other two are 1/2 wave for 40 and 60 m (the one for 60 m. is linearly loaded), the last one of 80 m its always 1/2 wave that starts from the top of the fishing rod at 40 m. of height (the one that supports 5/8 of the wave of 10 > 17 m.) and goes down to the ground slightly inclined at a distance of 10 m. from the base of the tower, with a slight bend on itself it goes to the common feeding point of 20/30/40/60 m. always feed with 450 homs Window Line e tuned in the Shack; at the feeding point I put 13 radials of various lengths, in the future I try to increase their number, all antennas work very well.
3°) Not happy with all this (I'm always looking for improvements and testing new antennas) always hanging from the tension of the steel cable at a safe distance from the other vertical descents I built a Bobtail Curtain antenna for 60 m. a large antenna, essentially three 1/4 wavelengths connected together by two 1/2 waves always made with 1.5 mm square insulated wire, the central vertical 1/4 wave is the feed point where i put an home made antenna tuner at the base, the other two vertical 1/4 wave must be isolated from the ground, then i put four 1/4 wavelength radials at the base, the antenna is oriented south/west north/east, consequently it radiates North/West South/East, the results are exceptional, measured gain 5/6 db on the other vertical i have, unfortunately it is a very directional antenna and cannot be oriented hi hi (if only it could) the signals are consistent, among the other radio amateurs one that I always hear with very strong signals is Bob VE1YX who late at night on average I hear him in ft8 between + 20 and + 38 DB (+43 DB one night), for example this morning Mike ZL4OL at 07.16 UTC gave me + 10 DB and I gave him -10 DB, I don't know what antenna he uses and perhaps the conditions were via North Pole because my antenna is certainly not centered on his position indeed, I can't explain why this difference between received and transmitted signal, however it often happens, propagation does this and more hi hi, what can I say I'm very satisfied with what I've done.
4th) In 160 m. for now I use the same cable that supports the verticals and the Bobtail as Long Wire, or the 1/2 wave vertical of the 80 m. tuned in the Shack, it doesn't make me crazy ...
All the power supplies of the three solutions are feeds with Window Line at 300 or 450 Homs, which go to a four-position switch at the base of the tower, from here always with Window Line they go to the external wall of the house behind the Shack to a 4:1 Balun and from here with a piece of RG213 to the Palstar AT2K tuner, the Bobtail instead as I said above has a self-built tuner at the base and from here a coax RG213 to the Palstar tuner.
Well I think I'm not forgetting anything except that all these works are so to speak for experimental purposes, subject to improvements and definitive modifications once I have first assembled the Antenna Versa KA1-406S by Kojinsha, here down a short photo slideshow of the Vertical Antennas Made, thanks for reading and greetings to all ... Good DX from Enrico IK1MNJ
Added Photo Slideshow Vertical Wire Antenna Made - February 13 - 2025
