Long wire for QRP Ops and KX1

[KA2ZEY]

Hi everyone,
I've got the Ham bug again and will be firing up my Elecraft KX1 again. I have a small back yard with a collapsable mast (33') I use to hoist a long wire. I won't be using
feedline so I'm trying to remember what the best lengths would be for Radiator and Counterpoise to operate 20, 30 and 40 Meters (i have the optional tuner installed). This set up
should be something I can set up and tear down with ease. Will 33' up on the pole and a couple of 17' counterpoise on the ground work fine for working these bands? Also, is there a particular
gauge or type of wire I should use? Hopefully one that doesn't tangle too easily.

Thanks,
KA2ZEY

 

[prcguy]

I've set up a similar antenna using various 33ft telescoping fiberglass masts with a 33ft 40m 1/4 wave vertical wire and up to six 25ft long ground radials hoping for a better 40m DX signal than the 33ft mast holding up the center of a G5RV. In every case the G5RV worked better for DX and that's with the ends only a few feet off the ground.

I suspect the ground loss with only 6 radials laying on the ground was some of the problem with the vertical because a G5RV with the center at 33ft and the ends a few feet off the ground is mostly an NVIS antenna and the vertical should have been noticeably better for the 1200 to 3000mi path I was using.

My advise is to use your mast to hold up a dipole and my new favorite is the 94ft long ZS6BKW which has a good match to 50ohm on 40, 20, 17, 12, 10 and 6m. You can make one from thin wire and 300ohm TV twinlead so the fiberglass mast will not be strained.

On the other hand I have a remote HF rig feeding a ZS6BKW flat top at about 30ft and a 43ft vertical with extensive ground plane over very wet soil and on most bands the 43ft vertical works better for long DX and the dipole rocks on 40-60-80m NVIS out to several hundred miles just as its suppose to.
prcguy

 

[k9rzz]

If you don't want to mess with feed lines, then just run a wire from the shack to the top of your mast and forget about it. It is what it is, and you'll work plenty of stations. You don't have to over analyze everything to have fun. Like mentioned, vertical antennas require good grounds, so you can forget about them being 'simple'. A 20 meter dipole up 33 feet would work well, a 20 meter delta loop would be even better. Super simple and easy to put up and down. Good luck!

 

[n8zcc]

For picnic table QRP I use an end feed 100 foot wire and borrow the services of a tall tree. It may not be the best but it works and I've worked good DX. When the band is open, its open.

 

[LtDoc]

In no particular order...

The size of the wire used for that antenna isn't critical at all. It should be large enough so that it can support it's own weight without breaking easily. After that, it's a matter of whatever you have the most of.
That wire up in the air is only half of the antenna, the other half is what you are using for a 'ground' or counterpoise. That's also the most inconvenient part of using a vertical antenna, or random wire antenna, getting that 'other half' 'planted'. (Or -enough- of that wire 'planted'! This is one case where more is definitely better.)
There's really no way to predict 'performance' for a particular antenna and antenna location. You can get 'close' by considering specific 'types' of antennas in 'average' conditions (whatever those are), but there are too many variables in all that to be predictable other than 'in general'.
- 'Doc

 

[KA2ZEY]

I'm thinking that my best option would be a Spiderbeam 40' pole with a 33' resonator and 16' ground radial. Or an End Fed with 9:1 balun. For the way I operate, this seems to be the best option.

The Spiderbeam is not cheap but seems to be the best of all the telescoping poles. My Jackite cracked on the lower rungs and now won't collapse in.

 

[KA2ZEY]

also looks like a 30' long wire with 9:1 balun might be a good way to go.

End Fed Half Wave Vertical Antenna - YouTube

 

[prcguy]

That is one of the most useless antenna comparisons I've ever encountered, thanks for sharing it.

What is relevant about hitting the built in antenna tuner in the K2 then announcing the match that the tuner provided? It doesn't mean the antenna has a good match, it means the antenna tuner is working.

Where are the signal strength comparisons? I only see them listening to a CW note when switching between antennas and announcing they sound about the same.

Comparing a fairly low horizontal antenna to a vertical on DX is not a very good test because the takeoff angle of the horizontal antenna varies with height and the vertical will generally be lower.

On 20m that particular antenna is an end fed half wave and a 9:1 balun might be appropriate to help match it but on any other band its not appropriate.
prcguy

also looks like a 30' long wire with 9:1 balun might be a good way to go.

End Fed Half Wave Vertical Antenna - YouTube