It was nice out this weekend so I started a project of an HF wire antenna in the back yard. I had a 1:1 balun and a 1:4 balun in the parts box. I made an inverted L for 80 meters. It starts at the center of the yard between two large trees and drapes over one branch about 30 feet up then travels 90 degrees over toward the house. Approximately 20 feet of nylon rope connect the end to a vent pipe on the roof.
The first variant was a 1:4 balun and just two or three 50 or so foot ground radials thrown out on the dirt. I swept it with the MFJ and it was flat on everything above 30 Mhz but I could never get below 3:1 swr below that. It was nice and quiet noise wise and seemed to receive well.
The next day I switched the balun out with a 1:1 type and added 10 or so radials out to 30-60 feet in every direction. The SWR looked nice at 80 meters but the noise is now S9 all the time.
I know verticals are known for noise but is there some sort of compromise that can be made here to reduce it?
Also, which balun type should be used? I'm pretty sure it's the 1:1
The first variant was a 1:4 balun and just two or three 50 or so foot ground radials thrown out on the dirt. I swept it with the MFJ and it was flat on everything above 30 Mhz but I could never get below 3:1 swr below that. It was nice and quiet noise wise and seemed to receive well.
The next day I switched the balun out with a 1:1 type and added 10 or so radials out to 30-60 feet in every direction. The SWR looked nice at 80 meters but the noise is now S9 all the time.
I know verticals are known for noise but is there some sort of compromise that can be made here to reduce it?
Also, which balun type should be used? I'm pretty sure it's the 1:1