The building lot that my house sits on is only 90 feet wide. There are a number factors which have steered me towards erecting a dipole antenna across the width of the lot. Given that a full-size dipole for 80/75m is over 130 feet long, I have a problem fitting that into the width of my lot.
My current antenna is centered on the lot, so the dipole elements run out like a normal dipole for 45 feet in each direction. That leaves me roughly 20 feet of antenna element on each side. Currently, those elements turn 90 degrees thus forming a broad U when viewed from above that is 90 feet across the base and roughly 20 feet on the sides.
I am relatively pleased with the performance of this antenna. I can trim it so that the SWR is reasonable and, since the proof is in the pudding, I can talk to people using this antenna.
However, I'm always thinking of ways to improve my antenna. Would it be better to orient my antenna elements like a broad Z with one short element going one way and the other short element going the other way? I've played around with both the U and the Z arrangements in EZNEC and I don't see much difference. Thoughts?
My current antenna is centered on the lot, so the dipole elements run out like a normal dipole for 45 feet in each direction. That leaves me roughly 20 feet of antenna element on each side. Currently, those elements turn 90 degrees thus forming a broad U when viewed from above that is 90 feet across the base and roughly 20 feet on the sides.
I am relatively pleased with the performance of this antenna. I can trim it so that the SWR is reasonable and, since the proof is in the pudding, I can talk to people using this antenna.
However, I'm always thinking of ways to improve my antenna. Would it be better to orient my antenna elements like a broad Z with one short element going one way and the other short element going the other way? I've played around with both the U and the Z arrangements in EZNEC and I don't see much difference. Thoughts?