80 mtr tuned to 160 mtrs
Jan 4th 2015, 19:38 | |
KB3FFHJoined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0 |
Has anyone tuned a 80 mtr OCF antenna to 160 mtrs? |
Jan 6th 2015, 21:08 | |
NV2KJoined: May 20th 2014, 01:06Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0 |
I haven't, but I can work 40m using a 20m OCFD. It uses a balanced series stub to help with impedance matching, and my suspicion is radiation from this stub permits my tuner to match it on 7MHz. I'd post a picture, but that does not seem possible in this forum. |
Jan 7th 2015, 02:31 | |
aa6eJoined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0 |
You can post all kinds of formatted text on the forum, including images -- if they're findable through a web URL. Check https://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php?mode=bbcode for all the options. (Not all codes necessarily work on this site.) Example: Avatars (self portraits, etc.) like mine at the left can be created through a free account at http://gravatar.com. These are just a few ARRL secrets I've stumbled across. A pity that nobody actively runs these forums. :> 73 Martin AA6E |
Jan 7th 2015, 02:33 | |
W1VTSuper Moderator Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0 |
Running an EZNEC model of an 80M OCFD at 30 feet, I get 1 dBi of gain straight ip. With 50 ft of LMR-400, you can expect to lose 6 dB in the feedline and another 6 to 10 dB in the transmatch. In theory, you could reduce the transmatch loss to 1 to 2 dB by building a custom L network. 6 dB assumes a transmatch like the ATR-30 which has 500 pF tuning caps--the loss goes up significantly with smaller tuning capacitors and the usual T network. The most practical 160M antenna for most hams is some sort of inverted L or top loaded vertical worked against a counterpoise or radial system. The tuning range of many tuners is limited on 160--ideas that work on 80 may not work on 160 because the tuner isn't up to it. If you put up an inverted-L you can use the horizontal wire to help in tuning--adjust the length for the most practical match. Zack W1VT |