By
W4NFR
2010
In the summer of 2010, I decided to construct a 1/4 wave 80 meter vertical using 3" OD Aluminum Tubing. The large diameter yields broadbanded coverage of the 80 Meter Band. It's an 1/8 wave vertical on 160 meters also.
This antenna is 58 ft tall and is mounted on a hinged base. I chose 58' for Mid 80 Meter Operation. If you want 75 Meter operation make it 57 ft long. I like to use a home made current choke to keep RF from coming back on the feedline. Use 22 ft of RG-213 Coax Cable on 4" PVC. The matching network is mounted on a 4' x4" treated wood post in the weather proof plastic container at the antenna base.
An RF switch is convieniently mounted at the top to switch between 80 and 160 Meter operation.
This antenna has 38 radials in the grass, held down with DX Engineering Bio-degradeable Staples. The grass has grown and the radials are completely out of site.
Some of the Parts...
Hinge Assembly
Current Choke
Common Plate for the Radials to Attach
Vertical Ready to Swing Up !
HINGED MOUNT VERTICAL UP AND IN POSITION
GUYED AT TWO LEVELS
80/160 RF Switch Mounted on Top of Plastic Container
Smaller Coil is a Shunt to get minimum SWR, Larger Coil is for base loading for 160 Operation
COIL, TAP AND SWITCH DETAIL
Everything In Place and Working !
The End