N8MR

Quest for DXCC on 160 Meters

The minimalist's approach

Setup #1 - 1 Radial


Antenna placement, facing north.

The Carolina Windom 80 is parallel and approximately 8 feet away from the inverted L.
Both antennas have ceramic egg insulators which connect the ends to Dacron rope.
Radiating elements of both antennas are made of 12 AWG stranded wire with THHN
insulation. The ends of both antennas are clear of any tree branches.
The antenna sloping from the tree on the left to the roof is a 6-Meter 5/8-wavelength dipole.
The inverted L tunes up perfectly on 6-Meters and gets out better than the sloper!


Antenna placement, facing northeast.

How did you get those wires up there?

That's the question most often heard from neighbors. It takes lots of practice
with a trusty EZ-Hang. It just so happens that the length of the antennas is
such that the ends do not contact any tree branches. This is very important, in that
I do not want any possibility of arcing in wet weather. This is more of a factor
with the Windom (where I run approximately 600 watts max with an SB-200 amp)
than with the inverted L. However, I didn't want any unexpected results.



The feedpoint, using a 1000pF series capacitor encased within a sealed 35mm film canister.


The feedpoint and lower portion of the horizontal section, which runs up the tree
and over the top branches before heading east horizontally.
Click here for more information on my "new and improved" feedpoint.


The "radial farm" - a fence through which the radial runs.
The radial starts at the far right corner, then runs counter-clockwise along the bottom
of the fence to a point in the foreground, just to the right of the second fence post.

Setup #2 - 14 Radials


Buried east-bound radials, with the reason for burying them standing to the right.
The wires run under the patio stones and to the walls of the house.
All wires buried in the grass are just below the roots.


One of the radials is buried in the flower bed (under the loose bricks) and runs eastward to the sidewalk.


The sidewalk is along the north side of the garage. The radial runs along the left side of the sidewalk.


The radial then turns south, runs five feet to the driveway, turns back east, then down the driveway.
This radial is parallel, more or less, to the horizontal portion of the inverted L.


One eight-foot radial heads north from the feedpoint.


Radials heading south and southeast from the feedpoint.
All wires buried in the grass are just below the roots.
The ends of the radials buried in the yard are within 12 inches of the fence, but do not touch it.


Two radials heading southeast.


Three radials head southwest.


Two radials heading southwest.


Two radials heading southwest.

Setup #3 - 16 Radials


Buried two more radials (most likely the last two) six months after the previous 14.
Both radials are 1/4 wavelength (128 feet).

Radial #15 was buried from the feedpoint to the southeast part of the back yard.
It then heads eastward along the south side of the house.
Once it clears the southeast part of the house, it turns and heads northeast.

Radial #16 was buried from the feedpoint eastward, under the patio and along the north side of the garage.
At the east side of the garage, it heads south between the sections of concrete, under the expansion strips.
Once the radial gets to the southeast part of the garage, it turns and heads east, along the south edge of the
driveway to the sidewalk. At the sidewalk, it turns south and runs about six feet until it ends.

Setup #4 - 21 Radials with Six More in the Basement


Buried four more short radials running northeast to northwest, plus another
running eastward, toward the house. Also added a six-radial grid inside the
house, in the basement rafters. This grid was connected to the eastward radial
previously mentioned. The indoor radials only get connected to the outdoor
radial system during the winter, when the chance of lightning occurring
is minimal.

Setup #5 - 24 Radials with Six in the Basement


October 15, 2006
Buried three more short (approx. 30 feet) radials along the west side of the tree.
None of the three are straight. This fills in a gap in the radials, as well as adds
more wire to the system. Better than nothing. No telling whether or not it will
make a difference. Have plans to add three more before the cold weather arrives.


Return to N8MR

"New and Improved" Feedpoint

Receiving Loop Antenna

How am I doing with this setup?


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