4 to 1 External Tuner Balun

My 80m loop uses ladderline to an external Balundesigns 4 to 1 balun with a three inch double height core.

Bob Rumsey, KZ5R was most helpful in helping select (and make) this balun. It's made the antenna easier to tune and quieter.

And here's some more pictures of the loop. (click to enlarge)

80 Meter Vertical Rectangular Loop

Antenna is 243' of insulated 14ga copper, about 90' wide and 30' tall, with the top at about 60', fed at a bottom corner with 450 ohm ladder line.

Looking North and up at the far end. The white rope going down to the right is part of the catenary support line. (click for larger image)

Looking North and you can just make out the sun's reflection on the top horizontal run at about 60'. In the foreground is some of the debris from last winter's ice storm. You can also see one of the catenary support lines going down slightly left of vertical.

Another looking North.

Looking East South East and up at the far end support lines. I used two catenary lines to be able to move and adjust the far end so the antenna wire didn't touch the tree branches.

Another one looking South giving an idea how big this antenna is. It shows the 30' vertical portion connecting the two 90' horizontal runs.

Looking South along the creek bed. From here you can't make out the antenna which is on the other side of the tall trees in foreground. The antenna has an elevation of about 1000' above sea level and is in the clear looking downhill from North East to South West.

Looking South showing both top and bottom 90' horizontal runs.

Another one looking South an up at the far end.

Looking West at feedpoint at about 25' with about 30' between top and bottom horizontal runs.

Reverse Beacon or CW Skimmer Monitor Network

This is the Reverse Beacon Network of CW Skimmer monitors worldwide. Above, I have set it to 40 meters and have just called cq. You can see that monitors K1TTT and WE4S both heard my call at 0703z and 0702z respectively on December 29, 2009. Sweet! Congratulations Pete Smith - N4ZR and Felipe Ceglia - PY1NB.

80 Meter Loop

Circumference: 243' of Insulated 14ga solid copper wire from Home Depot

Dimensions: 90' x 30'

Height: 60'

Shape: Rectangular

Feedline: 200' of Ladder Line feeding the loop at one corner at 30'

Orientation: Vertical supported by two trees on axis of about 100 degrees East.

This is the best wire antenna I've ever made. It's got great ears and it's even pulled out S-0 signals out of the noise with the preamp on and the rf and af gain turned all the way up on my trusty Icom-706 MKIIG. Never done that before.

I'd rather hear them and not work them than the other way around.