EFHW Experiment Part 1
EFHW Experiment Part 2
EFHW Experiment Part 3
EFHW Experiment Part 4
UPDATED 2023-03-03
Adding 40M
Adding a linked in tail to the 20m/30m EFHW turned out to be about as easy as you might expect. The 40m EFHW was tuned for 7.100. The other bands could be easily matched by selecting the best match via moving the transformer tap.
The links at 20m and 30m will allow a lot of versatility at the cost of lowering the antenna to connect or disconnect the links. Likewise with the transformer taps. So a bit of footwork is the tradeoff for multi-banding. But its not just the band changes. Judicious configuration choices allow the possibility of multiple choices of radiation patterns.
| BAND | TAP | Best SWR | SWR range to expect |
| 40m | 8.5:1 | 7.1(1:1) | Entire band, (1.3–>1.6) |
| 30m(j) | 8.5:1 | 10.25(1.6:1) | Entire band, 1.6:1 with wire drooping |
| 30m(j) | 8.5:1 | 10.1(1.3) | Entire band, 1.3:1 with wire pulled taut |
| 30m(j) | 7.5:1 | 10.3(1.4) | Alternate tap,1.4:1 with wire pulled taut |
| 20m(40m-tail) | 6.5:1 | 14(1.4) | Entire band 1.4–>1.6) |
| 20m(no 30m/40m tails) | 8.5:1 | 14.025(1.4) | Entire band favoring CW section |
| 15m(40m tail) | 4.5:1 | 21(1.1) | Entire band 1.1–>1.8 |
| 15m(j) | 4.5:1 | 21.010(1.4) | Entire band under 2:1(wire drooping) |
| 15m(j) | 4.5:1 | 21.010(1.0) | Entire band flat with wire pulled taut |
| 10m(40m tail) | 6.5:1 | 28.0-29 | Entire band with tap 3 , 2 or 1 |
| 10m | 6.5:1 | 28.000-29.25 | 28.00 thru 28.800 under 2:1(swr 1.2:1 on CW) |
| 10m | 8.5:1 | 28.00(1.4) | 28.00 thru 28.75 < 2:1(swr 1.4:1 on CW) |
*note1: “40m tail” implies both 40m and 30m links are attached, other settings are for the 20m/10m as 20m efhw or 30m/15m as 30m efhw.
note2: The transformer taps are numbered 1-5, where tap 1=4.5:1, 2=5.5:1, 3=6.5:1, 4=7.5:1, and tap 5=8.5:1 turns ratios. corresponding impedance values would be 1013, 1513, 2113, 2813, and 3613 ohms.
note3: -right click and “view image” to see full size images below
Model Radiation patterns-10m
For the 10m images above, on the left is the modeled current and radiation patterns for the 40m EFHW when used on 10m. The right is the current and radiation pattern for the 20m EFHW used on 10m. Switching requires lowering the antenna to either detach or reattach the link at 20m.
Given the lengths of the wire using a 30 foot(~9 meter) support, either configuration will have a considerable vertical component. The 40m version will add a substantial horizontal component. The vertical components will mimic the horizontal patterns to some extent. But the patterns will likely favor different directions. The differences will surely be modest – maybe enough to be worth testing as options. If nothing else, it may help reduce QRN in some circumstances.
Radiation patterns-20m
For 20m, the radiation patterns might actually be more interesting. The full wave version(from 40m configuration) will present a compressed combination of horizontal and vertical components. The half wave version(20m) configured with most of the antenna vertical will have a mostly vertical component with the 30ft/9m support. This may be a fun experiment in a field day operation. maybe worth the effort of switching the links
Addendums
HA5KDR, similar implementation.
**https://youtu.be/Xe0wvbOQeok* MM0OPX Amateur Radio channel, a nice experimentation on 49:1 transformer efficiency.
\/ Good info here. \/
*
Leave a Reply