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The Evolution of a 160m Inverted-L with FCP(K2AV FCP long version)

Saga of transitioning to K2AV’s FCP(folded counterpoise)

(Updated 03/13/2021 de w4kaz, add/edit links and link to newer K2AV FCP page)Â Â NOTE: Please use this K2AV link for most current construction info

TopBand? Wazzat?

A saga of switching from raised radials to a version of the K2AV FCP for a 160m inverted-L.

The whole idea of operating on 160m started as curiosity. Before 2005 I had never operated on 160m. Ever. I had listened some, but never keyed the transmitter other than to experiment with arcing capacitors and high levels of SWR. But it generally seemed like it would be fun, so give it a try to find out, right?

After looking at a couple of locations in the yard, it seemed like there just wasn’t enough room to !easily! pull up an inverted-Vee, or other crooked dipole of such unusually large size. Tall trees out-the-wazooo in the yard, but spaced closely, so it is difficult for long pulls. There is an emphasis on easy because it is an important consideration. Any antenna that is a pain in the ass to maintain is more likely to be out of service at any given moment at the KazShack qth.

Where O where does a 160m antenna fit?

There is a great spot for a vertical rise of about 70 feet so that seemed to be the ticket. But verticals have their own downside. Radials – bleh!…Ick!…Ptui! But any antenna is better than no antenna at all, so that’s where we […]

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