My shortned dipole jumped to 160 meters because of the rain and I made my first entrance in the lower bands. So, I had a 40 meter dipole 30 feet in the air and I decided to experiment by adding a coil at the ends and dropped a 4 feet wire, tuned it and was able to reach 80 meters. I was a happy camper, but then it rained. So, the coils were wrapped on a cardboard cylinder covered with duct tape, and rain detuned the antenna. It was no longer resonant in 3.9 MHz but lower in the band. I decided to change the ends to 2.5 feet, and by chance the shortened dipole resonated in 1.9 MHz. I tried it and it worked. I made my first contact in the forbidden band with several 5/9 reports. Isn’t that amazing!
I did similar but used voltage through coax to run relay
That is a more elegant arrangement! Like how they power TV masthead amps. Clever. Thanks for the comment and MerryXmas. 73
Thanks John! I enjoyed making this one despite the arachnid and ants doing their best to terrify me 🥹 de George VK2AOE
My shortned dipole jumped to 160 meters because of the rain and I made my first entrance in the lower bands.
So, I had a 40 meter dipole 30 feet in the air and I decided to experiment by adding a coil at the ends and dropped a 4 feet wire, tuned it and was able to reach 80 meters. I was a happy camper, but then it rained. So, the coils were wrapped on a cardboard cylinder covered with duct tape, and rain detuned the antenna. It was no longer resonant in 3.9 MHz but lower in the band. I decided to change the ends to 2.5 feet, and by chance the shortened dipole resonated in 1.9 MHz. I tried it and it worked. I made my first contact in the forbidden band with several 5/9 reports. Isn’t that amazing!
Antenna wizardry!! 🤣My antenna is laying on the roof....cockatoo attack!! 😛
Great video George, thanks. Subed... deVE7KKQ