Project Haywire
This is the latest antenna project at N1MAA-I was looking for an antenna that did not require putting up a tower, with an emphasis on the low bands for both local and DX work. The challenge for me is to get an antenna near the salt water, which is 300-350 feet away from the shack, with a row of 40 oak trees right in the middle of the run to the beach. The antenna is a 43' mast of 1 1/2" aluminum tubing that has linear loading wires and 2-136' top loaded wires. The antenna is essentially a linear loaded Tee antenna, or flat top. There are 4 134' radials and 4 66' radials that terminate in salt water. The antenna is fed with RG-6 coax. The match is <2:1 SWR for most of the 160,75,40,30,20 and 15 meter phone ham bands. The haywire has a potent local and DX signal on the low bands. Not bad for an all band antenna that is only 35' high and does not require an additional matching network.
This is the base of the mast looking east on a late afternoon in January.
This shot shows the 1 1/2" aluminum "clam rake pipe" mast with ground radials to water and balanced open wire return line.
This is a pic of the 33' mast looking up from the beach.
This pic shows the short mast in the water for the sloping top wire, and the aluminum mesh ground strap and radials from bottom of mast.
This is a shot looking south-this is what the antenna sees.
Any suggestions on improvements to what I am using or better ways to utilize the salt water for an all band antenna with an emphasis on low bands are welcome. Thanks and 73's Jim N1MAA