K6MM's 160m No Excuses Vertical Antenna

Photograph 1 prior to this picture, Fred, KI6QDH and I deployed the antenna with reducer between upper and mid-section. The weight between sections caused sever structural loading that is the upper section pulled away from its mid-section reducer. We followed John Miller, K6MM's instructions calling for 24-inches of mid-section inserted into lower section thus resolving structural loading between mid- and upper section.

Photograph 2 with Fred, KI6QDH demonstrating wind loading in relationship to the vertical profile. Subsequently, the vertical will require some type of guying system with appropriate anchorage points. We are brainstorming the use of four cinder blocks in addition to a pulley system to hoist and secure antenna. An individual can safely deploy however the system really requires a team of two especially if power lines are within reach of the system. A winter storm with associated wind provided us with a worst case scenario without guying system.

Photograph 3 illustrates end cap configuration, the now removed mid-section to lower section reducers, and upper section to mid-section reducer. Structural integrity of the entire system was dramatically improved when inserting 24-inches of mid-section into the lower section.

The next step in our garage construction process is winding 1/2 inch spaced AWG#14 wire. Les Moxon, G6XN in his book, HF Antennas For All Locations, discussed radio frequency resistance of thin copper wires, the function of circumference, and the square root of the frequency.

Subsequently, thin wire like AWG#22 and upwards leads to increased resistance per half wavelength as suggested in Moxon figures 3.10 and 3.11 on page twenty six. One may consider AWG of wire prior to building their antenna system in relationship to system performance.

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.