Flagpole antenna - experiences

I am considering buying or building a flagpole antenna. My preference
is for an antenna that covers 10 to 80 meters. I have seen the one
listed at the Force-12 site but would like some independent input on
this antenna before buying. Also, I was looking for plans on building
one myself but not much luck yet in finding any.

Thanks
Mike
N7DQ

Mike Bates wrote:
I am considering buying or building a flagpole antenna. My preference
is for an antenna that covers 10 to 80 meters. I have seen the one
listed at the Force-12 site but would like some independent input on
this antenna before buying. Also, I was looking for plans on building
one myself but not much luck yet in finding any.

I had one at my QTH but it was so noisey I took it down. Your
QTH might have a lower vertically-polarized noise level so
here is what I did - not exactly a flagpole but may give you
an idea.

I erected a 20 foot long vertical fed at the base with an
SGC-230 autotuner. It had 8 33 foot buried radials. 20 feet
is 5/8WL on 10m. This antenna worked well for transmitting
on 40m-10m. If it hadn't been so noisey on receive, I would
have added a high-Q base-loading coil for 75m operation
although the SGC-230 actually loaded well on 75m. I should
have left it up and switched to my dipole for receive.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

A flagpole antenna article at URL:
http://www.sgcworld.com/23ftflagpoleinstall.html
Uses a SGC tuner

Be careful of using PVC pipe -- smaller diameters bend very easy.

Also when using PVC, check the PVC grade for carbon content -- some have
enough carbon to upset the resonance points. Had a friend put a commercial
vertical in PVC pipe but the carbon in the PVC pipe detuned it and it
wouldn't work.

Building a single band flagpole vertical is easy. But making it cover 80
thru 10M can be complex. You probably want to use a tuner of some kind

My 2 cents

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !






"Mike Bates" wrote in message
...
I am considering buying or building a flagpole antenna. My preference
is for an antenna that covers 10 to 80 meters. I have seen the one
listed at the Force-12 site but would like some independent input on
this antenna before buying. Also, I was looking for plans on building
one myself but not much luck yet in finding any.

Thanks
Mike
N7DQ