I am planning 5 masts for an irregular pentagon to be fed
with ladder line to a Johnson Matchbox (275W). The available
perimeter is somewhere between 520 - 560++ feet (there is a
bit of adjustment available on the exact placement of one of
the masts, the other masts are fixed. I want to use this
antenna for multi-band use and am not sure yet exactly what
precise frequencies I might be on. Since I will hoist up each
point with a pulley and dacron rope the excess between the
total wire length and the actual perimeter (call it "D") will
allow a certain distance away from the metal masts which I
assume is desirable. My question is: what would be a good
precise antenna length to shoot for given the intended
multi-band use AND taking into consideration that I can
utilize "D" for spacing the antenna wire away from the metal
masts a few feet at each facet?

(1005/3.8)x2 = 529 feet, ok, but is (are) there other
length(s) that might have some obscure magical mystery
properties I may be overlooking. Obviously I am more
interested in 75-80m band than 160m per se.

I though I heard somewhere that calculating for the "lower"
part of the 80m band had some advantage, but I cannot fing
that reference. Also, once I determine what part of 75-80m to
calculate for, do I just double it to be in the ballpark of
my available perimeter?


Bill K6TAJ