"§ Dr. Artaud §" wrote

Remember, I was the one asking for advice, ergo I am the one ignorant on
the issue. Although I do appreciate any serious response, I especially
appreciated his (Jack Painter's) willingness to have spent so much time
writing a response. As I asked for links, I believed that I would be able
to sort through the responses and make a decision for myself.

To compound the matter, I spent the day looking at vertical antennas for
HF transmitting, something that I am not yet licensed to do (Technician).
Anyway, my property is narrow, I live next door to a borough official
that doesn't like me (understatement, and the feeling is mutual), my
property suffers absolutely tremendous winds during some (most) of the
summer storms (you have to see it to believe it, the rear of the house
looks like pre-tornado, the front, mostly calm wind wise, but there is
not enough front to use for mounting antennas and the high tension and
other wires are but a mere 20 feet away).

I am not going to be able to erect a tower and use a beam (wife's
prohibition), the property doesn't lend itself to traipsing guy wires to
support a vertical in high winds, and my wife isn't going to let me have
guy wires stuck hither and thither anyway (I need a free standing
vertical with 80 mph wind resistance).

I thought that the inverted V might be a start, I realize that I can
transmit on it as well (utilizing a tuner). All I have now is a random
wire down one side of the property, attached by rubber tubing (of a sort)
to a large tree near the end of my property, the other end going directly
to my radio.

The inverted V was just a way to allow me a more convenient way to use
coax for the radio to antenna feed, and to use some form of grounding at
the point where the coax enters the house (though as I said, I can't run
a ground wire straight down, as the patio is directly below).

You comments are appreciated, perhaps you can also help me with the
vertical. But I do need a way to ground my antenna soon, as the storms
will soon be here.

Thanks.

Dr. Artaud

You're very welcome, Dr. We share what we have worked and learn what best
fits our individual circumstances in such exchanges. You might enjoy the
features that an automatic tuner such as MFJ produces. They perform well in
most cases except at the actual frequencies a dipole is cut for, as the
impedance at that one place only is felt as almost infitinte to them. Of
course that's one frequency they aren't needed either, just be advised it
could result in erratic behavior of the ATU if used on the resonant
frequency.

Station-Isolation is probably more feasible when you first get started with
a transmitter, receiver and rooftop or other high antenna system. They can
and certainly should be grounded, but until you can plan and design a
whole-property system, it's perhaps safer to isolate by unplugging power
supplies when not in use, and disconnect coax feedlines from the equipment
as well. Having an accessible place to ground those disconnected antenna
feedlines is best, and that can be inside your station as long as no
equipment comes within at least one foot of that ground system and coax when
they are shorted to ground.

Please don't handle coax connectors during the thunderstorm - if you forgot
to disconnect, say a prayer for your equipment, and spare needing one for
yourself! ;-)

As you shop for verticals, consider that a good radial system can be layed
out, totally concealed on a permanent basis, and then a temporary field-day
style of vertical "tipped up" for your work, and put away when you secure.
Maybe leave it up during nice weekends, as the household gets used to it a
little at a time, LOL. Lots of options are possible for the nice property
you described. Neighbors won't object as long as you aren't changing their
tv channels when you transmit.

Keep us posted on your progress, and good luck.

Best regards,

Jack Painter
Virginia Beach, Virginia