On Jun 27, 6:33*am, Mike Coslo wrote:


As for folks tuning up rain gutters and wire salvaged from an old
toaster, then making an antenna out of it, that's fun too, but the final
result isn't likely to be optimum.



Yes!

I know I've told this story here before, but ...

My first HF antenna was a 10m vertical sleeve dipole. It was mounted
only a few feet above ground. With a tuner,
I matched 15m but not 20m. I knew I needed more metal on at least one
element, so I grabbed a clip lead and a hunk of wire and headed
outside. Near the antenna, I almost tripped over an extension ladder
laying on the ground. This is a sign, I thought. I tossed the wire
and dragged the ladder over to the dipole and clipped it onto the
lower element.

Back inside, I tuned up nicely on 20m and answered a CQ. Had a nice
chat with a fellow in Hawaii; five-by copy both ways.

Some wag in this group suggested "ladder line" might improve the
setup. Good one.

"Sal"