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Keith, congrats on your upgrade!!
The old saying is, any antenna is better that no antenna, so to get going why not build a quick starter-upper that will work on most all the bands. While many might call the "G5RV Dipole" as a poor antenna, it actually works quite well and is easy to make. There are a number of sites on the Internet to guide you, but all that is necessary is 102' end to end dipole fed with 31 feet of balanced line in the center. If you can tune it at that point great, but you can also add 50 coax at the end of the 31 feet into the shack. Make sure you get it up in the air as high as you can and keep it a flat top installation if at all possible. It will also work with drooping ends too, but keep the end high. On 20 Meters the antenna is a 3/2 wave dipole, and it has gain of 3db and radiates off the end of the wires. Due to the present conditions of the solar cycle, try to install it in a direction that would work well 20 as it will be your first band to work "long haul" contacts. You will find 40 and 80 to work too. BEST REGARDS, Steve K2CX |
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