Purposes of the Amateur Radio Purposes of the Amateur Radio ServiceService

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.providing emergency communications.

(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.  ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. 

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art. both the communications and technical phases of the art.

(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.technicians, and electronics experts.   

(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill. ability to enhance international goodwill.

Who is this W5WZ?Who is this W5WZ?•Licensed in 1997 at age 26 (tnx W5LA)•Competitive desire to operate instilled (tnx KM5YL, W5LA)•Contesting spark ignited at FD 1998 (tnx W5EW)•Technical abilities challenged & stretched (thanks K5RUS, K5ER)

The recent shack at W5WZ

My station has evolved just a bit…My station has evolved just a bit…KD5CAS station circa April 1998KD5CAS station circa April 1998

(and only a single ladder-line fed dipole antenna & antenna tuner)(and only a single ladder-line fed dipole antenna & antenna tuner)

And just for fun…And just for fun…

This is This is KF5GDK, KF5GDK, ten years ten years before before earning his earning his license.license.

He was He was calling calling “DQ, DQ!”“DQ, DQ!”

Beverage Antenna for Beverage Antenna for DummiesDummies

by W5WZby W5WZ

(also a dummy)(also a dummy)

Disclaimer: There are smarter Disclaimer: There are smarter guys than me, read their stuffguys than me, read their stuff

The ARRL Antenna The ARRL Antenna BookBook• Lots of antenna infoLots of antenna info• Chapter on Long-Chapter on Long-

Wire and Traveling Wire and Traveling Wave Antennas Wave Antennas

Disclaimer: There are smarter Disclaimer: There are smarter guys than me, read their stuffguys than me, read their stuff

Low-Band DXing by Low-Band DXing by ON4UNON4UN

Complete chapter Complete chapter on Beverage on Beverage receive antennareceive antenna

Antenna Gain & DirectivityAntenna Gain & Directivity

Yagis are directive, i.e. there is less Yagis are directive, i.e. there is less gain in all but forward directionsgain in all but forward directions

Dipoles are also directive – Dipoles are also directive – broadside in 2 directionsbroadside in 2 directions

Inverted-Vees are also directive - Inverted-Vees are also directive - although omni-directionalalthough omni-directional

The ChallengeThe Challenge Multi-element Yagi transmit and receive Multi-element Yagi transmit and receive

antenna are readily available for 10, 15, antenna are readily available for 10, 15, 20, & 40 meters20, & 40 meters

Tower height and structural requirements Tower height and structural requirements for larger directional antennas (40 & for larger directional antennas (40 & especially 80 & 160) gets complex and especially 80 & 160) gets complex and expensiveexpensive

We all want to work more stations on We all want to work more stations on every band, including 160, 80, & 40every band, including 160, 80, & 40

Common SituationCommon Situation Ham station with wire antenna (usually dipoles) Ham station with wire antenna (usually dipoles)

on 160, 80, and sometimes 40on 160, 80, and sometimes 40

Constraints limit having 160m 3-element at 320 ft Constraints limit having 160m 3-element at 320 ft & 80m 4-element at 240 ft& 80m 4-element at 240 ft• $$$$$$• YL of the houseYL of the house• Neighbors, landlords, size of lot, etc.Neighbors, landlords, size of lot, etc.• Fear of extreme heightsFear of extreme heights

You still want to work lots of stations on these You still want to work lots of stations on these bandsbands

Overcoming the Challenge within Overcoming the Challenge within the Constraintsthe Constraints

If you can’t increase transmit and receive If you can’t increase transmit and receive gain, then gain, then increase receive directivityincrease receive directivity

Beverage antenna are ideal solutionBeverage antenna are ideal solution• Cheap to buildCheap to build• Simple to erect; one person can do it!Simple to erect; one person can do it!• Can be temporary: string the wire for a single Can be temporary: string the wire for a single

contest or the winter seasoncontest or the winter season

The dB gained are in Signal-to-Noise ratio, The dB gained are in Signal-to-Noise ratio, in a particular directionin a particular direction

Meet the BeverageMeet the Beverage

A travelling wave antenna made of a A travelling wave antenna made of a length of wire a small height above earthlength of wire a small height above earth• Terminated for unidirectional reception Terminated for unidirectional reception • Un-terminated for bi-directional reception. Un-terminated for bi-directional reception.

Practical ConsiderationsPractical Considerations

Beverage antennaBeverage antenna• Have excellent directivityHave excellent directivity• Gain usually never exceeds -3dBiGain usually never exceeds -3dBi• Generally, longer Beverages have lower Generally, longer Beverages have lower

elevation angles and narrower beam widthselevation angles and narrower beam widths

Resulting Benefit: Much higher Signal-to-Resulting Benefit: Much higher Signal-to-Noise ratio in the desired directionNoise ratio in the desired direction

In the Real WorldIn the Real World

Imagine a W1 working Europe on a Imagine a W1 working Europe on a vertical antenna with thunderstorms vertical antenna with thunderstorms in W4-landin W4-land

Instead of S7 signal with S9+10dB Instead of S7 signal with S9+10dB noise on the vertical, perhaps S5 noise on the vertical, perhaps S5 signal with only S3 noise and signal with only S3 noise and interference on the Beverageinterference on the Beverage

What Do I Need to Build It?What Do I Need to Build It? Length of wire Length of wire Supports and insulatorsSupports and insulators 2 ground rods and clamps2 ground rods and clamps

Termination resistors (Ohmite Termination resistors (Ohmite 296-2368, 470 ohm, 2 watt, 296-2368, 470 ohm, 2 watt, flame-proof non-inductive, flame-proof non-inductive, $1.03 from Allied Electronics)$1.03 from Allied Electronics)

Feed-Point transformer (9:1)Feed-Point transformer (9:1)• Store boughtStore bought• Homebrew Homebrew

Feed line to your receiverFeed line to your receiver

Most of the HardwareMost of the Hardware

F-connectors F-connectors & install tool& install tool

TransformersTransformers Ground rod Ground rod

clampsclamps ResistorsResistors Antenna Antenna

switchswitch

How Much Wire?How Much Wire?Computed for 2-meter high over good groundComputed for 2-meter high over good ground

160 meters 80 meters 40 meters

269 302 (0.5 l) 141 154 (0.5 l) 148 157 (1.0 l)

541 584 (1.0 l) 279 302 (1.0 l) 220 236 (1.5 l)

820 886 (1.5 l) 413 446 (1.5 l) 285 302 (2.0 l)

1089 1155 (2.0 l) 554 587 (2.0 l) 443 459 (3.0 l)

1345 1410 (2.5 l) 695 728 (2.5 l)      

      846 879 (3.0 l)      

Supports & Ground RodsSupports & Ground Rods

Remember to insulate the wire from Remember to insulate the wire from the supportthe support• TreesTrees• T-postsT-posts• Bamboo sticks, 4x4s, etcBamboo sticks, 4x4s, etc

Standard copper-clad ground rods Standard copper-clad ground rods and bronze clampsand bronze clamps

Feed-Point TransformerFeed-Point Transformer

Amidon FT-114-43 Amidon FT-114-43 cost $2.25 eachcost $2.25 each

AWG# 26 spool AWG# 26 spool cost $4.50cost $4.50

Needs a simple 8-Needs a simple 8-turn trifilar winding turn trifilar winding for ON4UN designfor ON4UN design

Another Feed Point TransformerAnother Feed Point Transformer

W8JI design – see W8JI.comW8JI design – see W8JI.com BN-73-202 cost $0.50 eachBN-73-202 cost $0.50 each I find the design by W8JI much easier to I find the design by W8JI much easier to

wind and implementwind and implement

2-turn primary

5-turn secondary for 75 ohm feed line (6-turns for 50 ohm)

Test by placing 470 ohms across secondary, sweep SWR from 1.5 to 10 MHz – should be flat around 1.2 – 1.4:1

Feed PointFeed Point

Feed line Feed line connectorsconnectors

Weather proof Weather proof enclosureenclosure

Connect to your ReceiverConnect to your Receiver

Coax feed lineCoax feed line• 75 or 50 ohm75 or 50 ohm

Modify your transformer to accommodateModify your transformer to accommodate

Protect your receiver while transmitting, Protect your receiver while transmitting, especially if QRO with both transmit and especially if QRO with both transmit and receive antenna in close proximityreceive antenna in close proximity• ““Front-end saver”, Front-end saver”, CQCQ magazine, Feb 1997, magazine, Feb 1997,

pages 32-33.pages 32-33.

Termination PointTermination Point 5-ft ground rod and clamp5-ft ground rod and clamp InsulatorInsulator Wire-nut method to replace resistor without Wire-nut method to replace resistor without

soldering out in the woodssoldering out in the woods

Feb 2010 - Initial Result at W5WZFeb 2010 - Initial Result at W5WZ

Single-wire 285-ft beverage at 45 degrees, Single-wire 285-ft beverage at 45 degrees, average height about 4.5 feetaverage height about 4.5 feet

Just before local sunset, first evening on 80m CW, Just before local sunset, first evening on 80m CW, transmitting 100 watts on dipole at 75-ft, I transmitting 100 watts on dipole at 75-ft, I workedworked• Z31 - MacedoniaZ31 - Macedonia• LZ - BulgariaLZ - Bulgaria• YO – RomaniaYO – Romania

In the previous 12 years of hamming, outside of NA I had In the previous 12 years of hamming, outside of NA I had only confirmed Canary Islands, Cyprus, Morocco, and only confirmed Canary Islands, Cyprus, Morocco, and Suriname on 80 metersSuriname on 80 meters

Expanding the Beverage SystemExpanding the Beverage System

Add length to the Europe beverageAdd length to the Europe beverage

Build additional antenna for specific Build additional antenna for specific directions – ham population centersdirections – ham population centers

Create/install switching schemeCreate/install switching scheme

Provide receive antenna signal to Provide receive antenna signal to both radios simultaneouslyboth radios simultaneously

Benefit of Adding Length for 80 Benefit of Adding Length for 80 metersmeters

A picture is worth 1,000 wordsA picture is worth 1,000 words

Benefit of Adding Length for 160 Benefit of Adding Length for 160 metersmeters

Length Length REALLYREALLY matters on 160m! matters on 160m!

Benefit of Additional DirectionsBenefit of Additional Directions

Ever try to rotate a 500 foot long Ever try to rotate a 500 foot long antenna?antenna?• Pull up posts, move termination point, Pull up posts, move termination point,

reinstall posts and termination point.reinstall posts and termination point.

Use a standard multi-position Use a standard multi-position antenna switch to select different antenna switch to select different beverage and thus heading.beverage and thus heading.

Aerial OverviewAerial Overview•580 ft beverage at 45 degrees (Europe)•480 ft beverage at 90 degrees (Africa)•800 ft beverage at 270 degrees (VK/ZL)•480 ft beverage at 315 degrees (Japan)

Provide Signal to Both ReceiversProvide Signal to Both Receivers

The “Magic Tee”The “Magic Tee”http://http://michaelgellis.tripod.com/magict.htmlmichaelgellis.tripod.com/magict.html

The advantage of the "magic tee" is that the The advantage of the "magic tee" is that the two output ports are isolated from each two output ports are isolated from each other and the theoretical loss is only 3 dB.other and the theoretical loss is only 3 dB.

How to Build the Magic TeeHow to Build the Magic Tee For 50 ohm coax, change the resistor to 25 ohmsFor 50 ohm coax, change the resistor to 25 ohms

Be SURE to use the right mix of ferrite in the binocular core. Be SURE to use the right mix of ferrite in the binocular core. • 73 mix is SUPERIOR73 mix is SUPERIOR

Five bucks for 10 binocular toroidsFive bucks for 10 binocular toroids• http://toroids.info/BN-73-202.phphttp://toroids.info/BN-73-202.php• http://kitsandparts.com/http://kitsandparts.com/

Use a 7 turn primary, and a 10 turn center-tapped Use a 7 turn primary, and a 10 turn center-tapped secondary.secondary.• The sigs will be 180 degrees out of phaseThe sigs will be 180 degrees out of phase

OR, you can buy the $50 DX Engineering box...OR, you can buy the $50 DX Engineering box...

Questions?Questions?