Скачать или смотреть Three Element 80m Beam - Balloon Supported Antenna

Our Latest Lowband Antenna Project

Back in the 1980s, we experimented with several balloon-supported verticals and even a Delta Loop antenna for 160m. This time, we tried a full-size 80m beam consisting of a driven J-Pole, plus director and reflector! Matching the high-impedance radiator was accomplished via a 20m stub, which transforms 3200 Ohms down to 50 Ohms.

The driven element was electrically grounded - another advantage of this feeding method. We were beaming east, and VK4CT on the RBN in Queensland Australia, reported our signal with 20 dB, long before our local sunset. At 19:50 UT, the first Australian station called with a strong signal: Allan, VK2GR, from New South Wales. He remarked that our signal stood out well above the other European stations that Australian morning.

Five minutes later, Ron, VK3IO from Victoria, called. He was impressed by our bigt 400W signal. He sent us the audio recording that can be heard in the video. Later that night, as we rotated the antenna, stations from Japan, North America, and South America came through.

For several hours, we experienced firsthand what it means to operate on a three-element, full-size 80m beam. It was incredible!

Now, we’re eagerly awaiting the upcoming lowband season.

Rudi DK7PE