The last band that I have not yet worked has been 160M. Living on 100' x 50' lot does not allow for many options, especially since I removed the two eucalyptus trees the first year we moved into the house. Oh how I wish I had those trees back! Currently I have a SteppIR BigIK Mk III (32') for work on 40/80M and the 5-band hex beam (from DXE) for 10/12/15/17/20M. I ran across K6MM's presentation from a joint PVRC - NCCC webinar, October 2009 titled The 160M "No Excuses" Homebrew Vertical.
All things considered, with a lot of my size ANYTHING that I am able to get on the air with on 160M will be a compromise and I know that going into this potential project. While the BigIR (good product) has produced modest results on 40/80M I figured I might be able to build this 160M helical wound vertical and possibly work some contacts on the "top band." Right now, the main concern is a radial field that will provide desired results. Then again, any sort of antenna on any band is better than none, right?
Depending on the location of the antenna in the backyard I could possibly run 60' ground radials. The only drawback is they would be in one direction. One of the main concerns would be to place it where it is out of sight of the XYL, which would limit me to either side of the backyard, with a radial field running west to east or vice versa.
With any luck I could tie in the current ground radial system I have set up for the BigIR and tie it into the 160M vertical, while adding a new radial field for this antenna, regardless of where I place it. I have posted a few questions on the forums at QRZ, as well as e-mailed John, K6MM for some further information. But until I decide to move this would be one of the few ways to get on the top band and see what all the excitement is about.
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