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G5RV Question

KJ4VRQ

KJ4VRQ

W9WDX Amateur Radio Club Member
Sep 9, 2013
86
23
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I am putting a G5RV antenna up (hopefully today) and have never used these before...

I have two large trees that look like they will be far enough apart where I can hang each side. However, it looks like the ladder line will end up being above my roof. My friend says that it shouldn't be a big deal if part of the ladder line is laying on the roof flat... Any opinions? I have no experience with this antenna as I have always used verticals.

Also, any suggestions of the best way to get each end in the tree??? Someone recommended taking strong nylon string and tying it to a baseball, throwing the baseball as high as I can, and then tying the other end to the dipole and pulling it up...

Any suggestions would be great!!! I'm probably doing this by myself.
 

I use one of these to get the lines up.

06153a.jpg


As for the the latter line, it should be ok if some of it is laying on the house but just make sure most of it is hanging straight down.I have never had a g5rv, I just made my own fan dipole.
 
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The G5RV will work best when the ladder line is fully extended at a 90 degree angle from the antenna. Definitely avoid having the ladder line coiled up.

SWR is not the only criteria for an antenna, but do you have an external tuner to help out? The G5RV (102 ft version) tunes best on 20 meters. The other bands not as well.

For example check out the graph on this page:
G5RV Antenna

I've not had any luck with fastening a rope to a baseball and throwing it very far into a tree. What I've done was tied a small heavy weight to the end of a light weight rope and then swinging it in round in fast circles before letting it go up at the tree. I've used that method to get rope over branches as far up as 35 to 40 feet.
 
A G5RV was originally designed as a 20 meter antenna and only incidentally is usable on other (harmonically related) bands. Count on needing a tuner on other than 20 meters.
That ladder line is part of an impedance matching device. It IS affected by anything but coming straight from the feed point and being close to things. It isn't a good idea to lay it on/against things. How much the impedance match is affected varies to a big difference, it may not be bad, might even be good, but it's better not count on anything good, you know?
They do work, but not well on any band except 20 meters.
- 'Doc
 
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w9cll said:
I use one of these to get the lines up.

06153a.jpg


As for the the latter line, it should be ok if some of it is laying on the house but just make sure most of it is hanging straight down.I have never had a g5rv, I just made my own fan dipole.
Click to expand...

I actually have one of those myself... That's not a bad idea. I will try to get this thing up as far as I can. I've been a ham since 2010 but still learning when it comes to antennas.
 
I use a slingshot with a cheap fishing reel attached to it. Shoot a small sinker with the line attached to the sinker up in the tree, fasten your cord that is attached to the wire and reel it back up and over, tying down the line.

For more info on the design of the G5RV and how it works (which will help you understand why you should not lay the ladder line on your roof), check out this site: G5RV Multiband Antenna
 
I prefer a 6 1/2 or 7 ft. "Noodle Rod" fishing pole with a cheap big open face spinning reel filled with fly casting 20 lb. line (or Kite String) and a 3 or 4 oz. torpedo sinker....
I can through that over the top of about any tree you can find here in the Midwest...(y)
All the Best
Gary
 
I find that a punkin cannon with 1/8 inch manila will pull almost any antenna over a tree. Do I really have one'a them? Of course not, but it's a fun thought!
I've done it probably every way stated so far. Unfortunately, the fishing lines I've tried usually snapped when the sligshot was released. Figured 30 lb test would be enough, guess not, it was kind'a old though. Ah well, if I can't do it wrong I just ain't thought of it yet...
- 'Doc
 
I made a spud cannon to shoot a line over the trees behind the house but after I tested it I realized that it was a bit overkill. They were only 60 foot Oak trees and not 300 foot Giant Sequoias. :laugh:
 
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Captain Kilowatt said:
I made a spud cannon to shoot a line over the trees behind the house but after I tested it I realized that it was a bit overkill. They were only 60 foot Oak trees and not 300 foot Giant Sequoias. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Ever try shooting a golf ball out of one? As a joke I tried wrapping a golf ball in a paper sabot and shot it at the green on a par 5. Figured I'd try for a two stroke on the hole. Gave it a little bit of elevation and spun the striker. Last I saw of that ball it had cleared the course and was still climbing.
 
Nah man... Ripe pumpkin, only a 10 second squirt of hair spray, and high elevation. The orange splatter marks the landing point. Don't wanna over-charge the thing.
- 'Doc

Trade secret here:
Drop the pumpkin in a pair of 'Big Momma' panty hose, tie the waist in a knot, tie 1/8" manila line to -both- ankles! Enough stretch there so you don't snap the line.
 

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