Opinions and General Information for Newcomer

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Cackalacky Kid said:

I am new ... edit... I have narrowed it down to two choices. One is an 88 foot, 200 watt, 160-10mm HF End Fed antenna with a 9:1 UNUN. The other one is Windom OCFD 135 foot (45' s) (90' l), 200W PEP 6m-80m with a 4:1 Balun.
There are a few fifty to sixty foot trees that I can use ... have the 6m to 160m frequencies...

Click to expand...

Don't take this wrong, it seems that most new Amateurs want to cover 6 to 160 with one antenna, Yeah, it can be done,.... somewhat, but, ....

just about anything (on phone) lower than 40 meters @ 100 watts will be marginal.
Most low band operators have some attenuation in their receivers to "quiet" the Rx,they often don't even hear the weaker signals and/or just ignore them.

The fact of the matter is that 75 (phone) at night is often a wasteland of A.H.'s. 160 is an entirely different issue, the ops there tend to be nice and polite.

If you can put up a 135 foot OCF then,.....IMO, you should utilize those trees and put up an (about) 135 foot doublet, fed with 300 ohm twin lead , adjust the antenna for resonance on 75 and then use a manual tuner on the higher bands.

FWIW, DXEngineering sells a kit with everything you will need to make the antenna, at a good price too.

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-wa-135

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-wa-260

Between the two antennas you are asking about I would go with the Windom.

I would also encourage you to look at the ZS6BKW.

For the next few years 20 and 40 meters will let you hear the most activity.

In any case a 50 foot tree for a support will be a big help. Also it possible not running the antenna over your house might help with the electric noise from your home.

If I had a lot as you described, I surely wouldn't use those antennas. I'd start with full size wires and a nice vertical or two. Depends how far those trees are, your budget and desired bands.

Good luck with studying for the exams. Be careful that you don't psych yourself out and over prepare.

As Mudfoot says the two antennas you mention aren't the best choices. Personally if you aren't stuck on just those two I would suggest a basic fan dipole for 20 and 40 as your first antenna. All you need to do is order a balun and cut and attach wire.

But all of us have different circumstances and needs.

A ground mounted vertical like a Hustler 5 or 6BTV would work very nicely in conjunction with a dipole.

6meter said:

Good luck with studying for the exams. Be careful that you don't psych yourself out and over prepare.

As Mudfoot says the two antennas you mention aren't the best choices. Personally if you aren't stuck on just those two I would suggest a basic fan dipole for 20 and 40 as your first antenna. All you need to do is order a balun and cut and attach wire.

But all of us have different circumstances and needs.

A ground mounted vertical like a Hustler 5 or 6BTV would work very nicely in conjunction with a dipole.

Click to expand...

I agree...but short on time...will elaborate more later!
All the Best
Gary

CKID: Well this is going to get "Windy" so bear with me. Please!
Hopefully you have not ordered anything just yet.
Just my thoughts.
Let's not rush into this antenna set-up just yet.
I told you earlier 20-30 ft. of wire pushed into the back of the rigs connector will allow you to listen, which is all you need to do presently. This can just hang around the room, no special way.
Your still 6-8+ weeks away from Testing, so you have time to consider some options.
First Item: The power supply to run your FT-450D. Please Identify what you have. (?) Brand/Amperage.
The Ft-450D will do a fine job for a rig when you get started!!
Second: Antennas.
Sounds like you have an ideal location to build a really nice antenna farm.
So let's consider this: Obviously your budget.
You have, as stated before a pretty good time window before you take and PASS your Tech/General exams.
May I suggest this. Take what ever budget you have presently and "rat hole" that amount till just before test time.
Then between now and then, is the're the possibility that this amount could be increased?
What ever your budget amount would be at that time near testing.
Please state?) Now whatever that amount is...is what it is, we all have budgets!
Then take that dollar amount and multiply that by 85%.
That is your true budget.
Like any construction project the're are ALWAYS contingency costs weather it be extra feedline/ropes/connectors etc... that's the 15% … If you get this old man's logic.
When that amount is configured, this amount will let us help you do the best with your dollars possible.
Antennas are the best fun of this hobby IMHO and to sell yourself short at this point and "settle" for something now then not have what could be better "system" couple months down the road would be a shame.
Many, Many antennas for Amatuer Radio can be built very easily and inexpensively!
They also can be made with kits!
Regardless of skill level!
The key is the dollar amount you can spend determines the type and configuration of that system.
There are more options than you realize presently.
I would hate to see you "dump" money now, when not needed and have that $$ amount down the road a couple months, plus possibly a little more that would give better choices.
So be honest with yourself and let's start there, see how we can best help you through this.
I have been a ham only since 1979 and STILL learning!
Many here, have a very wide range of experience to help you.
I have had the best of antennas and the worst of antenna set-ups.
I personally just want to help you to understand the options you may have. These which may give you the most enjoyment when you have PASSED(and you will PASS) your exams.
(many here to help there also!)
The Winter months are the best times for most bands, storm noise is down and conditions just generally improve on most bands.
So let's take the time now to explore what your possibilities will be, once you have your Ticket.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and impressions.
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB

PS: Did you find that old Police scanner? Does it work?

CKID: OK first items of consideration.
Station location: Best location is away from normal household space. (mine is located in Garage 63 ft. away from Master Bedroom)
Your bench should be as close as possible to an outside wall! This allows for getting coax/feedlines into shack with least amount of work, and ease of making changes.
You need a path thru the outside wall!
This also allows for the shortest possible location to ground the station location.
(My first ground rod is set about 3 ft. just outside my wall, this allows my primary ground cable to be less than 10 ft. long) This length is important if practical!
Shorter the length, the better!
Next consideration: MAST or post.
You need something to mount your Tram antenna on, and this also gives you a location to tie off other antennas.
The End Fed you purchased needs to have the Balun mounted on a pole /post something that is convenient to ground it and attach the feedline.
Plus give you access to other structure to allow you to tie off your antenna(s). (the Far end tie off... High-up as practical)
This location (if practical) should be as CLOSE as possible to your station location.
Your Bench: Large desk...Table attached to wall etc..
Your going to need more space than you think of now, so be thinking of this ALLOW for Growth!!!

Access to a A/C outlet, preferably NOT shared by anything else in the house!
I think, I have given you enough for the present.
Get out your scratch-pad and pencil and start planning.
Report back your thoughts and possibilities.

Also, what is the largest city you are near(and distance)?
I'll look in that local to give you frequencies to program into your scanner and hopefully hook to your Tram antenna on your outside mast.
Be looking at high as practical and safely mounted.
Presently needs only be 10-15 ft. to listen, however at some point that antenna will need to be 25 ft.+++ above ground to be effective for transmitting usage on the VHF/UHF line of site communications.
All the Best
Gary

PS: The 30 amp power supply you have will work fine.
I presently have a 50 amp, and have purchased a second 50 amp to run my second station

https://www.w8ji.com/windom_off_center_fed.htm
https://sites.google.com/view/kn9b/guanella-current-balun

The vertical is simply a 33' SCG telescoping whip and an old CB bracket . At the base is a SGC SG-230 tuner.