Hi again Rob (and other readers).
Interesting information regarding your OCF dipole as your primary system.
My primary antenna, even for contesting, is the wire antenna that me and my good friend Rod Lane N1FNE invented and patented. Here's a link to the patent: www.bit.ly/1oJFFPO (BTW, many design variations -- and construction simplifications -- have been discovered and tested since the patent issued in 2011.)
In just 64 feet of space, it works phenomenal on 160 - 10m. And, because of its novel design, it doesn't require end insulators -- or even a center insulator! There are no coils / traps / gizmos. It is virtually indestructible; since there is no tension on the wire itself, it could (in theory, not recommended) even be made out of tiny gauge wire (like 24 AWG magnet wire)...and it would still survive a hurricane.
The secret is that there is no linear tension on the wire; it is zigzagged over a support rope -- hung like a curtain on a curtain rod. (We create tiny loops in the wire with twists of an small-diameter rod, like a screwdriver blade. And then the support rope is threaded though the loops.) As long as the support rope doesn't break, the antenna stays perfectly fine.
My antenna has survived New England winters and all sorts of storms for over six years -- and still looks as good as when I first put it up.
It works like magic. Hence, one of our nicknames for it is the "magic dipole".
We received the patent in 2011. And that gives us a legal monopoly on the invention for 20 years -- so until ~ 2031.
We haven't had time to explore entities to manufacture and market the antenna invention. Given that there are so few materials needed (just a length of wire and a length of support rope), the total material cost will just be a few dollars. As a "kit" it would be a piece of cake to package. If you or the Club have any ideas, let me know. It would make a great little business for a retired ham. (Perhaps I should create a separate post about the opportunity. What do you think?)
I've been designing HF antennas since 1974. It is one of my great passions in amateur radio!
Thanks, again, for your note. Have a great day.
73,
Eric KB1EHE
Interesting information regarding your OCF dipole as your primary system.
My primary antenna, even for contesting, is the wire antenna that me and my good friend Rod Lane N1FNE invented and patented. Here's a link to the patent: www.bit.ly/1oJFFPO (BTW, many design variations -- and construction simplifications -- have been discovered and tested since the patent issued in 2011.)
In just 64 feet of space, it works phenomenal on 160 - 10m. And, because of its novel design, it doesn't require end insulators -- or even a center insulator! There are no coils / traps / gizmos. It is virtually indestructible; since there is no tension on the wire itself, it could (in theory, not recommended) even be made out of tiny gauge wire (like 24 AWG magnet wire)...and it would still survive a hurricane.
The secret is that there is no linear tension on the wire; it is zigzagged over a support rope -- hung like a curtain on a curtain rod. (We create tiny loops in the wire with twists of an small-diameter rod, like a screwdriver blade. And then the support rope is threaded though the loops.) As long as the support rope doesn't break, the antenna stays perfectly fine.
My antenna has survived New England winters and all sorts of storms for over six years -- and still looks as good as when I first put it up.
It works like magic. Hence, one of our nicknames for it is the "magic dipole".
We received the patent in 2011. And that gives us a legal monopoly on the invention for 20 years -- so until ~ 2031.
We haven't had time to explore entities to manufacture and market the antenna invention. Given that there are so few materials needed (just a length of wire and a length of support rope), the total material cost will just be a few dollars. As a "kit" it would be a piece of cake to package. If you or the Club have any ideas, let me know. It would make a great little business for a retired ham. (Perhaps I should create a separate post about the opportunity. What do you think?)
I've been designing HF antennas since 1974. It is one of my great passions in amateur radio!
Thanks, again, for your note. Have a great day.
73,
Eric KB1EHE
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