Three Element 80m Beam - Balloon Supported Antenna
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- Опубліковано 1 лют 2025
- Our latest Lowband Antenna Project: Back in the 1980s we used several balloon-supported Verticals and even a Delta Loop antenna for 160m. This time we tried a full size 80m Beam out of a driven J-Pole, plus Director and Reflector! The matching of the high impedance radiator was done over a 20m stub that transforms 3200 Ohms into 50 Ohms.
The driven Element was electrically grounded, another advantage of this feeding method… We were beaming to the east and VK4CT RBN in Queensland Australia reported our signal with 20dB, long before our sunset... 19:50 UT, the first Australian station was calling with a big signal. It was Allan, VK2GR, from New South Wales Australia. Our signal was well over the other European stations, this Australian morning, he said. Five minutes later Ron, VK3IO, from Victoria was calling. He was impressed by our big 400W signal. Ron sended us an audio recording right away. Later in the night, Japan, North- and South America followed, when we turned the antenna. For several hours we could feel, what it means to work on a three-element full size 80m Beam. Now we are waiting for the coming Lowband season…
73s Rudi DK7PE
Good job Rudi, glad to see U still experimenting new solutions and trying to keep up the interest on low bands, nowadays pretty much down from what uses to be. Also noted the hair turned pretty much gray, long time since you took some pictures from my tower's platform.
Keep up the good work, 73, Clay I4LEC
Thanks Clay, good to hear from you! Well, I am still focused on the low bands whenever possible. I haven’t been out very much for the last two years, so I build some fancy antennas I have always wanted to try...Take care! 73s Rudi
Tremendous, Rudi. 73 from Stefan DL5HAS, DARC OV E35 Scharbeutz / Baltic Sea
Rudy, many years ago I wanted to lift a 5/7 lambda vertical 160m with a balloon, but my venture was not successful. I congratulate you on the realization of this grandiose project. 73 de Nick UT5UT
Hi Nick, I am very happy to hear from you and I hope that you all are ok. Yes, it was a great experience to use this antenna, but it's just an antenna...
Without peace, everything is nothing! Take good care of you all! 73s Rudi DK7PE
Thank you Rudi, now I am safe with my grandchildren and their mother at my friend house in Poland. I hope to see you again in peacetime. 73!
Super Sache!
Absolutely incredibal. I wonder how a 4 Square will smash this on top. Can't wait for next January CQ WWDX 160 m
Is this antenna suitable for an HF base station? How long does the balloon last?🤔
The balloons keep the gas aproximately two days. It all depends on the weather and wind conditions...
Wow! You have a similar station/p to ours, the little Honda generator is excellent and drives the Acom just nicely. I’d love to see more detail of the antennas if possible? I am trying a kite lifted vertical for 80m this new low band season from October or about then.
Hi Kev, we've used this combination often and it works well. We also tried a kite-supported vertical, also J-Pole based. If you send me your email/call I will forward you the description. 73s Rudi
Hello! the antenna SWR still the same all night long or change after strong winds? Amazing! 73 py4bz
Hi Fernando, there was not much wind, max 10 to 15km/h. The SWR was pretty constant even with 15km/h. Maybe it changed from 1,0:1 to 1,5:1 and that is nothing for a tube linear. 73s Rudi
This is brillian! what kind of ballons and air did you use?
We used ordinary balloons (max diameter 150cm) and inflated them to a maximum of 110cm. They are available everywhere on the market. Together with Helium they are perfect.