80m ARDF TX Antenna

A brief description of the preferred antenna for 80m events.

The object was to develop an easy-to-assemble antenna which avoids the use of wire for both antenna and radials. In the opinion of the author, wire and woodland are incompatable!

A 6m fibreglass roach pole is used to support a vertical wire with a loading coil wound directly on a lower section of the roach pole
The coil is approximately 1m from the bottom of the pole, with 68-70 turns of 24-26 swg wire.

No radials are used!

A standard 10mm copper covered steel earthing rod will penetrate the hardest ground, provide a reasonable ground connection and support a roach pole, which is sleeved over the rod.
This arrangement gives a reliable and good workable signal. Proven on a number of recent official events with a 3watt ON7YD/ATX-80 transmiter, and using no additional tuning device.

80m antenna erection at the Butterwood ARDF event April 2006

Co-designer of the 80m Antenna, Ken M0AET uses a converted golf trolley to carry the 5 6m roach poles, earthing rods and control point equipment for easy deployment.	Geoff M0SOX readies the roach pole to drop over the ground rod

last updated 18th August 2006.