‰  NOW 20 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM FEBRUARY 2017 QST  PAGE 48‰

WILL ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PRIME RF REAL ESTATE AT WAVELENGTHS
LONGER THAN 30 METERS.  FOR EXAMPLE, SEE THE SIDEBAR, CHOOSE YOUR MODE
WISELY.  DONT WAIT UNTIL 2020 TO MAKE THESE CHANGES THERE IS LOW BAND
EXCITEMENT TO BE HAD RIGHT NOW.  BUT I DONT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM.  RUN THE
NUMBERS AND YOULL QUICKLY REALIZE THAT ANTENNAS FOR 40, 60, 80, AND 160
METERS CAN BE QUITE LARGE.  AT THE EXTREME, A 160 METER, 1/2 WAVELENGTH
DIPOLE ANTENNA IS 260 FEET IN LENGTH.  I DONT HAVE THAT KIND OF ROOM IN MY
YARD, AND IM WILLING TO BET YOU DONT EITHER.  THERE IS A REASON WHY MOST
160 METER STATIONS RELY ON VERTICAL ANTENNAS RATHER THAN RIDICULOUSLY LONG
HORIZONTAL DIPOLES.  WHAT ABOUT AN 80 METER DIPOLE?  AT AROUND 132 FEET,
DEPENDING ON WHICH PART OF THE BAND YOU LIKE, IT IS SOME WHAT EASIER TO
‰  END OF 20 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ