elecraft k3 and the g5rv

[N8YX]

If you were willing to spend the big bucks on the K3, why waste it on a compromise antenna that maybe works just fairly well on some bands ?
Put up a tribander Yagi and some tuned dipoles for the lower bands and get some good results from your expensive radio !!!

You might want to ask Jim, KJ3N his real-world opinion on that matter.

[N0NB]

Why do people keep beating this drum? Many people have more limitations with respect to antennas than they have with transceiver purchases.

Because it seems as though some think that unless one can put up an antenna farm to put W1AW to shame a good radio is not deserved. I suspect that someone will file a petition with the FCC one of these days so that one must have a poor radio to go along with wire antennas and is only allowed a better radio with better antennas and so on. To enforce this, the FCC will rely on the Amateur Auxiliary to monitor all transmissions for the phrase, "RIG HR IS ..." and will immediately use vectoring to determine if the antenna pattern matches the quality of the claimed rig. NALs will be issued to violators having a better radio than their antennas allow with all proceeds being earmarked for those who have a better class antenna than their radio.

[KB2FCV]

We limped along trying to work each other up and down the street.

You could work up and down the street? I was lucky to work across the room!

[G8ADD]

If you were willing to spend the big bucks on the K3, why waste it on a compromise antenna that maybe works just fairly well on some bands ?
Put up a tribander Yagi and some tuned dipoles for the lower bands and get some good results from your expensive radio !!!

You have not being paying attention, JD! Installed as a doublet, a G5RV is a satisfactory all-band antenna, exhibiting gain relative to a dipole on some bands and in the direction of the major lobes. Not everybody can put up a tribander: if I was to attempt it I would have to jump through a good number of hoops to get it past the planning authority here, and with a high probability of failure, and in any case the turning radius of such a beam would be greater than permitted by the width of my garden. I appreciate that you are offering the council of perfection, but perfection is hard to achieve in the real world! Furthermore, would you not agree that a good radio will cope with mediocre circumstances better than a cheap and cheerful radio?

73

Brian G8ADD

[WA7KKP]

Expensive radio, economical antenna . . .

I'd spend my money on a good skyhook, and most stuff is better than the over-rated G5RV. An open-wire fed dipole, wherever it fits, or a random long wire, is what I prefer.

Spend your money on good antennas, and even a Heathkit HW-101 will work wonders.

Gary WA7KKP

[N0NB]

Expensive radio, economical antenna . . .

Spend your money on good antennas, and even a Heathkit HW-101 will work wonders.

It's nice to be idealistic and when I get the chance I will do as you suggest. In my current location it just is not possible to put up "better" antennas than wires. What would you suggest I do? Am I not allowed to enjoy the benefits of my K3 since I don't have the option at my current location to put up "better" antennas? Is my money thus "wasted"? What radio should I have purchased to use with wire antennas instead? Is a K3 only allowed if I have an antenna farm to put W1AW to shame?

To whit, the K3, even on my poor antennas, has outperformed the FT-920 it replaced in every way imaginable. For me, it was a worthwhile upgrade and money well spent. One day I will enjoy it even more on better antennas in a better location. In the mean time I think we should live and let live. If someone has the means to purchase a K3, no matter the type of antenna they can erect, who am I to care?

[N8YX]

Always gonna someone jealous over what someone else bought, especially if the situation involving its use isn't up to "their" standards.

[N0AZZ]

Nate

I have one of my K3's running digital modes QRP "only" and I do have better antennas and amps. But I receive a lot of enjoyment with the K3/10 and a Wire antenna and my vertical both are better than most I agree. But the vertical is what most all of my contacts are on except for the 160m ones the K3 works well on all bands with the NR and NB plus the other options of the great receiver as we know.

But I think you will agree that you might be able to come up with a better wire antenna in your location than a G5RV knowing what you do about antennas and the short comings of the G5RV. We have all used them at some time in the past but have moved up to better wire antennas to replace them for the amount of area the use.

Good DX

[N0NB]

Fred, I don't have a G5RV up and never have. I do have a 40-10m vertical, a 20-10m trap dipole, and a 160/80m doublet fed with window lead. There is a generally high noise level in town as of late observed by other locals due to, IMO, the exceptionally dry weather of late and dust accumulation on power line insulators and such. I have the wires as high as practical given that I live on a small rented lot. I'm not complaining, mind, but to think that I'm somehow not worthy of owning a K3, or any other radio I desire and can afford, is a ridiculous generalization on the part of some.

I got over jealousy and envy long ago.

[G8ADD]

But I think you will agree that you might be able to come up with a better wire antenna in your location than a G5RV knowing what you do about antennas and the short comings of the G5RV. We have all used them at some time in the past but have moved up to better wire antennas to replace them for the amount of area the use.

Good DX

I wonder what a better all-band horizontal wire antenna than a G5RV in its doublet option might be? A fan dipole is a complex thing to set up, and although the parallel dipole (a la GM4UTP) is mechanically simpler it has significant wind resistance and is a brute to tune up. I would reject a trap dipole due to inefficiency plus its response to rain and pollution deposits.

Note that I do not deny that the G5RV with the open wire/ladder line matching section to 50-ohm coax - or even the original 75-ohm coax - has serious limitations as an all-band antenna, but as a doublet these serious limitations more or less vanish, which is why G5RV himself preferred the doublet option in his writings.

73

Brian G8ADD