80m - 10m W1FYM VEE antenna
This text describes a terminated-vee horizontal multi-band antenna with excellent bandwidth - used for 80 through 10 meters at Field Day, it outperforms Delta-Loops, dipoles, and inverted vees significantly. Used at 5-watt level, made of thin wire, costs under $5.00. If you can hear ‘em, you can work ‘em.
The ‘W1FYM VEE antenna’ consists of two legs, each approximately 270 feet long, spreading approximately 110-120 degrees, and terminated at the open end. For Field Day, a rope was strung between two trees to provide a ‘feed end’ support. The station was located near the midpoint of this rope. Thin, #24 magnet wire is used because it’s cheap, available, lightweight, and therefore easy to tension. Mason’s line is used for all other support and tensioning.
Tensioning of #24 wire is easily done by tying a series of half hitches around the wire and pulling firmly enough to bend the wire. All strain is taken up by using mason’s line.
The horizontal line and support lines should be installed slack before the wire is run. Tighten the horizontal line after the wire has been installed.
The feed line is the wire itself, between the horizontal rope and the antenna tuner. If the wires are separated about two feet when they drop from the horizontal rope, no separating insulators will be needed. Be sure to leave plenty of wire for the feedline - that tie-point is going to be about 20 feet up!
Each wire will leave the tent via stitching holes (no mosquitoes!), travel up to the horizontal support rope, bend to a horizontal position, and extend to a support point about 250 feet away. The far support point is thin rope or heavy string (we used Mason’s line) which comes down from a nearby tree.
The wire passes through a loop at the end of the support line and bends down at a non-critical angle (45 degrees). Where it hits the ground defines the ground rod location.
The ground rod goes in at whatever angle the rocks will permit - try for at least 2 feet. Tie a mason’s line around the stake, then use a series of half hitches around the #24 wire to take up the strain. Leave a couple of feet of loose wire.
The terminating resistor can be about ¼ of the transmitter power, and should approximate 600 ohms. One end goes to the ground rod, the other end is connected to the loose end of the antenna wire. Be sure to strip the end of the antenna wire. Soldering is not necessary for short-term installations. Note that the resistor takes no strain. Raise the support loop to the desired height before proceeding to the next step.
A second leg is run at about 110 degrees to the first using identical techniques.
Raise the horizontal support rope at this time, which should pull the entire antenna tight.
The antenna pattern is broad and directed down the centerline of the vee, radiating towards the wide end.
A useful variation of this antenna uses a third leg. By selecting two adjacent wires you can select your antenna pattern.
Mac Harper, W1FYM