Reversible Beverage On Ground

Rich McCabe

I think I am going to setup a reversible beverage antenna and in the typical configuration they use a pre-amp for 160 meters.  I have been very happy with the pre-amp in my 6600 so wondering if I need an external unit. The feedpoint for the on ground beverage is 75 ohm and about 10-15 feet from the radio. The unit is fed with two coax's so I would have to rig up a relay to switch it back and forth (for direction) but would rather just use the Flex preamp of possible.

Anyone have experience with this?

Rich

Kam Sirageldin

I run a KD9SV on ground beverage with my 6600M (actually I keep it an average of 2 feet above the ground).. Preamp built into the 6600M works fine. 73 Kam TI5/N3KS

Tom Worthington

Rich McCabe

Thanks guys. I thought about using two ports but I think that ties up both SCUs so I cant have another band being monitored. Correct?

Tom Worthington

That's correct, I think but you could use a transverter port instead.

Clay N9IO

How long is your BOG Kam?

Kam Sirageldin

It's about 680ft Clay

John - K3MA

Rich McCabe

Joe N3HEE

This is probably too long for optimum directivity and f/b ratios. Try something closer to 200 feet first. Depending on your soil type you may need something a little longer. The preamps in the 6600 will work fine. I use them on my K9AY loops. You can use RXA and XVA for switching directions on 160 meters on the same slice receiver. Joe - N3HEE

Stan VA7NF

I'll disagree with the 200 ft unless you are looking at 20M and higher.
Used two beverages, 575 feet N and S and 400 feet E and W, each with two RG6 feed lines (4 total) which ran into a TV 4:1 switch.  That switch happened to permit two buttons pressed at once so many combinations were available.
I didn't have a need to remote this switch.
An aside, the West direction pointed directly (1000 foot away) at a traffic light coil in ground pickup sensor which created significant EMI.

philip.theis

Here's the test: in the middle of the day when noise is lowest, connect the beverage. Does the noise increase over no antenna connected? If it shows an increase you do not need a preamp.