Trap and match

I have completed the 'L-match' network and re-checked the resonant frequency of the trap, 1821KHz; both are now ready to be installed with the new antenna, ( last posting ).
I made a very important improvement to the water-proofing of the original trap, ( posting dated 8th April 2010 ), by fitting end-caps. These are translucent polythene and originally the tops from curry paste jars. I was delighted to discover that they are a tight clip-on fit on the 90mm diameter former. I had carried out beforehand the traditional microwave-oven loss test on the material which passed. I will now look for similar jar tops for my other coax traps.
I must hurry to finish the antenna as a Canadian radio amateur is eager to contact me on the 160m band.

Straight up

Today I finished installing the vertical section of a new 'trapped inverted-L' antenna for the 160 metre and 2190 metre bands to the final height of 17.8m. It is constructed from 4m lengths of aluminium tubes of various diameters giving it a taper from 45mm diameter at the base to 26mm at the top.
I have been making ground-mounted vertical antenna elements for low frequencies for many years and in my experience 18 metres is about the maximum height for this form of construction using light material, as well as being at the limit of what one person can erect. Higher than this and the construction can quickly become uncontrollable during lifting, resulting in disaster. However, I still have about 2m in reserve should I feel bold enough one day to try to increase the height still further.
Prior to erecting the vertical part, I had already connected a 15.8m top wire. I now have to fit the trap and an additional 15m of wire to an anchor point on a 12m pole about 30m away.
The storage box just visible at the antenna base will contain the L-type 'L-C' matching network to 50 Ohm coax cable feedline for operation on the 160m band.
Thunderstorms are forecast here tomorrow; an early survival test !

Matchbox

During the summer I don't operate my amateur radio station on the low frequency bands, ( 80m, 160m and 2190m wavelengths ); the atmospheric noise, mostly from thunderstorms within a radius of about 4000kms from me, just doesn't give a pleasant listening experience, as well as blotting out the weak signals which I need to hear. Conditions in winter for radio communication on these bands are much better, particularly for making very long distance contacts. My favourite time for concentrating on these bands is around the time of the autumn and spring equinoxes. I am starting to get excited as such conditions will soon be arriving again.
I use the same antenna on each band, namely a vertical, aluminium pole which rests on an insulator at its base. Over the years I have collected many useful insulators of this type, both ceramic and glass, by looking on the ground at the bottom of telephone poles.
I have just cleaned the insulator, ( a white, ceramic one ), checked and weather-proofed the connections to the antenna, confirmed that it is resonant on my preferred frequencies and impedance-matched to the 50 Ohm coaxial feeder cable from the transmitters.
The matching networks, ( a tapped coil for the 80m band, a L-C 'L' network for the 160m band ), are located inside the storage container with lid, otherwise known as the "Matchbox", at the foot of the antenna, with the exception of the loading coil for the 2190m band which is too large to fit inside.
Perhaps this year I will reach my target of making contact with 160 different countries on the 160m band.