Homebrew Projects
This antenna system uses common radials for two inverted Ls. One is for 160 meters,
which is 70 feet vertical and 65 feet horizontal. The other is a 40M/80M dual bander, which is 3/4
wavelength 40M and 3/8 wavelength 80M. The vertical length is 60 feet and the horizontal is 35 feet.
The dual bander 40/80 is the AE6C design, which was featured in July 1991 QST. Switching the
inverted Ls is done with vacuum relays, and controlled remotely. The relays are in the enclosure
with the UNUNs.
The feed point tuner, which is controlled remotely, uses a Jennings motorized vacuum capacitor and
a motorized inductor built by Collins in 1957. The inductor was part of the
Collins 180L-2 automatic tuner, which was used in aircraft. The tuner is not necessary for the
lower CW portions of 40M, 80M, & 160M, and is bypassed remotely.
A camera is mounted inside the housing, so the tuner is observed from the shack. I captured a video
of the tuner in operation, which is in the clip at the bottom of this page.
Dual Inverted L
Housing for Switch/UNUNs and Tuner
Feed Point Tuner
Switch and UNUNs
Controller/Power Supply
Remote Antenna Switch for All Antennas
Video of Remote Tuner in Motion (As viewed from shack)
