The 80 meter Double Quad Antenna: 

About 1,5 year ago, I was experimenting with some WiFi and 13 cm ATV antennas. Made several double quad's with a PCB copper-plate as background and some silver plated wire for the 'antenna' itself. At that time I also was interested in the 80 meters HF band and  I linked the antenna systems trough eachother. Shouldn't it be nice to make an antenna for 80 which gives a good radiaton effect and some gain (yes on 80!) for Field Day's and other events.  For local country and EU use, during the evening and night we had to reflect upwards and so the idea was born to make a 80 meter double quad (like the Wifi's) but as reflector we use the earth itself.

 At the Radio club in The Hague I discussed it a bit (the practicals) with Cock PE1OSD (now SK). He had suggestions and ideas to construct everything in an easy way, so it must be easy to assemble and also to dismantle. At his home & work he made a design and construct it for me. Soon we should test it in the Field nearby our QTH's called 'Madestein'

Together with Henk PA2ZZ, Wim, PA7WB and of course Cock PE1OSD and myself we went over there and assembled the whole construction. In that time we used a direct coax connection because our intention was to use the Quad on 80 meter only. In the Field we measured with both the SWR analyser and the VSWR meter we had in the transmission line that the Quad was too short!. But was resonance above the amateur frequencies on 80. We made some test-calls (with the coax tuned) and id seem to be working well :-)

PE1OSD should made the wires longer and we should test again.... he did but the 2nd test he couldn't make anymore because he was Silent Key.

At this Field Day from PB6F (HF Fieldday 2006 in September)  we wanted to try the antenna again so we picked him up. Instead of a coax connection I changed it into a ladder-line connection which should make the antenna easylie tunable on 80 and other bands. This was a good result ! on 80 he was resonant IN the amateur band and we could match the antenna everywhere we want, also on 40 meters it was no problem.

The results during the daylight where not succesfull (but we knew this is normal) and we should wait for the evening. About that results ... we keep you informed!

73 Raymond

PE2KW