Update October 2006:

We finally had to give in. The antenna just can't stand the wind at the QTH!

The antenna is now converted into an inverted L antenna, with the vertical part about 15 meters high. The radial systems remains the same, and the antenna seems to working just as good as the 1/4-wave vertical.

So far, it seems to be handling the wind satisfactory.

Summer 2006: 

Titanex V160S

The 80 meter antenna is a V80S from Titanex. 20 meter high.

The radial system consists of 300 radials, with approximately 4,5 km of wire. In addition there are about 220 square meters of poultry net, in selected directions. The directions for North America and Far East/Japan (and VK/ZL) are given priority. Radials/poultry net in these directions are more than a 1/4-wave long! Within a SWR of 1,7:1 the antenna covers the entire band!

The antenna works very well, but to be able to enjoy the complete satisfaction of the antenna, we will need a separate RX antenna.

The house and the two verticals

The antenna is erected about 90 meters from the shoreline, and faces sea water from 180 to 270 degrees. 80m vertical in the background, 160m antenna in the foreground.

Roy LA5KO connecting radials

Roy, LA5KO, did a fabulous job connecting all the radials and poultry nets to a Comtek radial ring.

Comtek radial ring detail

A detail from the radial ring. The yellow cord is connected to a ground rod.

About 15 radials, and 4 lenghts of poultry net, of more than a 1/4-wave lenght lies in the direction of USA.