by After reading the posts on the trap dipole--I started thinking--which IS the
better antenna: Ladder line fed dipole cut for 160 meters used with a tuner
on all bands, versus a dipole with traps for 20, 40, 80 (for example, B&W
AS-160) and fed with RG-8 type coax. I have both. The Trap antenna is
mounted inverted V with apex about 48 feet and wires going NE/SW. Ends are
only about 12 feet off the ground. The other antenna has its apex at about
90 feet with one end at about 45 feet and the other at about 30 feet, with
the wires going SE/NW. 9 times out of 10 I will get the better signal
report and hear best on the ladder line fed dipole, but I think this is
simply because it is higher up and there is more wire up there. The wire
antenna was a lot easier to put up, easier to take down and store, and there
was NO tuning or fiddling with t*** wire lengths. Heck of a lot lighter
also. Obviously you need a tuner with the ladder line antenna. If they
were both mounted at the same height and configuration and measured, which
one would would out perform the other?
