Greyline 24' HOA Flagpole Antenna performs on 160M!

"Do not give up on 160M," says K3WA. His 24' Greyline HF Vertical Antenna works 750-1000 miles on 1.8 MHz. That's not easy.

Please take our Q&A 160M Survey to learn how you can too!

Note: This survey reads like a Q&A (as if you called us to discuss it) of how to turn your 20-24' Flagpole Antenna into a 160M Real DX ham radio antenna for those using the lower impedance range (low cost) tuners.

The Greyline HF Antennas are designed to be QRV on all bands from 160-6M, even the 16-foot Flagpole Vertical Antenna enjoys QSOs on 160M (SGC ATU is the all-star here). Yet some using the low-cost, low-impedance-range tuners report tuning down to 160M doesn't quite get to the desired 1:1 SWR. This is understandable as afterall, 160M calls for 136-foot tall radio tower or 'wire in the tree' to be considered full-size. Well, Greyline antennas are designed as 1/2 wave vertical dipoles and in the early years we discovered many of the remote ATUs on the market tune Greyline antennas on all bands with relative ease. So, assuming a clean antenna site is the goal, the remaining options are one, a bigger better tuner or two adding a 4:1 Balun as discussed below. We have had enough folks from the field test 4:1 Baluns with success and with well-known and respected radio operators also chiming in on the topic, we had to share this information with you. Now you too can give it a try and enjoy 160M, which is so much fun in the darker seasons.

In the winter months of 2022 (December) we spotted a Greyline Flagpole Antenna owner in the results of the popular ARRL CW 160M Contest and was amazed to see just how many QSO's he worked from his HOA on 1.8 MHz. Look at those numbers, 61 Qs and 23 Sections around USA and Canada.

Soapbox: (snip)
I was able to work stations as far west as Illinois and North/south from VE3 to Florida.  So I did have fun!

Band     QSOs     Pts  Sec  Cty
        1.8      61     122   23    0
      Total     61     122   23    0

Rig:  Flex 6600, Power Genius Amp, AT-Auto antenna tuner
Antenna:  24 ft flagpole

73...   Bill K3WA

We've reported on Bill's exciting results working 1000+ QSO's in the ARRL contests on the other bands 80M to 10M, in the past couple of years. A feat typically bestowed on those with a tower and beam, and well deserved as again, he was using his then 20' Flagpole Antenna.

Like many of us, he has been very active in the hobby for decades and is considered a veteran of the game. He did previously have a tall tower with stacked Yagi antennas, and has since downsized to a more relaxed ham radio station in an HOA, deed restricted neighborhood. Again, maybe just like you.

His results are impressive on the higher bands but now we see the low band results too. It's basic math that tells us 160M requires an antenna to be 136' long to be considered full sized, and after what looks like 750-1000 miles range for him on 160M with a 24' vertical antenna, we really wanted a refresher on what else Bill, K3WA was doing. 

We sent him an email asking him to break down his installation for us. He replied in kind.