KL2A Installs 28' DXV at Friend's QTH — Spring 2021 | Greyline
Field Report · 28' DX Vertical · Virginia · Spring 2021
Ham Radio Is More Fun With Your Friends
KL2A flew from Idaho to Washington DC to eat hot dogs at a favorite local tavern and build an antenna with a friend. The antenna was timed to arrive with the flight — a planned weekend project, not a rush order. A 28' Greyline DX Vertical, a warm Virginia spring day, a dog who liked to run off with tools, and DX into Eastern Europe and Western EU on 160 that same night. That's the whole story.
Jon KL2A — Founder, Greyline Performance
“That Greyline DX Flagpole Antenna ran guys into Eastern Europe on 80M, Western EU on 160M — no joke — and as far as you can imagine on 40–15M, and they kept calling too. That's a lot of fun.”
— Jon KL2A · Founder, Greyline Performance · Virginia, Spring 2021
Spring Antenna Season
“Spring band conditions are upon us and antenna projects with your friends are one of the best aspects of our hobby. I grew up in Alaska and antenna season started in October with the first freeze and snowstorms looming — which inspired us to get motivated. When I saw the warm weather this week, like a trained monkey, I jumped at the chance to get started early and do some spring antenna work for the weekend.”
Jon had the antenna shipped to arrive on the east coast right around the time his flight landed — a planned weekend project timed to the trip, not a normal order. When it arrived on the front porch on a sunny 70°F Virginia afternoon, the door slammed. His buddy was already in the carport setting up sawhorses. A few minutes later the box was open, poles sorted on the sawhorses, directions in hand, pencil in his teeth.
On Assembly Time
With the stopwatch on, the antenna was assembled and roped vertical along the fence line in about 30 minutes. Add a few minutes for the feedline kit, 30 minutes for various shenanigans — goofing around with the dog who liked to run off with tools, sitting in the sun retelling ham radio stories where the antennas also seem much bigger and the DX much deeper — and they were on the air. Greyline assembles most parts in the shop before shipping. It really is just a few sections to connect and fasten.
Two radio operators putting together a 28' HF vertical on a warm Virginia spring day.
Force 12 C3SS vertically polarized, upper left. Greyline 28' DXV hiding in the trees to the right.
Testing the 28' DXV against the other antennas in the trees. CQ Europe — they answered.
That Night — First QSOs
Eastern Europe on 80M. Western EU on 160M. As far as you can imagine on 40 through 15M — and they kept calling. That's what a 28' VDA does from a Virginia backyard on a spring evening when the bands are open and the antenna went up that afternoon.
— Jon KL2A · Greyline Performance
The Operator's Independent Report
The operator at this QTH wrote his own review of the 28' DXV independently — published publicly just after the install weekend. His words, his assessment, his call. Worth reading on its own.
Read the operator report →The Antenna That Went Up That Day
28' DX Vertical. No flagpole hardware. No radials. Any surface. Ships from Sun Valley, Idaho.
See the 28' DXV → Selection Guide →Related
Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on… 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902