Nine rhombics antennas (reconfigured)

Three 1100 foot long rhombics 120' high and the control relays giving you six direction. I used these antennas for about 18 months until I figured out how to put 9 of them on my 40 acres.

 

 

 

 

 This is the relay control box that takes the power to one end of the rhombic antenna and then brings back the reflected power to the shack to be terminated making the antenna transmit only in one direction. The four deck wafer switch allows me to select any of the six directions.

 

                               

Nine  rhombics antennas reconfigured. You cut a diamond shaped rhombic in half, and then put it back together in the form of an X, and feed it in the center, now you have  electrically the same antenna. These rotating  rhombics change directions in 20 degree steps, and they cover all bands from 160 through 10 meters.  The apex angle can be adjusted from 40 degrees on the high bands to 120 degrees for the  low band. Of all the antennas I have built, this was the best all around antenna.  If I had to do it over again, I would have made them 120 feet high to get a little lower angle of radiation, but at 65 feet it was a super  great performer.  When I started building 197 foot towers for the 80 meter sterba curtains, the center tower of this antenna system was in the way, so although it grieved me to remove it, I knew that if the 80-meter antenna system didn’t work out, it would be no big deal to rebuild it.

The reconfigured rhombic antenna system with the transmission lines coming down to ground level. Ever thing worked very well, so later we moved the relay box to the top of the tower

This is a 40' gin pole pulling up a 65' rhombic tower.

We moved the relay box to the top of the tower

The 600-ohm transmission line goes to the relay control box that is connected directly to the antenna system. 

This is a Gila monster that I almost stepped on.  I heard a loud hiss, and I jumped a few feet, at first; I thought it was a rattlesnake. I just had to get a picture of him, because you almost never see one in the daytime.

The direction control box with a 9-position switch that lights up four lights on each of the 9 antennas showing you the direction and apex of your antenna.  

Same as above, looks complicated but its not, each deck is for a different apex.

 This is the relay switching box at the base of the tower 

 The transmission lines coming down to the relay box. The antennas performed great with the relay box at ground level,

    A look inside the relay box.  The wires seem to be going everywhere. You might think you could have an impedance problem, but it was not apparent.