Antenna advice?

[Ron]

Hi

I have a 50 ft tower just ready to throw up something to operate.

Cost is the problem but I have a lot of parts to build. I want to put up a
dipole (I have a manual all band tuner) and my question is should feed it
with ladder line or feed it with coax and then run each leg about 68 ft .

Second idea is I have an old aluminum omni antenna that used to have 3 traps
within it, however at that height it will come down quickly as this antenna
is meant to be on the ground (no ground planes) so I want to make this omni
as long as practically possible and tune it to utilize it as best possible.

Any suggestions? This is really all I have to work with. Only want to climb
this thing a couple times and hope its good for the winter.

Thanks
73s

Ron

[dave]

I'd use an Alpha-Delta DX-B, (or a clone thereof). I'd avoid ladder
line if the tower is metal and the feedpoint is at the tower. Ladder
line likes free space and/or insulated supports.

Make the feedpoint about 7 feet from the top, for top loading.

http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg1.htm

[V1NYL]

I have a similar set-up at this end.
I have a 50ft tower, 136ft dipole, centre fed with 300ohm slotted feeder.
I bring the feeder away from the tower such that at ground level it is 20ft
away.
I never have any problems with proximity effects.
I use a manual tuner with balanced output (important!), the only problem I
had was that on 30m I had to switch in an extra 8ft of feeder, otherwise
everything fine.
This antenna is SOOO easy to make, and twin feeder is MUCH less lossy than
coax line - and no need for a balun at the feedpoint!