Are There Any Truly Efficient Multiband 160-10M 80-10M Wire Antennas?

Are There Any Truly Efficient Multiband 160–10 m / 80–10 m Single‑Wire Antennas?

Many hams hunt for a single‑wire antenna that covers 160–10 m or 80–10 m efficiently. Claims abound, but on higher bands most long wires suffer from poor current distribution and chaotic lobes that erode useful gain and DX angles.

The 2.5 λ Rule (Why Very Long Wires Misbehave)

• Below ~2.5 λ: Current distribution remains comparatively orderly; patterns stay useful.
• Beyond ~2.5 λ: Multiple current maxima create many lobes with unpredictable takeoff angles and reduced “useful” gain for DX.

Example: an 80–10 m EFHW cut for 40 m resonates on 20 m and 15 m (harmonics) but often degrades on 12 m and 10 m where resonance and current placement are weak or absent.

160–10 m / 80–10 m End‑Fed Long Wires (EFLW, 9:1 UNUN)

EFLWs with 9:1 UNUNs can be matched across many bands, but length choice is a compromise:

• ~50 m (~164 ft) wires are reasonable up to ~30 m, but on 20–10 m the lobes become irregular and DX angles suffer.
• Shorter to help higher bands? You lose low‑band efficiency. Longer for low bands? You over‑length the high bands (>2.5 λ) and spoil the pattern.

Best Single‑Wire End‑Fed Tradeoff: EFOC29

Among end‑fed designs, the EFOC29 (End‑Fed Off‑Center) is the least‑compromise choice for 80–10 m:

• Effective on 80–10 m with smoother impedance behavior than classic EFHWs.
• Better radiation efficiency vs standard EFHW; 10 m remains usable (still band‑dependent).

The Doublet with Ladder Line — More Efficient (but Not Single‑Wire)

If your goal is maximum multiband efficiency, a center‑fed doublet with ladder line plus a capable tuner (Z‑match or balanced) is hard to beat:

• 80–10 m doublet: Well‑behaved patterns and good efficiency across the suite.
• 160–40 m doublet: Optimizing for the lowest bands compromises higher‑band performance (and vice‑versa). Choose based on priorities.

Conclusion — No “One Size Fits All”

Single‑wire antennas that claim 160–10 m or 80–10 m coverage typically sacrifice higher‑band efficiency once the wire exceeds ~2.5 λ at those frequencies. For serious DX/contesting across many bands, expect tradeoffs:

• Best single‑wire end‑fed tradeoff: EFOC29 — more efficient than EFHW, covers more bands with usable gain, and keeps 10 m workable.
• Best overall multiband efficiency: doublet + ladder line — not single‑wire, but significantly better efficiency over the spectrum.

See also: Advice on Wire Antennas for Those with Limited Space

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