Getting famous with a balanced feedline

R. Louis Varney, G5RV, who invented the world-famous G5RV antenna (picture: in his schack, ca. 1930), died 28 June 28, 2000, at his home in West Sussex. He was 89 and had recently been reported in failing health. The G5RV multiband wire antenna for HF - typically 102 feet on the flattop section - is among the most popular of all antenna designs. Varney first described the G5RV in the November 1966 issue of the RSGB Bulletin. While models fed with coaxial cable have proliferated, Varney's personal recommendation was to use a balanced feed line and a matching network for bands other than 20 meters. Varney remained an active radio amateur until shortly before his demise and kept regular on-the-air schedules.

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G5RV Memorabilia (1)

Donated by Anthony Quest, G4UZN

A Receiving Log Book for the period 2 November 1924 to 31 December, 1925. It seems to have been kept by H.A.Savage, G2SA, who lived in Essex, too, and perhaps was a relative of G5RV; in any case the logbook was among his possessions. It is an exceptionally interesting and detailed broadcast station receiving log from those early days, with e.g. an entry about the Paris Eiffel Tower transmitter, on 3 May 1925.

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G5RV Memorabilia (2)

Donated by Anthony Qest, G4UZN

A letter dated 24 March 1938 relating to reception of VP3THE, the Terry-Holden Expedition, from British Guiana. This at any rate is a G5RV item, and he has written at the bottom that this was his DXCC country number 92 contact, and the letter seems to have been submitted for an award.

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G5RV Memorabilia (3)

Donated by Anthony Quest, G4UZN

G5RV QSL to Barbara Dunn, G6YL, and her confirmation of that very QSO from 25. April, 1930 (G6YL photograph from the collection of our Aurchives)

G5RV Memorabilia (4)

Letter from 20 June, 1957, to Gerhard Hofmann, DL6YK, Feldafing (Germany)

G5RV QSL Gallery

Just a selection of his many QSLs, from the G5RV collection in our Archives. His first SWL activities date back to ca. 1926; he later held 2ARV and G5RV. Although he travelled widely and operated from many locations he never considerered himself being a DXpeditioner. - RSGB memorial page: ext. Link

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