EFLW Quick Setup – Minimal-Tuner Method

Goal: place the feed-line choke so the wire + braid “tap” – 400–500 ohms, reducing tuner work across the HF bands.

What an EFLW is (in practice)

It behaves like an end-fed OCF where the coax braid is the other dipole leg.
Wire is a non-resonant length and is fed by a 9:1 unun.
The choke location (measured from the 9:1) sets the effective OCF tap to ?400–500 ?.
Do not ground the side stud or braid; the braid/counterpoise radiates by design.

Wire Length	Start Choke Distance (from 9:1)	Min. Coax	Typical Bands (with light ATU)	Notes
41 ft	~16 ft	25 ft+	40–6 m	Compact installs; slide choke ±2–4 ft to trim SWR
71 ft	~42–50 ft	50 ft+	80–6 m	42 ft often helps 80 m; fine-tune for your site
111 ft	~37 ft	50 ft+	80–6 m	Great all-rounder; easy choke optimization
155 ft	~95 ft (70–95 workable)	100 ft (160 m)	160–6 m	Use robust choke(s); consider 2× SOFLC for low bands
173 ft	~80 ft	100 ft (160 m)	160–6 m	Strong 160/80 m; adjust choke for SWR valleys

Mount the 9:1 unun securely; keep clear of metal/wet foliage.
Run the wire as a sloper, inverted-L, or horizontal—vertical and horizontal bends are fine (tree-to-tree, around corners).
Measure from the 9:1 and install the SOFLC choke at the distance above for your wire length.
Run the coax to the shack (use the minimum coax above; 100 ft for 160 m targets).
Check SWR on your target bands. If needed, slide the choke ±1–5 ft to “land” in the 400–500 ? zone; then touch up with your ATU.

Hit the recommended choke distance first; move in small steps to “walk” SWR dips toward your bands.
Height and wire geometry matter—add a short horizontal tail on an inverted-L or a gentle bend to nudge the curve.
Choke effectiveness: large-OD coax may need fewer turns but higher-µ ferrite; add a second SOFLC for 80/160 m if RF rides the braid.

Duty-Cycle Reminder: Power ratings are SSB PEP. For CW/digital (e.g., FT8), plan ~50% duty. If the unun or choke warms, reduce power/duty.