On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:01:01 GMT, Ken wrote:

balanced antenna 225 ft [horizontal] +counterpoise to hang down along the
side of the house

Hi Ken,

Your question also contains the answer as noted above. This is a
formal definition in response which in an of itself does not negate a
practical outcome.

leaving from the same spot in the attic. It seems
to me that connecting these two leads to ladderline should be the same
RF-wise as if I had a standard dipole there

Reasonable assumption, but there is nothing balanced about it that
confers the characteristics/benefits of being balanced. Balance is
with regard to two sides of a dipole, each in relation to ground. If
one of those two is intimately associated to ground (you qualify in
spades here), then the system is unbalanced throughout.

This gives rise to unbalanced currents AKA common mode. However,
common mode may pass unnoticed, and in such case it simply doesn't
matter. This balance is easily qualifiable visually: does each leg
offer symmetry to the other AND ground? Yours does not. There is
nothing fundamentally balanced about a long wire in the first place
irrespective of counterpoise treatments. This does not diminish any
perceived benefits of that counterpoise, but the counterpoise does not
confer balance as you describe it.

As to the matter of ladder line and its practicability. At this point
its choice is driven by the expectation where you anticipate large
mismatches and losses that attend them. Thus the ladder line answers
the problem of loss, otherwise it has no particular merit over other
methods. To respond directly to your statement above, yes you can
attach ladder line RF-wise as if you had a standard dipole.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC