As an alternative to putting your Field Day antenna higher, consider
finding a location that will enhance lower angle radiation. 10 dB
improvement over flat ground isn't too hard to come by in hilly or
mountainous terrain. The best program I've seen for determining this is
TA (Terrain Analysis), a DOS program which I believe you can still get
from its author, Brian Beezley, K6STI. Last I heard, he'll only take
orders by mail.

I have the same general problem here in Oregon, perhaps even more so. My
Field Day antennas and location are chosen as though I were after DX.
You might be interested in the "Field Day Special", an antenna I've used
for many years from here -- it might also be suitable for you. You can
find the info at http://www.eznec.com/Amateur/Articles/.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Al Lorona wrote:

Hi, Richard,

Yeah, your reference sounds about right. On Roy's suggestion, I downloaded
W6ELprop and was shocked to find what the elevation angles are for even
moderate path lengths. For example, I ran the path from Albuquerque to
Philadelphia and was amazed to find that the signal would have to leave the
antenna and reflect from the F layer at a 4 degree angle!! That's darn near
parallel to the reflecting surface! This is far, far lower than I had ever
thought. Most antennas have radiation at this angle, of course, but it is
usually way down from the main lobe.

Even for double-hop contacts, I believe that the angle was something like 8
or 10 degrees for that same path, but I don't remember exactly right now.

You cite that a 1/2-wave-high horizontal antenna has a maximum lobe at 30
degrees. Starting at Albuquerque, that 30 degrees will get you only to about
Oklahoma City on the first hop. Again, this surprised me. Believe me, I am
becoming disabused of my previous erroneous notions.

These numbers are all for 40 meters and below. If the horizontal antenna in
question is operated on a higher frequency, there's no guarantee (if I am
reading the data in W6ELprop correctly) that a 30 degree incident angle will
be reflected at all.

I tend to grow jaded upon hearing east coast stations (I am in Los Angeles)
on 40, but now I will appreciate the physics necessary to make such a thing
possible.

I am also going to have to put up my Field Day antenna much, much higher
than previously thought.

Regards,

Al W6LX