RadioBanter - View Single Post

December 5th 05, 10:01 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

wrote:

I have no trees, streelamps, telephone poles, or anything higher than a
7 foot trailer. That was why I was considering a vertical. For
practical purposes anything higher than 40 feet is forbidden and 25
foot is as high as I practically dare do.

Vertical is probably the way to go for you.

From what I understand,
dipoles are not effective below 1/2 wavelength above the dirt,

Almost true. The (misnamed?) takeoff angle of a vertical antenna is
usually lower than a dipole that is lower than optimum. However, if the
vertical is not terribly efficient, it may not work as well as a dipole
that is more efficient. That is Why I think TOA is a misnomer. Antennas
radiate in all directions. It's just that the signal strength is higher
or lower at certain angles.

but
verticals can work well fairly close to the dirt if they have to. From
what I hear inverted vees are slightly better than dipoles but slightly
worse than verticals at low altitude.

Well, they are a little different anyway.

My wife really doesn't care about money as much as she cares about
waste. If I can make my setup working with the stuff I already bought
then great... At this point I am considering just throwing in the towel
and raising a 20 foot iron pipe to mount a 20 meter inverted vee...
sigh.

20m is my favorite band, followed by 40 then 30.

I think I'd be making that V right about now.

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -