RadioBanter - View Single Post - Counterpoise direction vs. Signal direction

Roy Lewallen · April 22nd 07, 11:08 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

wrote:
With respect to an HF vertical whose base is about 10' above ground,
and a ~ 30' wire counterpoise held just off the ground: Does the
direction that the wire is layed out affect the directional gain/
pattern of the antenna? Just curious...

Yes. The "counterpoise" is just as much a part of the antenna as the
"antenna". Giving it that label doesn't prevent it from radiating or
interacting with the antenna. The wire from the base of the antenna to
the "counterpoise" wire is also part of the antenna and will radiate.
The presence of the lossy ground will reduce the effect that the
"counterpoise" wire direction has, but it will still have an effect.

You can find out just how much an effect it will have by using one of
the readily available modeling programs. The free EZNEC demo available
from http://eznec.com would be adequate to get a fair idea.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL