Hi Scott -

This is an interesting question.

A device like this SHOULD work, as the typical HT suffers tremendously
from the lack of a "counterpoise." One only has to see how the typical
end-fed half-wave HT antenna completely destroys a quarter-wave HT
antenna, to get the point.

HOWEVER: I have tried using a quarter-wave stub (like the rattail),
connected directly to the coax connector... and it seems to do almost
NO good. I'm frankly at a loss to explain this.

I'm convinced that some of the short duckies are tuned to expect
the counterpoise effect of the little HT chassis, capacitively coupled
to a human body; so maybe there's a reason why they wouldn't
benefit from a quarter-wave stub. But I have no theory why a full-sized
quarter-wave antenna doesn't perk up more when a stub is added.

Maybe some of our computer modeling fans can propose an explanation.

73, Ed W6LOL

"Scott Drumm" wrote in message
...
Anyone tried this out on their HT? Does it work as advertised?

http://rattailantenna.com/

I was thinking about buying one for my IC-T22A. I've replaced the stock
rubber duck w/ a Smiley SLD-2 12" 5/8 antenna, but want to see if I can
reach some more distant stations.

Thanks for the help!

Scott Drumm
N3XFD