On 11/6/2014 10:56 AM, John S wrote:
On 11/6/2014 7:16 AM, amdx wrote:
On 11/5/2014 1:08 PM, wrote:
On Wednesday, November 5, 2014 1:01:02 PM UTC-6,
I would think a dipole would be a bad candidate for a "short" antenna
as you need to get the matching stuff close to the antenna to avoid
I^2R losses.
I'd probably use small matching coils at the feed point, about the
same as a mobile antenna.
In the real world, I try to avoid short antennas.. 
It's only a last resort due to lack of room. I rarely actually use one.
OK, nuff jabbering.
I'll set the rules 15ft tall, designed for 80 meters.
16 radials, base mounted inductor and whatever tophat you desire.
Do the theoretical design find the feed impedance with some efficiency
numbers.
Then compare data to a dipole at 1/4 wave height.
Ready Set GO!
Wait, do you have a better idea than a base mounted inductor?
As Mark said, maybe 50-75% along the antenna.
How long are the radials?
How much space can you give us?
Do you want to compare 8 to 16 radials.
We can do that. (Or you can do it yourself with EZNEC)
The tophat needs to survive 80 mile an hr wind.
I don't know how to do that.
I'm sure there's more.
Yes, always.
I don't have a radio so it is moot point to me. I was just trying to
get a design going, as there just seemed to be a lot of jabbering.
But, there are just so many variables and you do need to start with a
location, how much money are you going to spend, what materials
can you get, and then design around them.
I'm not an actual ham but I did read Jerry Sevicks book,
"The Short Vertical Antenna and Ground Radial"
http://tinyurl.com/p3rp2qe
Mikek