"Sal M. O'Nella" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message ...

It is a truism that short antennae are poor inefficient radiators, and no
amount of infantile bluster by Americanoramuses will change that.

The truth does not need the violence of abuse to force its way down
people's throats.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

While this is quite true, such antennae do function. I routinely have
QSOs exceeding 1000 miles (1600 km.) with small whip antennae standing
less than 8 feet above a simple ground plane consisting of only two tuned
radials. This arrangement is hardly ideal from the standpoint of
establishing a station at home or some other permanent place. However,
it does represent the ability get on the air and make contacts with only a
car battery and five minutes' time for setup.

I'm no magician or miracle worker. I do tend to say, "Let's see what
happens if ... [fill in the blank]" and sometimes I'm surprised and
delighted with the result.

Indeed, but where I came in was to promote discussion as to whether that
inefficiency of short antennae was in some way due to the need for coupling
into the Universe around the antenna, perhaps a "twist" of the electric
field
being necessary. Such a twist will be there if there is a half-wave at any
time on the antenna,
but it would be much smaller if only a fraction of a half-wave were there,
as the difference
in field to give that twist can only be much smaller.

It was a genuine attempt at discussion but was met by tirades of abuse from
American rednecks.