Buck wrote:
When I setup an antenna in EZNEC, I want to see the azimuth but the
program asks for an elevation angle. WHat angle should I use? I have
been randomly using 5 or 10 deg.


An example of an approach to antenna design that starts with
identification of the paths to be optimised is at
http://www.vk1od.net/7MDipole/7MDipole.htm .

In this case, I was interested in local contacts and over 50% of
Australia's population was located in just four cities at distances up
to 1000Km. The propagation paths to those locations was modeled to
provide the geometry for assessment of antennas in EzNEC.

BTW, 5 to 10 degrees elevation is probably below most propagation paths
for DX, let alone local contacts. Lowest angle doesn't necessarily
translate to optimal for distant stations (it depends on the propagation
mechanism at the time), and the most desirable DX might not be at the
greatest distance. Best performance at low angles might assure maximum
pickup of local noise sources, and in my case QRM because I am not at
all interested in DX.


Owen