On Sep 29, 8:31 pm, Bill Horne wrote:
I've been using an inverted vee for 80 meters, with mediocre results.

What sort of inverted V and what sort of results? (Coax fed, how high
are the center and the ends, what's the angle of the V?)

1. Performance?
2. Is noise worse/better/the same?
3. Is a quarter-wave radiator essential, or can it be shorter?
4. Loading/tuning?

I don't have much experience with 80 meter verticals but I do know
these basics:

1) A full-size one is 60-65 feet tall, and needs a ground system to
match. Shortening sacrifices bandwidth and radiation efficiency. Yes,
a lot can be done with a small antenna but you're looking for
something better than the inverted V.

2) Verticals tend to be noisier, particularly on the lower bands. This
is why you will see 160 and 80 meter DXers and contesters using
verticals for transmitting and Beverages or other low-noise antennas
for receiving.

3) A vertical will give you low-angle radiation, which is great for DX
when the band is open, and good for local (few dozen miles) anytime,
but for the typical ragchew 50 to 1000 miles or so it can be
disappointing.

4) A decent inverted V can do a good job as an all-around antenna.
I've used a homebrew 80/40 coax fed trap inverted V with 100 watts for
years, and had many excellent QSOs with it on 80. Center at about 40
feet, ends about 15 feet, transcontinental and transatlantic QSOs
common if I stay up late enough. Many, many contest QSOs too. Not a
worldbeater but not a problem either.

73 de Jim, N2EY