In article Foxs Mercantile writes:
If you've been licensed long enough to belong to the QCWA, then
you probably got your start in Amateur radio via the Novice Class
license.

What was your first antenna? If you were licensed in the '50s or
earlier, probably a doublet antenna, open wire line and a tuner.

Inverted V.

But, from the mid '60s and later, you were probably sold a bill of
goods commonly referred to as a vertical antenna. You follow the
instructions, measure everything twice borrow an swr meter from
your Elmer, it's tuned up perfectly, but.... It just doesn't work.

How many prospective hams did we lose to this marketing trick?

How many had it work, and be quietly successful in space where there
wasn't the opportunity to string a dipole at a reasonable elevation?


Guess what folks, they're still at it pushing vertical antennas that
don't work.

"But I don't have room for a dipole"
Then you don't have room for radials either and your vertical won't
work.

Well, not quite true. One may not have room at elevation because
supports for the ends of the dipole are impossible. The dipole may
be impossible due to proximity to power lines, or other obstructions.

The ground system of a vertical can be hidden on or slightly under
the apparent surface. Since it doesn't need to be supported by end
supports, it can be installed in lots of places where a dipole is not
possible.


"I can hear all over the world, but I need an amplifier to transmit."
People get DXCC running 5 watts, there's something wrong with
your antenna if it takes 1 KW to be heard.

This part is true. If your antenna provides 20 dB loss compared to
another, your receiver won't generally hear the difference on HF (which
is atmospheric noise limited). The S-meter will not go as far over,
and the AGC will adjust, but the signal/noise of the received stations
will be pretty much the same.

On transmit, however, your 100 watts would put out a signal equivalent
to 1 watt using the "good" antenna. At the far end, you are 20 dB lower
than the other guys. If they were delivering a 15 dB s/n, yours will be
-5 dB --- you won't be heard.

While I don't chase DX, once I learned this lesson, I was able to work
it with 5 watts or less.


Alan
wa6azp

The funny thing about all of this was Sputnik and the space race and the Geophysical year 1957 - 1958 when our government decided to get amateur radio involved.

There were no cell phones, there were no microwave ovens, there were no cordless telephones, there were no internet or personal computers.

Heck - Amateur Radio was about as high tech as you could get!

They got a lot of kids involved - remember old Gramp's Primos - W2OY and how he would tear on the new hams.
NO LIDS, NO KIDS, NO SPACE CADETS, NO BICYCLE RIDERS, NOO WET BOTTOMS - (WB IN YOUR CALL SIGN), because to him that ment you were a johnny come lately ( new ham) and not a real ham! And he didn't want you stinking up his airwaves! Especially where he operated!

AM was king and if you didn't have a big station or could work CW, you couldn't run with the big dogs and had to sit on the porch and listen.

People had to BUILD their own equipment back then, because either you didn't have enough money to buy what you wanted or you didn't have the room to put up what you needed and made due with what you had.

Any person that moves into a place that does not allow antenna's, is not a HAM! That is as moronic as anything that I have ever heard!

Don't come on here and tell me how you have been a ham for 50 years and that makes you something.
Tell me about how many emergencies you helped with?
The flood of 76', the tornado of 85' the big snow of '78....

Where were you when I was here on the air, doing my part, you were probably at work and or maybe rag chewing at night on 160 meters with your buddies. Were you a real ham? or just a ham in license only!

I have seen them come and I have seen them go....