It has been empirically proven that a ground-mounted vertical with a dozen
radials and an antenna matching unit (e.g., "tuner") is a much more effective
antenna than a dipole up 1/2 wavelength on paper. ;-)
If you' ve got room for a 40 meter dipole, you have room for a 40 meter half
square, which will - I guarantee - beat the pants off the dipole for DX or
contesting. Half squares on 20 and 15 also work pretty good in their proper
directions (broadside to the axis of wire) and they hear pretty good. They
don't need radials and they are naturally 50 ohm antennas. You do need trees
or supports, but they don't have to be high for the antennas to be effective.
On 20 get the antenna up 25' and you'll sound like a low yagi. And the price
is right.. well, until the PRC discovered copper, that is.
73, Peter W2CDO
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