Topband: T loaded vertical

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Tod,  I should have been more specific.  Top loading with a T type 
marconi with a short vertical 60 foot down lead can be peaked to 
reasonable performance with a 75 foot (each side of center) flat top 
with the method I described. (If I recall the modeling done on this a 
longer flat top has a slightly lower take off angle and off course a 
higher feed point impedance.)      Yes Earl is right about the current 
maximum always appearing 1/4 wave from each end.  Yet I have found that 
a shorter flat top can be a terrific performer on top band as long as 
care is taken to match the feed point at the base.  (W8UVZ and K8GG 
worked JA's from my QTH with only this type of antenna during the CQ 160 
meter Contest a few years ago.) 

The marconi T is a superb DX limited space antenna for 160 meters 
especially in restricted space circumstances.  It is also a relatively 
efficient antenna as long as radials (in the ground or above the ground) 
are employed.

73

Herb, KV4FZ

Tod - Idaho wrote:

>Jeez, I am just reacting to the thought of 260 feet of top loading on a
>vertical. It almost seems as though one is using a single wire feed line to
>feed an horizontal antenna. 
>
>Herb, what is the reasoning behind the statement, ""Try to get the current
>loop to appear at the connection to the flat top
>T.  This can be done by modeling or in the old days we would just tape a
>small 6 volt bulb on a loop at the T."
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