Topband: High and low angles

[K9AY]

> I have asked about this topic a couple times before....But for those of us
> whose horizon is blocked by surrounding mountains up to 15 to 20 degrees
> elevation angle, is it even worth the effort to put up a vertical??
>
> Steve KK7UV

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A vertical may still be a good choice for yuor situation.  1/4-wave
verticals have a radiation maximum at a takeoff angle of 18 to 30 degrees,
for very good to poor ground respectively.

An asymmetric top loaded vertical -- such as an inverted-L -- will have its
maximum at a similar angle, perhaps a litle higher, and will have more
radiation above that angle than a straight vertical. Symmetrical top-loading
as found in a shunt-fed tower with Yagis or a Tee-top will have radiation
patterns more like a straight vertical.

Simple modeling over "MININEC ground" works well for comparing the vertical
radiation patterns of these antennas.

73, Gary
K9AY