Topband: High and low angles

[Earl W Cunningham]

Steve, KK7UV wrote:

"....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??"
==========
My ballon vertical QTH on a salt lake bed is in a valley surrounded by
mountains.  With the soil conductivity there, the angle of max radiation
is less than 7 degrees.  However, the vertical lobe doesn't end there --
there's plenty of RF at higher angles than 7 degrees.  The vertical there
has always been a contender in the contests on 160m.

The angle of max radiation from a 1/4-wave vertical over "average" soil
is about 24 degrees.

So, the answer is "yes", it is certainly worth the effort!

73, de Earl, K6SE