Topband: Short, Fat Vertical

[W2pm at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/19/2006 2:32:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
PaulKB8N at aol.com writes:

I'm  pretty much restricted to a maximum height of 40' for any antenna I   
install on my covenant-restricted lot.  I have thought about an  inverted L,  
but I 
also wonder if I can achieve a greater effective  height by using  a fatter 
radiating element, primarily using wires  that are spread apart.




W2PM Reply:  In Bill Orr's last antenna book (HF Antenna Handbook) he  
features a "short fat monopole" attributed to Doug Demaw - W1FB which uses two  
parallel wires separated by 1 ft with PVC pipes. That is to simulate a "fat"  
conductor. This antenna is, of course, top loaded with a series inductor and  
capacitance hat - altho it appears to me the physical design of that "hat" is  
rather poor offering fairly low capacitance.  A simple T wire per most of  the 
literature would be better I'd think.