Topband: Best Height Above Ground for a Beverage RX Antenna

Joe Giacobello k2xx at swva.net
Thu Jan 11 15:12:25 EST 2007


As a newcomer to 160M, you've raised an issue that was troubling me.  I 
live on a hilltop that slopes off rapidly in all directions, dropping 
about 400', except to the south.  If I were to install Beverage 
antennas, the ends would wind up down in hollows, shielded by higher 
terrain on all sides.  Intuitively, I assumed that the performance would 
not be very good.  (Frankly, the fact that Beverages work at all amazes 
me in the first place.)   I am currently using a 344' doublet for TX and 
RX and it works reasonably well on RX, but my QTH is electrically quiet. 

My question:  do I have anything to gain by going to Beverages on RX and 
even if I do, wouldn't the nature of my terrain considerably reduce 
their effectiveness?  (BTW, I am planning on going to a vertical for TX 
some time in the future.)

I 'd appreciate hearing opinions and experiences from the members of 
this forum on the subject.

Thanks and 73,

Joe
K2XX

 I have some results that indicate it is better to follow the terrain 
> than to suspend over low areas like dry washes and gulleys. I have not 
> been able to verify this observation in enough different locations to be 
> certain it is always true.





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