Topband: [Topband] Inverted "L" vs." T"

[K4SAV]

N6RK wrote: The higher radiation resistance and lower ground loss of the 
inverted L is illusory, because the additional radiation represents 
horizontallly polarized waves, which tend to be inefficient for 
communications purposes
on 160 meters most of the time, especially at typical inverted L heights.

K4SAV: It doesn't matter if the radiation is horizontal or vertically 
polarized.  It only matters as to the total strength of the pattern at 
the desired angle.

N6RK wrote: If you do an NEC model with a second reference vertical, say 
5 wavelengths away, and look at the amount of vertical power received by
the second reference vertical, then you will see that the horizontal 
section of the inverted L contributes nothing, whereas a T top actually
increases received signal.

K4SAV: That is true, and if you sense the signal with a horizontal 
antenna, the opposite will be true.  Since the polarity of a sky wave 
propagated signal is not predictable, the polarity of the generated wave 
does not matter, only its strength at the desired angle matters (seems I 
already said that).  If you are interested in ground wave, that is a 
different story.  If you look at the far field pattern of these two 
antennas you will see that the L produces a greater signal strength in 
the direction opposite the direction the top wire runs away from the 
vertical wire, even at very elevation low angles.  In the direction 
opposite that, the T produces greater signal strength.  For high angles 
the L produces a much stronger signal because the T has a null overhead.

Jerry, K4SAV