Topband: Newbie Antenna Question (long)

[Jim Brown]

On 9/5/2011 8:03 PM, Jim Bennett wrote:
> The ARRL Antenna Book, and ON4UN's Low Band DX'ing book, I accept the fact that a vertical antenna is the best bet (for transmitting, anyway) 160 meters, AND that the Inverted L is basically a vertical antenna. If that is the case, does this mean that it radiates just like any other vertical, primarily omnidirectional? If it is omnidirectional, does it matter in which direction the horizontal portion of an Inverted L is aimed?

The vertical wire is omni and radiates at a low angle, the horizontal 
wire serves to resonate it and radiates at a high angle (for local 
contacts).  A Tee top to the vertical (rather than the L) provides the 
same top-loading to resonate the wire, but the radiation from the top 
section cancels itself out so that only the bottom section is working.  
Thus, a Tee is a better low-angle antenna.

The K6MM vertical is a compromise for when you can't string something 
into a tree. The wire in the tree is likely to work a lot better. With 
either, do the best you can with radials and have fun.

It's worth trying to make that vertical as tall as practical, given your 
limitations.  Taller means a higher radiation resistance, which means 
less loss in your radial system.

73, Jim K9YC