Topband: Monopole Elev Pattern w.r.t. Earth Conductivity

[Tom W8JI]

> Just to point out that we don't have measurements of arrival angles at the 
> ionosphere proving the fields shown in a NEC far-field analysis, either. 
> Yet people seem to accept a NEC far-field pattern as gospel, even though 
> it does not accurately show the radiation launched by a monopole at 
> elevation angles below 10 degrees or so.

We have a lot of things we claim as fact, even though we don't supporting 
data. Some border on magic.

That's why I A-B test things for several months before deciding anything.

:-)

I installed a 300 foot tower because I remembered how well a dipole at 300 
feet worked at a BC station. I was sure, based on the DX contacts, the 
dipole was a killer antenna for receiving and transmitting. Problem is when 
I finally installed that wonderful antenna after all that work, my vertical 
tied broadside to the dipole and badly beat the dipole off the dipole ends.

73 Tom