Topband: Vertical Antennas

[Eddy Swynar]

Hi Guys,

While I most certainly agree with what others such as Tom (W8JI) might offer here as to the value of TRUE "A" vs. "B" comparisons when it comes to how effective an antenna may be, I won't let a little thing like expediency deter me from erecting---and using---a "...less than stellar" antenna...

Case in point: at our summer cottage (a two storey affair, with an upper balcony), I lashed together some aluminum tubing to tie to the railing on the second floor with bungy cord: I made up the balance of its length for a 1/4-wave 7-MHz vertical with a re-cycled old electrical extension cord dropped down from the aluminum, which terminates at the feed point some 3' above physical ground. I then unrolled 2 insulated counterpoise wires, 1/4-wavelength long, in opposite directions.

Surprisingly the doggone thing works very well into Europe, no doubt testament as to the effectiveness of the stations of our European friends(!) as much as anything else at this end of my QSOs...but the point is, it works quite well with just the 100-watts that I might pump into it from my now-ancient Yaesu FT-980 transceiver.

So don't despair, and---as the Nike slogan so aptly puts it---JUST DO IT!!!

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ