Topband: What ever happened to the 160 meter "Z" antenna?

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 2/15/2015 3:15 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote:
> Many years ago when topbanders were looking for better efficiency and
> something thart would radiate with limited space lots there was the "Z"
> which was essentially a way of feeding a 1/2 wave sloper from a tapped
> coil L/C circuit at the shack end by running the first 1/4 wave of wire
> close to the ground (were it was claimed to do minimum radiation since
> it was voltage rather than current fed) and then sloping it upward to a
> tree or pole with the top portion doubled back horizontal to the ground

> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

This is a fallacy.  Where you feed the antenna doesn't affect where
it radiates.  You would get the same results if you fed it as a bent
dipole at the junction between the first 1/4 wave and the upward
sloping portion.  Which is to say poor results.

Rick N6RK