Topband: Best hf +top band antenna

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 2/3/2018 12:45 AM, John Randall via Topband wrote:
  What about a helically wound vertical Inv L
> 73John

> Digitally signed mail - John  M0ELS
>
Glad you asked this FAQ:

Helical winding is a concept that intuitively makes
sense.  Unfortunately, if you rigorously analyze it,
it makes no sense.  A lumped loading coil is
always better.  I didn't say a helically wound
vertical won't work at all; it just will be
inferior to a vertical using a conventional loading
coil, which is much easier to build as a bonus.
The length of wire in a helically loaded vertical
is much greater than the length of wire in an
equivalent loading coil.  Therefore, the resistive
loss is much greater in the helical case.

For a multi band design, the helically wound antenna
is even more of a non starter.

73
Rick N6RK