[TowerTalk] very short verticals over chickenwire

[thompson@mindspring.com]

A short vertical can be very effective as the series on the "shorty" by the
G 15 years ago and the more recent W2FMI series on short verticals
explain.

There were two short verticals on the market (short to me means less than
40' on 160) but I think both are out of production.  The Gladiator
was a 38' 160 vertical that used top loading wires similar to the article in
the new QST.  KR1G is one that used this vertical to produce a nice score in
the 2000 CQ 160 CW.  The other was the Uni-Hat based opn a design by Ron
Nott.  This is a 31' vertical with a big top hat
and (as pointed out by W8JI) and high Q coil at the base that allows 50 ohm
match for either 160 or 80.   The top hat and 31' mast actually
is resonant on 1.8 mhz, but at 9 or 10 ohms.   Another element of the
Uni-Hat is that its a fat vertical (center and two side wires) on both 160
and 80).   In both cases ignore what the manufacturer says and use a good
radial system.  Ron Nott has a new vertical (34') called a base version of
the BB3 but I have not seen any claims for it.

Using chicken wire has been a popular way to provide a decent ground screen.
ON4UN references a WB0 (1977 or 1978 article) who used
more expensive galvanized fence wire (available at home depot and Lowes).
One was a wide piece and one was a 2' wide strip.  Chicken wire can be used
for this but I recommend that the wire be rolled up whn not in use as it
rusts badly.

Lets be clear, the short verticals work good, but do not replace a full size
vertical with 120 ground radials .

Dave K4JRB




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