[TowerTalk] Inverted v or flattop

[Bill Coleman]

On Oct 2, 2005, at 11:07 PM, Jim Miller WB5OXQ wrote:

> I can support a 40meter dipole from the 30' to 30' up the 53' tower  
> as a flat top or pull the center support up to 50' on the crankup.   
> So which would be better for overall use on 40?  Inverted v with  
> ends at 30 AND CENTER AT 50 OR A FLATTOP AT 30?

A 40m dipole at 30 feet is not quite 1/4 wavelength off the ground.  
At that height, there's not going to be much of a pattern with most  
of the energy going straight up.

50 is a better height. Even with the inverted V, you're better off  
higher. 50 is 3/8 wavelength high.

If you have some trees and can get that dipole 70-100 feet high, even  
better. Then you could start to really worry about the orientation of  
the antenna.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901