[TowerTalk] Sloper or Inverted V

[David Gilbert]

That statement hasn't been accurate for about three decades.  Mechanical 
engineers now understand and can model exactly how bumblebees and 
hummingbirds fly.  The only reason the myth lives on is because people 
are so fond of quoting it as a rationalization for believing as they want.

Within known limitations (close-spaced wires, wires near ground, etc), 
computer programs do a pretty good job of modeling antennas as well.  9 
times out of 10, those antennas that are claimed to defy the modeling 
programs don't.  They might defy the careless modeler, but I don't think 
ham radio is advanced at all by non-quantifiable endorsements and 
anecdotal experience, at least not when objective inspection and theory 
would indicate otherwise.  N3OX was correct when he said that a 
half-sloper (quarter wavelength of wire fed at the tower) is basically 
an Inverted-V with a very sharp angle (lots of field cancellation) and 
one leg grounded.  It doesn't sound very attractive in that light, which 
is probably why historically few hams with something to directly compare 
it against have ever been very impressed with it.

73,
Dave   AB7E



Jim Hargrave wrote:
> Antennas are kind of like the Bumble bee. Aeronautical engineers tell you it
> can't fly, but they failed to tell the Bumble Bee.
>
>