[TowerTalk] How Helically Wound Verticals Really Work (was : Vertical dipoles)

[Rick Karlquist]

Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>> But a center loaded vertical has a high profile, high wind drag, and is
> more fragile than the helically wound vertical.

This is a straw man argument.  You are comparing a 1 1/2 inch diameter
HWV with a center loaded vertical using, say, a "bugcatcher" type coil.

Suppose the center loading "coil" is constructed just like the
"helical" windings, then it is no more high profile or high wind drag
than the helical wound vertical.  IOW, you build a HWV by spreading
X feet of wire over X feet of PVC tubing.  I build a center loaded
vertical using the same PVC tubing, only I use 10% as much wire, and
compress it into 1% of the length.  You have a piece of PVC tubing
completely covered with wire.  I have a piece of PVC tubing covered
with wire over a short length in the center, and the rest has only
a straight piece of wire along its length.

How is mine higher profile, etc.?  Both are equally fragile PVC.

I think there is a fallacious belief that a 2 inch coil spread out
over many feet is higher Q than a 2 inch coil wound compactly.
Actually, the opposite is true.

Rick N6RK