[TowerTalk] K9YC vertical dipole test....

[Jim Brown]

On 11/15/2013 4:19 AM, Peter FORBES wrote:
> My question related to just how effective measuring vertically polarised
> signals at approximately zero elevation angle is with regard to DXing on
> 80mx and 40mx.
>
> Given the choice, most would opt for an elevated vertical.  However on 80mx
> and to a lesser extent on 40mx a ground mounted antenna on good ground can
> be an effective DX antenna.

All of which is why I published the full vertical elevation plots for 
each modeled condition.  :)

Note also that, taking wavelength into account, it's rather impractical 
for most of us to elevate a vertical antenna for 80 or 160 enough to 
develop nulls in the vertical pattern. The benefits of elevating radials 
for the lower bands is well known, so I'd make an educated guess that 
elevating antennas for 80 and 160 would produce good results if it could 
be done. Thanks to my trees, I could probably get an 80M vertical 
quarter wave and radials up in the air enough to improve performance 
over a ground-mounted vertical. But I've got horizontal dipoles for 80 
and 40M up 110-120 ft at right angles, and they play awfully well. And I 
just added a reflector to one of them to help with EU.

As to measurements -- Dan correctly observes that our terrain is quite 
irregular, nowhere close to flat.  But we were able to make these 
measurements ONLY because we had convenient supports from which we could 
hoist the test dipole -- a support rope strung between redwoods that 
also holds W6GJB's 80M dipole. And that support rope wasn't free -- Glen 
paid tree climbers to put the pulleys there, those guys cost > $600/day, 
and it took two days of work.  I don't know anyone with the financial 
resources to make the helicopter measurements you've suggested. We're 
just a couple of retired old farts living on our savings.

73, Jim K9YC