[TowerTalk] 1/4 wave vertical with counterpoise

Steve Dyer W1SRD w1srd at yahoo.com
Sat Jan 17 16:53:11 EST 2026


Isn't a quarter wave vertical with a counterpoise just a bent dipole?
Remember the CrankIR?
73,
Steve
W1SRD

On 1/17/2026 13:49, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 1/17/2026 10:10 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>> It does not need a radial system of wires to avoid loss.  It just 
>> needs an alternative path to the earth for near field return 
>> currents, and that can be had with a proper counterpoise.
>
> NO! Radials do NOT provide a path to earth, which is a big resistor. 
> They are a REPLACEMENT for earth as return for antenna current! A good 
> radial system SHIELDS the antenna's EM field from lossy earth in the 
> very near field.
>
> In arrays like a 4-square, a good radial system serves to improve the 
> balance between elements, with the primary effect of deepening the 
> nulls, secondarily improving the forward gain.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
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