[Antennas] Re: [DX] would vertical be better than yagi?

[Richard Karlquist]

I have done extensive on air tests comparing ground
mounted verticals to dipoles at various heights.  On
any band from 40 meters on up, if you can get a dipole
up 30 feet (and you may not even need that much), it
will do as well as a vertical mounted on the ground,
in the clear, with lots of radials.  For short skip,
the dipole will frequently be better.  On 40 and 20
meters, for long haul DX, a 30 foot high dipole is
virtually interchangeable with a ground mounted vertical
in the clear with radials.  Of course, compromise
verticals (not full size, using traps, insufficient
radials, not in the clear) may be worse.  I once had
a 2 element tribander at 20 feet, and it didn't have
any gain on 20 meters.  That is to be expected.  However,
it should still be comparable to a dipole.

Rick N6RK
www.n6rk.com