Fw: Re: [Antennas] GAP Vertical Antennas

[Billy Cox]

>From Jim ... and I would also agree as to the
HF-x series working well, and to use as MANY
radials as your situation will allow ...

Lots of specifics on the radial topic from
ON4UN, W8JI, etc and in the ARRL antenna
books and articles over the years to review.

I really don't suggest elevated systems, many
including myself tried them and ended up going
back to ground mounted systems for performance.

BTW, my 80m 4x system rebuild project here will
use 4 extended HF2Vs for the elements ...

73 de Billy, AA4NU

-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: Jim Miller <JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net>
>Sent: Jul 14, 2008 4:31 PM
>To: Billy Cox <aa4nu at ix.netcom.com>
>Subject: Re: [Antennas] GAP Vertical Antennas
>
>No comment on the Gap as I don't have one and I am not aware of someone who
>does.  Not that everybody I know has something else, just that I do not know
>which ones have them if any.
>
>BUT, I DO have two butternuts and they work very well.  I have WAS on 40 and
>missing WAS on 80 for lack of Alaska and not because I have tried and
>failed, just that I have not heard them on 80.  I am not running more than
>about 400 watts.  The Butternut is capable of handling full legal limit (and
>then some) which also speaks for design and efficiency.  I have a HF6V (6
>band) that I was given when it was OLD and I have had it up since 1992.  It
>is my HF antenna.  I bought a "pieces" HF9V (9 band) and have rebuilt it but
>have not tuned it yet and believe it has a problem with one of the caps so
>have not yet installed it.
>
>Just a comment - DO put down some radials no matter what the manufacturer
>says.  They are the other half of the vertical.  Absolute manumit or 4.
>Practical minimum or 12.  Operational minimum of 24 and practical maximum or
>50.  No more than that unless you have money to waste.  Length of them is to
>be about 1/6 (one sixth) wavelength on the lowest band (80?).  Length is not
>critical as if they are ON THE GROUND they do NOT need to be tuned.  If they
>are elevated, they need to be tuned 1/4 wave for EACH BAND (again 4 minumum
>for EACH BAND).  ALSO the size of the wire used for the radials is not
>critical, they SHARE the current.  See L.B.Cebik's (SK) website.  He was the
>long time technical editor for Antenna Experimenter magazine.  Many very
>useful and interesting tests, measurements, and articles.
>
>I guess it sounds like I am prejudice for Butternuts, I suppose that is
>true.
>
>73, Jim