[Elecraft] RE: verticals...........

[Dave Sjolin]

Jason Hissong wrote:
> 
> Thanks.  My main interest for the vertical is for the bands higher than 30M.
> The lower angle radiation is the attraction.  So for any use, the vertical
> would be for DX.  However, the kicker is that I do not think I can put in a
> counterpoise system (at least where it is located now).  I do not think I
> would have the room for it.  So for lower band stuff, my dipole would be
> used for that.

I wasnt going to chime in but since the thread has continued I will
throw in my two cents worth.

I have two verticals. An HF2V for 160/80/40/30/15 meters and an R5 for
20/17/15/12/10 and 6 meters. Over the past 12 years or so that I have
had these antennas up, I have worked just over 300 countries. I think
something on the order of 250 on forty meters alone. Not all of these
were qrp. In fact many of the rarer contacts were made with 800 or so
watts output into good coax. 100 watts will get me into Europe on 80
just about any night. A couple years ago I worked all states in a 30
hour RTTY contest.

The HF2V is ground mounted and has about 12 radials. Typically more in
the Spring than at the end of the lawnmoving cycle. The R5 is a half
wave vertical and does not require a ground system. Its base is mounted
about six feet above my deck or maybe 13 feet above my backyard.

During a two year period prior to putting up the verticals I had a
random wire up about five feet above my roof or up about 15 - 20 feet
off the ground. Upon switching to the verticals I noticed a big
difference in favor of the verticals on all but 160 meters and 80 meters
where the wire was better for continental US contacts. 

Give verticals a try. 

73 de Dave, N0IT