[Elecraft] OT: Small Patio Vertical:

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Isn't there two ground loss issues: the ground loss near the antenna and =
far
field losses out in the "Fresnel" zone?=20

A grounded 1/4 wave vertical depends upon a very low impedance ground =
near
the base since the power is divided between the ground resistance and =
the
impedance of the antenna. Even a vertical using a counterpoise has =
problems
with the counterpoise inducing currents in the surrounding earth. That's =
why
elevated counterpoises are very popular among some antenna gurus.

The 1/2 wave vertical has very little current flowing at the base since =
the
impedance is very high. If you center feed the 1/2 wave there is NO =
direct
connection to the ground. Even end-fed, the impedance of the antenna =
will be
so high that very little RF is lost even in a relatively lousy ground =
(e.g.
ground stake or one radial).=20

So from that standpoint, there is much less ground loss when using a 1/2
wave vertical as Stuart pointed out.=20

However, I believe that both antennas suffer from losses due to currents
induced in the ground some distance from the antenna, which is why =
radial
don't help much unless one has room for thousands of feet of radial =
space.
So both 1/4 and 1/2 wave verticals suffer somewhat from these losses.=20

When you can erect a vertical near a very GOOD ground, such as salt =
water at
the sea shore, the losses even at some distance from the antenna are
minimal. That's why folks like Force 12 post such great results from =
their
verticals used on DX-peditions at various islands where the verticals =
are
erected virtually at water's edge.=20

Moral: A patio vertical on the edge of an ocean could be a GREAT =
antenna...=20

Ron AC7AC