[Elecraft] EH Antenna Patent

[Vic Rosenthal]

Larry Weaver wrote: 

> I'm amazed that the misunderstanding persists. A short antenna has low
> radiation resistance so any ohmic resistance lowers the efficiency.

and

> If
> you look at the Miracle Whip web page, it says in several places
> "counterpoise free operation." HF Pack's meassurements without a
> counterpoise gave a field strength 30 dB below a quarter wave dipole.

I think the exaggerated claims for the e-h antenna and the Miracle Whip come
from the same source:  if a very short antenna is tested with a longish feedline
without taking precautions to prevent feedline radiation (a choke balun), then
the feedline may accept and radiate more power than the antenna.  Obviously a
30-foot feedline in the right place can be an excellent 20 or 40 meter antenna.

Vic K2VCO
> 
> Ron's message about the difficulty of such tests is correct although I have
> found that by spending enough time comparing, if one is better than the
> other it shows up.
> 
> I operated portable in Maine during last year's Field Day. Initially I was
> using a commercial vertical and having some difficulty working peopled. I
> put up my trusrty 20m dipolwe and began working people. With both
> available, I switched back and forth and the dipole usually was better than
> the vertical. Of course in a different environment, like on the edge of a
> body of salt water, the story would have been much different as shown by
> Team Vertical in the DX contests.
> 
> My advice on antennas is firstly, put something up and get on the air. Any
> antenna always works better than no antenna. Secondly, be highly skeptical
> about claims for the performance of short antennas. If that's all you think
> you can use, don't spend big bucks on something with outrageous claims.
> Probably the best and least  expensive solution is, as L.A. Moxon, G6XN
> pu9t it in hisd book, "HF Antennas for all Locations," "a random hunk of
> wire." I have convinced several local amateurs to try it and they haven't
> been disappointed. I've used them for years when in conditions where
> antennas weren't allowed. Made out of thin wire, no one knows there is an
> antenna but you.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> You must be a list member to post to the list.
> Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments).
> See: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com