[Elecraft] Windom Antennas

[k6se@juno.com]

Phil, W7OX wrote:

"...in the mid 50s I was able to work much DX with 75 W CW (DC in) and a
135 ft Windom up no more than 15 ft.  Due to the lot it was bent and only
up abt 10 ft on the ends.  One morning I got a 599 from two ZS stations
in a half-hour on 80  CW."
==========
You said "morning", so I assume you worked the ZSs on long path from your
western USA QTH.

In the long run, verticals will outperform low horizontals on the low
bands because they have lower angles of radiation.  However, it has been
shown that during the pre-sunrise period on the eastern end of the QSO
that a low horizontal will outperform a vertical.  The reason for this is
that at sunrise the ionosphere tilts upwards toward the west (and
downwards toward the east).  The high angle signal therefore is refracted
from the slanting ionosphere at a low angle to the west resulting in good
long distance propagation to the west during the sunrise period.

W8JI says that this phenomenon is the rule rather than the exception when
comparing his 160-meter 4-square vertical array with his low (200-foot
high) dipole during the sunrise period.  (200 feet high on 160 is the
same as 12.5 feet high on 10 - that mean high angle radiation from the
dipole).  Others that have both horizontal and vertical antennas confirm
this.

73, de Earl, K6SE