[Elecraft] Antennas for K1 Field Use

[Mike Morrow]

Frank/KD8FIP wrote:

> Seems like there are two ways to go. Buddistick vs.
> PAC12................or random wire with Elecraft T1. 

That would be very inaccurate.  HF vertical antennas for field use will almost
*never* have a proper and effective ground system.  Add to that the losses
of loading coils/traps, and one will very certainly find *at least* a 30 dB difference,
receiving and transmitting, in side-by-side comparisons between the vertical and
any simple wire resonant dipole.  That means six S-units.  That means a one watt
signal into the dipole will be better than 1000 watts into the vertical!

The installation of a semi-effective ground system for the vertical would require
multiple tuned counterpoise wires that are far more troublesome to employ than
just using a simple resonant dipole.  The dipole requires *no* grounding system.
For operation in that very rare environment in which there is nothing to support
the ends of the dipole, I've used two wooden mop handles and some cord with
tent stakes as guys for the poles.

I always use a resonant wire dipole, with in-line insulators and jumpers in each
leg that can be connected to resonate for any ham band from 40 to 10 meters,
inclusive.  It's cheap (less than $25, typically), very light-weight, and easy to roll
up and pack away.  Even when used on 40m at only eight feet above ground, it
grossly exceeds the performance of even the most expensive "field" vertical.
(I can send a pdf file with measurments and other details, on request.)

Mike / KK5F