[Elecraft] Subject: Re: Verticals

[Doug Turnbull]

Friends,
    It seems to me that verticals get a bad rap because most people who use
them are space restricted therefore the vertical is close to structures and
there is no room for any radial system.   The counterpoise may be no more
than the pipe hammered into the ground which supports the vertical.    Of
course this is a dummy load.    One I used as KN4WQZ and despite all managed
to make QSOs - better to be on the air.

     Place a vertical in the clear with a proper ground radial system and it
will work and work well perhaps doing better for distance stations than
close in stations.   I have a BigIR vertical from Stepper and it works a
treat against 120 55 to 60 foot radials lain on top of the ground.    Yes
the SteppIR trombone dipole at 24M or 80 feet is an S unit better for one
skip stations but when listening to VK the difference is smaller.   My
vertical is in a wood and would probably do better if it were fully in the
clear.

      I have no doubt that ground planes which are by their nature more in
the clear are probably going to perform better than a ground mounted
vertical.   It is not practical to always mount the vertical in a raised
position.   I wonder if a vertical which is ground mounted against the
optimal radial system is not just as effective a performer as a ground
plane.

      Bottom line is verticals can be mounted in a small space.   They are
not very expensive and even with a modest radial system they can perform
pretty well.   As others have stated not everyone is able to have a Yagi.
Most of my non-USA QSOs are with stations running 100 Watts into a vertical,
ground plane, trap dipole or inverted v.   Seldom are these antennas high
unless atop an apartment building in UA land.   There is much to be said for
the simple approach to our hobby though I am a sinner.

                      73 Doug EI2CN