[Elecraft] Miniature self-supporting HF antennas

[Ignacy]

Small dimension and weight dictate thin wires, say gauge 26-28.  A magnetic
loop is relatively heavy for portable QRP.   

Verticals made of piece of wire are great over salt water or when conditions
are great. For support I use 25ft pole collapsible to 2 ft. Away from the
sea, two long wires made of thin wire are best IMHO. Or one long wire with a
shorter wire. I understand that hanging a long wire is harder than shooting
a vertical. 

When in VK I had 2 70 ft long wires just 20ft high, plus a 30ft vertical
plus a couple of radials. This was far from water on a flat land. I could
make an antenna from any combination of long wires, a radial or a vertical. 
Nearly always the best antenna was 2 long wires connected directly to a
tuner, and very rarely one long wire with a vertical. In no case was the
vertical with radials best. 

The reason a long wire is better than a vertical (most of the time) is lower
losses and more radiation at many angles. So a greater chance of success
somewhere. 

Ignacy, NO9E



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