[Elecraft] OT:. G5RV's

[Don Wilhelm]

Alan,

I do understand the situation for those with limited antenna space and 
restrictions.  What I do not understand is the "magical" qualities that 
have been attributed to many antennas.  They are compromise antennas, 
and I want everyone to understand that they are a compromise.

If a ham wants to operate on multiple bands and can have only one 
antenna, that compromise may be necessary, but for those who can install 
no-compromise antennas such as a fan dipole, it will provide better 
performance than the G5RV or the 'Carolina windom'. A fan dipole can be 
operated on multiple bands without a tuner.

Of course, LB Cebik advocated the 44 foot dipole for 40 thru 10 meters 
(88 foot for 80 thru 20) because it has no sidelobes.  It works well, 
but must be fed with low loss parallel feedline which requires a good 
antenna tuner at the shack end of that feedline.

What I am trying to communicate is that the user of a compromise antenna 
should understand its properties and limitations.  Despite what 
advertising and 'ham lore' would say, there is no 'magic' in any 
particular antenna.  They all have their limitations.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 8/5/2016 8:34 AM, G4GNX wrote:
> Don,
>
> With respect for your wisdom and your good advice, in the UK in 
> particular (home of the G5RV) the 'ordinary' ham has real-estate 
> issues, big time!
>
> Louis Varney's garden/back yard was of average British size, which is 
> actually quite small when compared to 'average' gardens that I've seen 
> in the USA. That was his prime reason for designing a compact wire 
> antenna.
>
> We have other issues with planning regulations and erecting a mast or 
> tower over 40ft in height would probably meet with a brick-wall 
> attitude from the local planning authorities. Attitudes towards 
> structures in the UK are very different to the USA and there are many 
> snobs who claim offense when they see something that appears above the 
> roof line of an average house.
>
> My back yard is even smaller than Louis's and I just don't have space 
> for lengthy wires or even slopers. Even erecting tall supports is 
> difficult as there's limited ground to dig holes to fill with concrete 
> supports.
>
> Maybe in the USA, the use of G5RV antennas doesn't make too much 
> sense, but to us Brits, compact antennas are often the only thing we 
> can use.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Alan. G4GNX
>