[Elecraft] PAR/LNR EFHW antenna

[Fred Jensen]

Ahhh yes, the End-fed Zepp.  Trailing wire out the back of the gasbag, 
open wire line to the TX with one end open at the antenna.  Every time 
someone mentions it, I have Hindenburg dreams.

Yes, it does need a small something for a counterpoise, given the small 
current in the high impedance load.  One model I tried on 20m needed 
about 17 cm of counterpoise, but those little currents seem to use 
whatever is available and apparently, there's always something 
moderately conductive available.

Sometimes, I think we forget that we are "Amateur" radio operators.  
We're not designing antennas for a broadcast station or the VOA.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 1/9/2018 5:48 PM, K9MA wrote:
> On 1/9/2018 19:25, Bill Johnson wrote:
>> With a 1/2 wave a counterpoise is not used.
>
> It needs SOME counterpoise, but not much, because the current in it is 
> very small.  If nothing else is available, the coax shield will 
> suffice, and causes no harm.  The small current at the end of the 
> antenna has to have a return somewhere.  I recall old versions of the 
> Handbook showed an EFHW fed with open wire, with nothing at all 
> connected to the other conductor, and never could figure out how that 
> worked.  I suppose a little common mode current in the open wire 
> line.  Later versions, I think, showed a short wire opposite the 
> antenna, which at least made sense to me.  The point is that the very 
> small current at the end of the EFHW will find a return somewhere, and 
> it really doesn't matter.