[Elecraft] Off-Topic: Your advice/suggestion about antenna

[David Gilbert]

Well, I'm still under the impression that we are members of a 
knowledge-based hobby, and being willing to understand the basics of 
antennas seems like it fits that description.  It doesn't take years of 
study to understand the basics ... a bit of reading the ARRL Antenna 
Book and a couple hours playing around with EZNEC+ covers that pretty 
nicely.  Not being dismissive of advice from others who maybe had spent 
quite a while trying to understand antenna theory helps as well.

I regularly try out different antennas, some for home use, some for 
Field Day, and some for other portable ventures.  I model EVERYTHING 
before I try to build it and I guarantee it has saved me hours of wasted 
effort and lots of dollars of wasted money.  I can also categorically 
state that I have learned FAR more about antennas from modeling than I 
ever did from trial and error..

73,
Dave   AB7E

p.s.  A vertical with however many radials you can afford to lay down 
over really lossy ground will be a crummy antenna for low angle work.  
That's a fact.




On 3/15/2020 12:37 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
> OK, well one can study theory for several years before deciding what 
> antenna to use ... or just put up something and try it.
> My guess a quarter-wave vertical with some radials will work.  How 
> well?  You will only find out by trying it.
>
> 73, Ed