[FARC] Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

[Kirk Talbott]

I need to apologize to Dave Matthews and all of you because I have never been so wrong about any subject, ever.  It is very likely that I am still wrong in what follows.  

First, I may have found but am not sure, the reason for my 80 meter dipole problems and gremlins.  I read something in an ARRL handbook discussing radiation fields and radiation resistance.  I didn't understand any of it and was quite bored until I read a paragraph about inverted vee dipoles that piqued my interest.  The paragraph essentially said that if the angle of the vee at the apex of an inverted vee dipole is too sharp (approaching 90 degrees) the fields tend to cancel out rather than radiate.  This type of an antenna has a low value of radiation resistance.  Another paragraph in the same section indicated that, "More current is needed to power an antenna with a low value of radiation resistance in comparison with an antenna with a higher value of radiation resistance and the effect of losses in devices such as matching networks, ground systems, and similar devices where currents are required to produce the radiated field become significant.  A point may be reached where more power is dissipated than radiated." 

The feed point of my inverted vee is up on a TV tower approximately 30 ft.  Each dipole conductor extends approximately 67 ft. down into the front and back yards attached via insulators and ropes to a tree up about 15 feet on one side and to a 6 ft. 4x4 post on the other.  The antenna is oriented in an almost perfect  "L" shape directly over the house.  Therein lies the problem, a perfect "L" shape implies 90 degrees at the feed point.  I read somewhere else, that the canceling out of the radiating fields can cause increased RFI.

Could this possibly be the answer or am I totally off the mark again?  I'll keep trying.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk