Posted by
WILLIS COOKE on
Jan 04, 2008; 2:20pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/dipole-antenna-efficiency-tp458071p458124.html
There are many forms of shortened antennas that work
to varying degrees. Antenna selection and
installation is a very complicated situation and the
ARRL Antenna Handbook, as large as it is only has a
fair sampling of all the information that is
available. Any antenna that completed the desired
communication worked. Any antenna that could not
complete the desired communication did not work. We
talk a lot on this reflector about how wonderful the
Elecraft products work, but even Elecraft transceivers
need to be connected to an effective antenna to
achieve the desired result.
I have a friend who has a 3 element SteppIR at 70 feet
on top of a mountain. He thinks it is a poor antenna
because at his previous QTH he had a Hygain 5 element
full sized beam at 110 feet which worked much better.
Several stations around the world have antenna systems
that cover many acres and cost 6 or 7 figures and they
work very well. On the other hand, I knew a ham in
1976 who set out to work all states using a Weller
Soldering Gun laying on his hamshack floor for an
antenna. He was however, driving it with a kilowatt
and an expensive antenna tuner.
The G5RV antenna and its variations is a clever design
and allows working most bands with the assistance of a
good antenna tuner. My 160 meter Carolina Windom is a
different design that does the same and I have worked
DXCC with it in less than a year's time. Both are
wire antennas and not very expensive, but not free
either. The most expensive thing is ground to install
them where antenna restrictions don't bring down the
wrath of the taste police. (I have been trying for
over 50 years to convince the world that antennas are
beautiful, but without success) Neither can compete in
a match with a good tri-bander at 60 feet.
Helix antennas will work. They will not work as well
as a full sized antenna. The Outbacker and the
Hamstick come to mind as helix antennas that work.
The shorter that you make them, the less efficient
they are but we all know that in some instances we can
reduce power to a watt or less and still maintain
communication. The same goes for antennas. The
rubber duck on your hand held will work a repeater if
you are close enough. A quarter wave will work the
repeater from farther away. Either one will work
better if you go to the roof of a 10 story building
instead of standing on the ground. Either antenna
will work better outside and in the clear than in a
building.
Antenna selection, like most things in life, requires
a lot of compromising. You have to live with your
budget, your living circumstances, the XYL and your
local taste police. But, there is no free lunch! You
can move, you can get a new XYL, but you can't cheat
Mother Nature.
Cookie, K5EWJ
--- David Cutter <
[hidden email]> wrote:
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