On 9/5/2011 8:03 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: > The ARRL Antenna Book, and ON4UN's Low Band DX'ing book, I accept the fact > that a vertical antenna is the best bet (for transmitting, anyway) 160 > meters, AND that the Inverted L is basically a vertical antenna. If that is > the case, does this mean that it radiates just like any other vertical, > primarily omnidirectional? If it is omnidirectional, does it matter in which > direction the horizontal portion of an Inverted L is aimed?
The vertical wire is omni and radiates at a low angle, the horizontal wire serves to resonate it and radiates at a high angle (for local contacts). A Tee top to the vertical (rather than the L) provides the same top-loading to resonate the wire, but the radiation from the top section cancels itself out so that only the bottom section is working. Thus, a Tee is a better low-angle antenna. The K6MM vertical is a compromise for when you can't string something into a tree. The wire in the tree is likely to work a lot better. With either, do the best you can with radials and have fun. It's worth trying to make that vertical as tall as practical, given your limitations. Taller means a higher radiation resistance, which means less loss in your radial system. 73, Jim K9YC _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK