Dave WX7G wrote: >The program W6ELProp gives the take-off-angle needed for any path. Looking >at 80 meter paths (it does 801-0 meters) the angles for DX paths are in the >range of 3-15 degrees.
Assuming those angles are true for DX paths, note that if the NEC far-field elevation pattern for a 1/4-wave monopole was the only radiation leaving the antenna, the field at 3 degrees elevation would be about 8.9 dB below the field at the center of the so called take-off angle (see link below - note Photobucket stripped the decimal from the 3.9MHz link). The surface wave really needs to be recognized in such evaluations. http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/rfry-100/39MHz_Elepat_6_mS.jpg _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK