On Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:17:46 +0000, Brian Alsop wrote:

>I have a basic problem with shortened low antennas.  They are a handicap.

YES! VERY poor efficiency and bandwidth. There are many simple alternatives. 
a #20 wire thrown over a tree is one. Another is a really neat telescoping 
fiberglass pole developed by Walter, DK9SQ, and sold online for a very 
reasoanble sum. It extends to 10M, but collapses to a bit over 1M, and comes 
with a nice carrying tube. Tie that #20 wire to the pole, figure out a way to 
prop it up (or even halfway up), lay a few radials out, and you've got a GOOD 
antenna. By playing with wire lengths, you can easily load it and make it 
work well on 40, 30, 20, and 17. I've also seen stakes designed to hold it 
vertical. Google on his call to find it. 

Several years ago, I used exactly that rig for the QRP night of the Chicago 
club I was a member of, and had a lot of fun with my K2 and a battery. Made a 
half dozen nice Qs on 30M in under an hour, even busting a pileup for a 
Caribbean expedition!  

73,

Jim K9YC



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