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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I seem to remember a 40m beam made this way in one > of the old ARRL books. > > David > G3UNA > > > > While Cookie's comments are true, there is a > useful type of short antenna > > known as a Normal Mode Helix, which if built, > tuned and matched correctly > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
