On 02/11/2012 01:12 PM, k2...@juno.com wrote: > Hi Jack, > > Are you saying that the FCP works just as well as > an elevated or buried radial field??? > > I was under the impression that the FCP was just a way > to get on 160 when there wasn't room for a radial field...
The FCP, and also the double L antenna, work as well as the (poor) radial systems that many people can put up. It will not outperform a proper radial field with many dozens of quarter wave radials. According to NEC (which I know is not very accurate), both the vertical with FCP or a double L antenna are about 6dB below the output of a vertical over perfect ground - which a vertical with 120 quarter wave radials gets fairly close to. If you cannot fit a large radial field in your yard, and would be making do with a small one anyway, it may be worthwhile to just lift the whole antenna off the ground. This may lose you 1-3 dB over a good vertical with a smaller radial field, with the benefit of coming relatively close without having to dig up your yard. If you have the space and care about your signal strength, you'll probably be better off with a full radial field. -- All rights reversed. _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK