Hi Jim Can you let us know if you can remember what editions of
On Mon, Jun 29, 2026 at 6:24 AM Jim Brown via Topband < [email protected]> wrote: > On 6/27/2026 1:41 PM, Dan Bookwalter via Topband wrote: > > ok , this isn't a topband question , but , you guys will have better > advice than anywhere else.. > > so , I am in a very compromised situation , I live in a double , we have > an elevated wood deck, combined both sides of the deck is 45x22. what i am > thinking is a Hustler 6BTV out at the edge of the deck , the base will be > about 15' above ground. > > Hi Dan, > > About 15 years ago, I gave a talk on Getting On 160M From a Small Lot. > It's mostly about counterpoise systems. None of it is my original work, > all is great stuff from others. It includes MANY approaches for very > limited real estate. > > A connection to earth does NOT make a transmitting antenna work better, > but it's quite necessary for lightning protection. So is every part of > the ground system for our home and station. I've also done talks on that. > > There are slides (as a pdf) for both on my website. k9yc.com/publish.htm > > A VERY important point about short antennas -- base-loading, in the form > of a loading coil is the absolute worst way to do it. FAR better is top > loading. Something like a vertical pole, fed from the base, with wires > running horizontally from the top. The diameter of those wires doesn't > matter much. Like radials, more is better. The problem with base loading > coils is that current is maximum there, near zero at the far end. > Current through a wire is what makes EM radiation, but current in a coil > does NOT radiate, but current distribution is determined by the open end > of the antenna. So current has fallen off a lot by the time it gets to > the top of the loading coil. > > There was a GREAT two-part piece in QEX about this that included the > theoretical development, extensive experimental work building antennas > with loading at various points of short antennas, and careful > measurement of the resulting field strength. One of the things it showed > is that NEC does NOT properly model what actually happens. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > > > > > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
