Antenna Take-Off Angle Receive and Transmit - Ham Radio Special

[@whiskey2dna]

New to hobby. Enjoy your explanation of take off angles. When I took my General I was somewhat confused about this topic. Your video a few weeks later helped me understand it a bit better. Thanks for your help. 73 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Excellent!

[@JEFF-Elliott]

Hi Callum, you kind of seem to worry, you’re not saying it as it should be by the “ professionals,“, you need not worry, because you have a way that teaches the rest of us. We understand you and your explanations and better than the so-called professionals. You are an ambassador for Radio! Regards Jeff

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Kind of you to say!

[@Frankh77]

Been struggling with fan dipole in attic for 6/10/15/20/40/80. Added an 11 meter vertical (about 6 meters long and only a foot or so off ground), now I've had contacts (from Cleveland Ohio) to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Italy and Canada. The HF world has come alive!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good work!

[@Kilroy01]

I often referred back to your older videos, especially working with MMANA. I hope you get your other account restored or will considering re-uploading your archive.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

The archive is alive and well on Odysee.. All of them are up there and the kind people at Odysee and working with me to amalgamate this channel with the old channel..

[@stuartnaulty6821]

I have learned so much watching your videos. I love the way you think outside the box. You may not be a professor with a degree, but you are one hell of a mentor. Thank you Callum.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow, thank you!

[@wkboggs5]

@John Cliff touche 😅

[@richardwhitcroftkc3rrw63]

I have been running a 40' wire, end... fed pretty much sitting on the ground... I have been thinking about raising it up.... then I find this video! ...guess I am not as crazy as I thought. Thanks Callum....73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha!

[@G6EJD]

Callum, according to my education, you can use any reference you like and you consistently use the same angle of 5°, so your correct, at least you actually say what your reference is, unlike most manufacturers! Theoretically you could also use the angle at which vertical gain has dropped by -3dB from the maximum, but then you could never make a like-for-like comparison for different designs.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good point!

[@williambarrett70]

Knew about the low takeoff angle of the Vertical. Great for DX. Most local hams are using horizontal dipoles, so I guess I'll have to build one to talk to them, lest they'll tag me a DX snob! But if I Do, I'm likely to put up something exotic, like a double extended Zepp, or co-linear array. Ah, so many antennas, so little time... William Barrett/WW5MB

[@charleswoods2996]

Towards the end of the video when you got to the CB band, from experience I have to agree! With a vertical mounted at a mere 20 feet at the most I've busted some grand DX on CB Ch. 38 LSB and beat out others near me ( other Hams that don't like to admit they too play around on 38 LSB) with beams and quads mounted at 40+ feet - with a hundred watts and no amplifier! KD8EFQ/330 Rubber City, Buckeye State USA - LoL/73! And thanks for calling me an "activist" a while back, it actually helped!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Activist! Love it!

[@hfBMW]

my motto, "Always learning but never retaining!" However I think I am learning with a smile from you!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Love that!

[@sfrahm1]

"The real grunt is happening lower down" Yes!

[@marklowe7431]

Pragmatic is Callum. Love it. I've understood antenna modeling has been around for a long time but Callums videos have encouraged me to model every antenna i'm either building now or wish to experiment with. It's an absolute game changer. It also helped me understand retrospectively why antennas I have used in the past worked well and others didn't. My DX50 cable arrived today. I get you can use barbed fence wire but gee this is good quality and the relaxed flex I've never seen before.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, it's amazing stuff - and actually should be more expensive but I sell it at reduced profit so folks can experience it.

[@swadeyboy5675]

Love the information in these videos. Looking forward to a comparison between IMAX and Gainmaster. This will shut up a load of people or spark eeven more controversy. I had a mate years ago had a Sigma4 ground mounted and spoke all over the world on SSB. Keep up the good work Callum👍🍻

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I wonder if there is any difference :) And if there is, it would be less than probably 1dB which is undetectable..

[@brianfields4479]

Hi cal, another great video. I have tried many ants over the years , and the vertical ant is the only One to give me dx qso's every day eg : zl to eu. Yes radials are a factor, but worth the Extra work . No matter which ant we decide to use, we still at the mercy of propagation and the greyline, but regardless of the daily factors my vertical always gets me round the plannet. Keep on trucking mate, 73 zl3xdj

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Cool!

[@davidportch8837]

Thanks Callum... another great vid... no one else does this stuff as well as you - nice and straightforward... and practical...cheers Dave...G0KPZ

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Much appreciated!

[@pc4ad]

Interesting to see this again. It changed my mind in the past, it just refreshed it today 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad to hear it Anton!

[@markramsay6399]

Cheers Cal. All your videos are gold, and so pleased you are uploading to the "new" website. Out of interest, is there any news yet of the original channel? Mark, 2E0MSR

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Who knows!

[@michaelm1keyhardy865]

Just on utube catching up on my fix of the DX COMMANDER, You do make me laugh! I'm a black box operater but yor way of thinking is brilliant the box in the field supplying your antenna cables I think i can do something like that, im fed up of disconecting my cables from radio, be nice to just put antenna to ground, keep up the good work, Would be nice to see the DX COMMANDER at either the blackpool rally 24th april or the newark hamfest, which I hope to buy my dream radio ic 7610, well I say but my wife is treating me. 73 MIKE M1KEY M0FCG

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No Rally's this year Michael.. No time really..

[@hamradiowithkevin]

EXCELLENT ! Keep going brother

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you, I will :)

[@kenharrison1]

I've just discovered your channel and thoroughly enjoy your info and presentation. Well done, sir!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you kindly!

[@mikeymouse4629]

Summary: Does a Capacitance-Hat halfway down a Vertical Antenna affect the Take-Off Angle? Thank you for posting this video. I currently have a CHA-MPAS 2.0 'Bug-Out' (backpack portable) antenna erected in the vertical configuration on a ground spike (with 500 watt unun) in my back yard. It is ~ 20' tall, with a tri-lobed wire Capacitance-Hat half way down (at ~ 9.8' off the ground). I've been trying to increase the DX range of the antenna by adding extra radials, but that has it's problems due to the layout of my yard. However, I was wondering if he Capacitance-Hat halfway down could be affecting the 'take-off' angle? I know the cap-hat electrically 'lengthens' the antenna, making it more resonant on lower frequencies, and 'more resonant == more radiant'/ Would you know if the cap-hat raises, lowers, or has no effect on the 'take-off' angle of the vertical antenna, esp. if it is placed halfway down and not at the distant end of the antenna? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Erm.. I would have to do a LOT of experimentation. Ask the manufacturer for a far-field plot and see..?

[@gregsmith1116]

Thank you Callum. I learned a lot on this one video. It makes me want to put a ground mount vertical for 20M up and see if DX is as you say during the day (sunlight hours). Thanks sir! By the way, if the vertical is very long, do you need a lightning arrestor as well? or just disconnect the antenna when not in use?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so I've not used a lightning arrestor - however static is apparently an issue. Again, never calculated for it but a heavy loading coil connected between the driven element directly to ground will bleed off static.

[@gregsmith1116]

@@DXCommanderHQ Cool. Yep I can try that, but you are right I need to calculate the size of the coil without adding to the length of the antenna. Thank you!

[@Robbie12GS]

Well Done! Cheers* K4PMO

[@jacquesredmond]

Hi Callum, you mentioned you were going to put the links to the papers in the description? :) 73 de WW1ZRD

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh did I..? You can easily find them.. The title is in the paper. No time right now.

[@filips7467]

Dear Cal I know you are answering to all the comments under your videos and I really appreciate that. I have a special question for you. Inspired by your video about arrays of verticals, I have accidently invented a good performing anteena in MMANA. Last weekend I have already made a qso from europe to usa with 5 watts on my side with this antenna. I have a childish wish to become famous with this invention, or at least, to give this antenna a name. What would you suggest to do next? Post it on some popular ham radio forum? make a video about it? Are you interested to take a look?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Sure.. I'll take a look and then fire some ideas back at you? Send the file.. Email on qrz. com

[@davidc5027]

Sun spots will continue to rise over the next few years (solar cycle) enhancing conditions, so even if you can't get much power out at 5 degrees, or lower, the signal will propagate well. < lot of variables and caveats with that very generalized statement, but everyone should get the idea.

[@deszczykrobert4290]

Can we change = lower the radiation angle of directional antennas (moxon, hex, yagi) by mounting them with a slight, for example, 5% inclination down the front of the antenna???

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No. Not on HF - on VHF and above, due to the many wavelengths between the antenna and the ground - you CAN make it work but for HF, not really.. Good question though. This has SOME of the logic in it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIuppoKwgL5rnck

[@deszczykrobert4290]

@@DXCommanderHQ thanks for quick answer and sharing your knowledge :)

[@leo3times]

I'm new to MMANA and having trouble with the plotting. I made an EFHW 8010, 49:1 unun, with 66 feet of #14 Cu wire horizontally run, at 9 foot high. I want to raise it to 20 foot up and was trying to input it into mmana to see the take off angles. I have gotten results for verticals, but horizontals are not plotting. I'm sure I'm missing something. Any thoughts? Thanks for all your work/fun. 😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Leo... OK, I don't know. I have more MMANA stuff coming out. Stay tuned.

[@leo3times]

@@DXCommanderHQ It's probably my lack of program knowledge. Thanks and I'll keep at it. Looking forward to seeing more videos. 73

[@basshorseman998]

Very well done Cal. My biggest issue right now is do I put up a 40M end fed half wave or ground mounted (with ground radials) 40m vertical. Cant quite figure out which one will hit Dx better...again Thanks Sir

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well, an end fed for 40m is a heck of a big antenna :)

[@homersaypian3798]

I was just wondering about this issue. I run a Sirio GPS 27 which is a 1/2 wave on a 6 meter pole. DX has been great, but I have trouble with local traffic in what seems like north and east. I’d like to build a coax 5/8 wave gain master to switch to and compare Rx and Tx, but I feel like it wouldn’t be worth the effort. I don’t have room for a Yagi.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

For local work, sure - you're gonna need some height to get RIGHT down low.. But for skip, not so bad..

[@DeltaXray444]

I work the world on my Gainmaster 5/8 wave at 50 feet ASL at 36 feet from ground to base of the antenna, beats stations with three element yagis running power. They are very good antennas for dx not so much ground wave but it still holds its own with other stations on distance.. it still baffles me it works so well without ground planes.. keeping the antenna in the clear is a good start.

[@plaws0]

Links to the papers??

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Google search Rudy Severns.. I did it for you: www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/Radio/qex-ground-systems-part-4.pdf

[@supertorqued72]

Basically you're saying the angle of incidence (incoming) is relational to the angle of refraction (off the ionosphere).... i.e. station x transmits at say 3 degrees will be best heard by stations able to receive at about 3 degrees and vise versa.

[@edcozart9916]

all I have to say is Sweet Jesus my ribs are hurting good stuff guys de W9US

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice

[@edcozart9916]

@ DX Commander I was watching funny stories video you had posted and don't know how the comment got on this video 😂 🤣 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@VE9ASN]

Airbourne, literally. 73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes :)

[@np3jd37]

ABCDEFG Antenna Building Critical Deconstruction Environment For Gain jajajaja Thanks Callum That is what I call Thinking out of the Box

[@vicmiller7191]

These are great rebroadcast goodies. Love it and thanks as always. DE Vic KE8JWE

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you like them!

[@eazystreet5507]

Super helpful. I have seen verticals in the past that had what's called a Top Hat on the very top of the antenna ( short elements ) Is that just a marketing scam or does it lower the angle of the DX?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Top hats are just taking a long elements and making it shorter in as an effecient method as possible.. If you like, it's similar to an Inverted L but with four "tops" not 1 so the pattern stays DX style not skewed. Ideally, the top hat should be parallel to the ground but that is normally impossible so a slope coming down is a compromise. It would be very interesting to compare say a loose coil -vs- a top hat deesign. I'll bet there's not a lot in it. Perhaps extra bandwidth for the top-hat.

[@eazystreet5507]

@@DXCommanderHQ The reason I asked is there was an article published saying that top hats were used to adjust impedance. You see how that was confusing.

[@stroker840]

thank you for sharing this. ive been trying this program out so i can better understand the radiation patterns of my builds. so far ive been doing ok but now im stuck on a few things with my wire. i was wondering if you had the time to clarify some things for me? also i would like to send you findings if you could. i can give you my email. if needed. "Papa-T 48" South East Ga.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I have done more MMANA vids.. Perhaps re them too. I will do a live MMANA stream. Join in that and you can ask questions there.. Remember to hit bell to ensure you get notification.