Vertical vs Horizontal Antennas in the Small Garden

[@johntimken9842]

I finally achieved 160m in my relatively small lot a couple of years ago by building a 6 foot diameter twin coil magnetic loop. Original plan was to install it in the loft, but as it caught fire twice when I was developing it, I decided to keep it in view in case something shorted it out where it couldn't be seen and burned the house down. Efficiency is very low, but I've still managed to work 35 countries.

[@watersstanton]

Sounds interesting but not without danger! 73 Peter

[@timgoad5750]

Keep up the good work on the video series. I enjoy them considerably.

[@watersstanton]

Tim thanks. Peter.

[@w4mkh]

Good stuff. Thanks for the band info. I just ordered a Wolf Rivers Coil averticall to supplement my ZS6BKW and my EFRW sloper.

[@watersstanton]

Good stuff

[@robertroche4220]

Thanks for a really practical based on experience video Peter. I returned to the hobby last year after approx 30 years. I have a limited budget but now have a second hand ft-450 AT and a Euro-comm SE 360 loaded hf vertical in my small garden with very zealous neighbour who I describe as a one man HOA! This means I'm very timid about putting up anything that might detract from his "visual amenity"... Results I've had from the se 360 are very much as you describe. As I'm a newbie to hf with my historical 'B' licence I'm not sure if the lack of SSB above about 17m is poor propagation or my compromised hf set up? KZbin is full of videos about 10m being 'alive' etc but I've never heard SSB on 15m or above. I've managed contacts from her with VE and LZ and in between so I can't really complain. 20m is by far the best band for me. Keep up the good informative work Peter. 73 Robert G1VXD.

[@richardsmith7068]

Thanks, Peter. I look forward to the next one.

[@watersstanton]

Hello Richard, thanks for joining in. 73s Peter

[@pauls9440]

When I lived in the UK in a two storey house the easiest antenna was a wire from the fence thrown over the roof and in through a window to a tuner - it was essentially invisible was as cheap as you can get and worked quite well.

[@watersstanton]

Hi Paul. Thanks for that. 73 Peter

[@andy2E0JIU]

Really really helped Peter with this video and explained it brilliantly thankyou :) I have a 140ft end fed up and now also a dx commander which works very well indeed and is awesome on 40m :)

[@Armenopoulos.P]

Please make a video for small roofs of apartments

[@andy2E0JIU]

Hi Peter I use a UK antennas 80-10m efhw which works very well BUT also use a dx commander multi band vertical and thats works super fine with very low noise level and fantastic for dx :)

[@watersstanton]

Sounds a good arrangement. 73 Peter

[@johng7rwf419]

Useful discussion Peter, thank you.

[@watersstanton]

Hi John, Many thanks. 73s Peter

[@timg5tm941]

Better to use raised radials to minimise ground loss on a 1/4 wave vertical. Two or three will work.

[@watersstanton]

Hi Tim, thanks for that. The one problem with raised radials, (apart for the practical one of mowing the lawn!) is that with a multiband vertical you need tuned radials for each band. A mate of mine, PJ4DX, has written an excellent article on this. I encourage all readers to check it out. www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/news/radials-for-quarter-wave-verticals-an-overview/ 73s, Peter

[@eddy2561]

Over the years my small group has done very well on the 160 meter band during the 160m contest using a 500' vertical....yes, not a typo....500 feet! How'd we do that you ask, we were given permission to use an AM commercial broadcast band vertical that goes off the air at night and then comes back on around sunrise. 500' vertical with 120 buried ground radials and a 1kw linear amp put out a potent signal. For receiving, we used a loop antenna to try and mitigate the noise. By-the-way, we lost our vertical antenna when the chief engineer moved on to a different station......c'est la vie 73 all.......k6sdw

[@watersstanton]

Sounds Great. 73 Peter

[@BoB4jjjjs]

There is still a lot to be explored with antennas, it is the one area we can all play with.

[@jandebisschop7872]

Wise words. Thank you. ON7TX.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks Ian - Happy Christmas

[@jandebisschop7872]

@@watersstanton Thanks, happy Christmas.

[@deenunya7735]

It would help of you didnt have any Practicle Ants to Show , a few Rough Sketches as you talk about them , where and how to mount etc

[@watersstanton]

Hi Dee good to hear from you. The practical side comes next when I can get outside. 73s Peter.

[@tonycampbell1178]

I thought there might have been an actual comparison of antennas in the vid.

[@watersstanton]

It's not as easy as it sounds on a video with conditions currently so unstable

[@grantmcduling9760]

Thanks Peter, a nice and useful intro. Grant VK4JAZ

[@watersstanton]

Hi Grant, great to hear from you. 73s Peter

[@michaelm1keyhardy865]

Thank you for the info on wire antennas 73 mike M1KEY