Horizontal or Vertical Antennas for HF - Which Is Best For You. | HAM RADIO

[@n3jw34]

Yes, Peter, a great video. Concise, clear and direct. You have the video production "touch"! Grin. And what you presented matches my experience with limited space non-beam antennas since about 1958. Keep these productions coming. N3JW FL

[@DominicMazoch]

Across the pond we have deed and other restrictions which puts many hams in the same situation as the small gardens in the UK

[@d.jensen5153]

I got a late start in the biz but I've gone back and watched every antenna video you've done in the past two years. Distilling it down, taking into consideration my location, and acknowledging that digital DX is my first interest, I opted for a 20m vertical antenna atop an 8m mast, with resonant 45 deg radials. Couldn't have gotten there without your considerable help and wisdom! When I first looked at the antenna situation, it was daunting and depressing. But I learned from you it can be fun and adventurous. There is something compelling about gleaming antenna elements high in the sky. Sometimes I just stand and stare. :)

[@N1IA-4]

I've put up two end fed longwires (one 72' and one 41') in the past several months and have been very impressed at their flexibility and performance. They are also pretty easy to put up, and they do well even when not up too high. I hear often that dipoles beat them hands down but I am not persuaded by that argument. The EFLW with a 9:1 balun and proper counterpoise, all of the power gets to the antenna. It does not need to be resonant for it to be very effective. It's great for multi-band operation, and I can get my 41' EFLW to below 2:1 on several bands and with the rig's internal tuner, a 1:1. I also have a couple of verticals which work well on 10, 12, 15 & 20. Anyway I really enjoy your videos. Cheers from FL de W1AL

[@kenwade9401]

Will a "slim jim" antenna attached to a wooden rail placed horizontally in my attic work? It will be hanging away from metal objects.

[@bassangler73]

It's hard to beat a good ole wire antenna be it dipole or EFHW

[@watersstanton]

Yes, they have survived all kinds of variations on a theme.

[@bassangler73]

@@watersstanton very true

[@TREVORHunt-p2g]

Suggestion for a new video, how about comparing a SOTA kite with a few other common HF antennas ???

[@stevewheatstone1856]

Nice to work you on the key yesterday for the first time. Shame about the QSB. 73 Steve MW0SAW

[@watersstanton]

Hi Steve, yes the QSB was bad - you were going from S9 to below the noise at times. That's the joy of HF! 73 Peter.

[@gregoryhelman9879]

Peter I put up a 4btv hustler vertical it was ground mounted with 20 radials. So I experimented with it. I raised it 6ft and put 8 ground wires which are resonate the ends at 3ft . Radials sloped around 40 degrees.my Swrs improved and signals improved compared to ground mounted. Very low Swrs . 40 meters in lower end swrs are around 2.7 and from 7. 100 to 7.3 around 1.5. rest of the bands 1 .4 to 1.6. Conclusion is that vertical will work better raised than ground mounted. Only thing is that the radials can be an eye if raised .

[@z3r0c00l2]

Hi. I have a vertical on my roof . My roof has a height of 10 meters from the road . On the roof I have a 2 meters mast and on top of it I have my vertical antenna. The antenna is 6.5meters total length. Is my mast small ? Should I replace it with a bigger mast? I do tho have a constant s3 signal from 18-28 mhz . I think Its a man made noise. But if I raise the antenna higher will this noise get lowered? Thinking tho to play with an EFHW antenna instead... Any ideas ? Jimmy SY1DAL

[@smfridley2460]

Peter, how do I determine the resonant frequency of elevated radials ?

[@goobercrow198]

Any chance you could provide a link to the ground plane article that you mentioned?

[@davidc5027]

Thank you for relaying your experience.

[@mplmpl7780]

Thanks very much for this information, say you had a Cobweb on the side of your house does the roof that the Cobweb overhangs become the ground ?

[@jonmcadams5401]

I've had surprisingly good luck using a stealth all HF band 71' non resonant end-fed sloper. It's 15' at the high end going down from a balcony to a 6' wooden fence. Has a 9:1 unun, no counterpoise, 50' RG8x, with a common mode choke 3' from the radio. From California I've made 100 watt & QRP SSB DX contacts on 40, 20, 17 to Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Asia, Australia. I get good signal reports on daily 80 & 40 SSB nets. SWR is 1.2 to 1 or less with no tuner on 20, 17, 15, 12, 10. SWR is 1.5 to 1 or less using my amp's ATU on 160, 80, 60, 40, 30. I've made contacts on all HF bands except 30, which I don't use. I've been surprised and happy with this compromise antenna's performance & I hope this information is useful.

[@dalehilltopfarm]

Excellent!

[@DD-gd3fr]

Great advice again thank you Peter

[@NatesRandomVideo]

I modeled a 120’ tower with yagis in a small garden and it looked great. Haha.

[@watersstanton]

We can but dream!

[@thomasmann6891]

Really good video Peter a great lesson. I’m really pleased you covered this subject now as I’m moving to HF next month and my only option is a wire, and it would seem that I wire will work really well. I’m picking up a second hand 7300 on Saturday but I’m going to purchase an Automatic tuner from you aswell the mfj 939. I’m also toying with the idea of an Icom sm30 desk microphone would there be any chance of you doing a review on that aswell ? I’m only down the road to you in Wickford

[@norrinradd8952]

Good info as always! Let's try both! Thanks PW.

[@brian.7966]

I have a 49.1-end-fed, which works on 80m 40m 20m 15m, and 10m. and I have just put up a 9.1-end-fed, which works a treat in my small garden. 40m 20m 15m 10m.

[@johnharrison5703]

What are you calling a small garden?

[@DannerPlace]

Condolences from the Colonies to you and all of the United Kingdom at the loss of a truly great Queen. God save the King.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@frankwc0o]

Those who have researched and read antenna theory, knows very well that the ground is part of good propagation - more so maybe than having the radials on the ground or floating where most take into consideration.

[@MrScotchpie]

Very interesting. I have a small garden and I've often wondered how efficient an inverted L would be? I'm thinking of making an EFHW for 40m but due to space limitations, erecting 9m vertically on a 10 metre pole fed close to ground with a 49:1 transformer and 12m either horizontal or maybe sloping back down near to the ground.

[@watersstanton]

Thar should work well. Go for it!

[@markturner5799]

peter have you tried the half square antenna i have been useing one with my g90 for the last month . such a great antenna and i am at sea level M7RFS MY ANTENNA IS MONO FOR 20M BAND I MUST SAY

[@watersstanton]

It’s an antenna I have never tried but. i will put it on my list. 73 Peter

[@scottb.2022]

Very timely video as I'm currently going throught the thought process on if the vertical or horizontal antenna is best for me. I'm on an acre of land so have some room, but absolutely no trees to get a horizontal (EFHW) up in the air the desired amount. I do have the room for a veritcal with ground plane but there is the house and a few fruit tree's that will affect the signal and the cost is much more. So I ponder.

[@watersstanton]

With that amount of room you should try a vertical. Maybe a FD mast up through the centre of one of the fruit tress and an inverted V.

[@825saturn]

Hello Peter !! I'm Thinking about getting The "" Gap Challenger Vertical " antenna and I Have Talked to a view people that have one and They Like them ,The Bands are 80/40/20/15/12/10/6/2 and I was watching your Video Between Vertical VS Horizontal , IF I Raise The 'Challenger DX" up about 4 Meters High Would it Work Really Well for me and Would I do alright when I'm Talking on 80 Meters ? How High Should I put That "Challenger DX " Up ? Peter ?? From: Jim KN4LEI Toccoa/GEORGIA / USA 11-16-2022 9:17 am

[@watersstanton]

i have not used that antenna, but GAP antennas have a good reputation. At 4m I think you will get some very good results. 73 Peter

[@andy2E0JIU]

Thanks for this video Peter,I've got a hexbeam up at around 40ft BUT want to put my efhw back up also to hear the stations so then swing the beam round onto their signal.how close to the bottom of the hexbeam can I put my efhw without it interfering??? Many thanks 73

[@watersstanton]

I would suggest you keep the EFHW about 2m below the beam as a minimum. 73 Peter.

[@andy2E0JIU]

@@watersstanton thankyou Peter much appreciated

[@825saturn]

Hey Peter !! I Changed my mind and got Me a 'Signature DX Command 12.4 " From Callum McCormick from the Midlands UK , The " signature DX Commander 12.4 Have 80/40/30/20/17/15/12/10/6 on it , IF I Were To Raise it Up About 4 Meters High Would That help My Transmitting ?? I Watched a lot Of The DX Commander Videos . Do You Know About These Vertical Antennas ?? since you do Live in the UK . I'm still waiting for the DX Commander to get to the House !! Have a Awesome Day !! from : Jim . B Toccoa ,Georgia/USA KN4LEI 12-10-2022 6:38 am 10 C and Cloudy .

[@fredcooper5236]

.... Would a 132ft EFHW wire vertical, { lifted by a meteorological balloon } work OK on 80M???? I'm tempted to try, but, its a lot of expense to outlay on the balloon & helium/hydrogen, if its a non-starter...

[@watersstanton]

Yes it should work fine

[@johngribbin7039]

Sir, can I mount an end fed 60 foot around the four walls of my guest room at the ceiling (maybe the final 10 feet dropping down to the ground). Will it be effective at all 10-80 meters. HELP

[@watersstanton]

Your best option might be an EFHW 66ft long which wouls resonate on 40 20 15 and 10m. The length may need to be adjusted because it is near walls. Rx noise may be a problem but try it.

[@brian.7966]

it's all about trying it and see, your license gives you that permission to do just that, what is good for one isn`t good for another.

[@TheTim16964]

Great vid

[@watersstanton]

Thanks

[@JxH]

I just put up a 20m *sloper* today.

[@watersstanton]

Good stuff.

[@johnclarke4701]

I'm interested in 6 meters. What do you suggest?

[@brian.7966]

don`t..

[@paulsengupta971]

Depends on how much space you have to play with and how directional you want it to be.

[@Ressy66]

Interesting Peter, I use on 40 metres, a hustler 5btv and a folded dipole, I find there is little difference, the dipole may be 1 or 2 S points better for only some DX, in some the hustler actually has an S point better and I'm talking about from Australia to the US, Canada, Jamaica. I dont use 20 metres much because I find from here, neither work well, seems to be more noise. I also find the hustler works exceptionally well over the eastern seaboard on 80 metres, the hustler has no radials to speak of, but is above the ground a few metres and our back yards tend to be bit bigger with most houses single story, where as the UK is mostly smaller two stories if I'm not mistaking.

[@watersstanton]

Interesting to hear your results. I think the raised Hustler antenna and more open space helps you. 20m is very poor at the moment over here so don't give up just yet! 73 Peter

[@samuelodiel]

But what for a Vertical like Cuschraft? You can put this hihg, up to 10 mor more. You only talk abbout grondplane.

[@robertallbright]

Very good 👍 thank you Peter 73 Rob g3rce

[@watersstanton]

Glad it was of interest.

[@chazrw2chz290]

As often stated.. theory and reality don't often work well with one another.

[@nr3rful]

My vote is a vertical, hands down

[@nickehinger5416]

Just get to point!