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Re: Topband: Monopole Elev Pattern w.r.t. Earth Conductivity

To: <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Monopole Elev Pattern w.r.t. Earth Conductivity
From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac@arrl.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:13:46 -0400
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Tom,

As I recall, HFTA software has an ionospheric module that calculates the predictability of arrival angle as a function of frequency, time of day, season, etc. Learning that program has been on my "to do" list for a long time. Perhaps others here can comment on whether the arrival angle information goes down to 160m in that program. I believe the program was designed for elevated antennas and hence the need to analyze terrain. So, in addition to 160m relevance, I'm not sure it applies to base-fed monopoles.

I think the important "take away" in these discussions is that the far field pattern alone is not enough to show the real vertical profile from a vertical monopole. The significance of the ionospheric element is another issue altogether.

Paul, W9AC

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>
To: "Richard Fry" <rfry@adams.net>; <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Monopole Elev Pattern w.r.t. Earth Conductivity


----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Fry" <rfry@adams.net>
To: <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Monopole Elev Pattern w.r.t. Earth Conductivity

from [Tom W8JI]:
The issue here is one of measurement distance and the assumed flat earth, and how much the ground wave contributes to low angle radiation. We obviously know radiation at zero degrees is not zero, as distant models show.

<As to measured data, below with his permission is a quote from a broadcast consultant acquaintance of mine who has made helicopter measurements of the
elevation patterns of MW monopoles.>

My point is that does not tell us what happens at the ionosphere.

If I just take a simple program like EZNEC, and use a small sense antenna out in the distance, the results follow the trend you posted from the helicopter. I certainly am not disputing that data, because it seems reasonable.

AFAIK, we do not have measurements of arrival angles useful for long distances or how lower angles from verticals might apply to that. All we really know is using simple programs, low angle patterns are misleading.

73 Tom
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