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Re: Topband: Inverted V vs inverted L

To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Inverted V vs inverted L
From: Steve Ireland <stevevk6vz@tpg.com.au>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:22:32 +0800
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Hi Peter (and the reflector)

As George AA7JV/C6AGU says: 'It depends on a lot of things: ground characteristics, number of radials, height of radials and the overall height available.'

I'd add your geomagnetic latitude (not the same as actual latitude) may also be a factor.

Here in south-western Australia, an inverted-V dipole at 90 feet high will usually beat an inverted-L at the same height on 160m. This appears to be because of the very poor ground conductivity in the far field.

Mike Bazley VK6HD (SK) was the most experienced 160m DXer in Australia and had around 260 countries confirmed when he passed away some years back. At his last QTH in Albany he built an inverted-L with an 80 to 90 feet vertical section and, painstakingly, over the course of a year, put down a full size ground screen of 132 radials, each of a quarter-wave length long.

This antenna enabled him to add about three new countries in Central America (which could not hear him on the Inverted V dipole he also had) but most of the time his inverted V dipole at 90 feet was up to two 'S' points better. After a couple of years, Mike took the inverted-L down because of its mostly poorer DX performance.

Now, this kind of result is highly unusual, but just seems to be the way things work in VK6. I suspect that the inverted-L is going to work better for you, but as George says, 'there is only one way to tell: try it'.

Vy 73

Steve, VK6VZ (inverted-U dipole at 60 feet - wire goes 66 feet up, 132 foot along, 66 foot down )

Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2020 13:02:26 -0400
From: GEORGE WALLNER<aa7jv@atlanticbb.net>
To:<topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Inverted V vs inverted L
Message-ID:<ximss-86955041@be1.cluster1.echolabs.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset="utf-8"; format="flowed"

Peter,
It depends on a lot of things: ground characteristics, number of radials,
height of radials and the overall height available.
Generally, over average-to-good ground and with 32 or more radials, the
inverted L will perform better for DX at anything up 100', most of the time.
If you can put an inverted V higher than 100', you may get a better antenna,
especially if your QTH is over poor soil and you have only a few radials.
Really, there is only one way to tell: Try it.
Ultimately, having both will give you the best performance.

I know this is not very helpful, but ...
73,
George,
AA7JV/C6AGU


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