Horizontal vs. Vertical orientation?
As I tell everyone:
“only The Great Spirit knows – beforehand – how any
antenna will
perform...us Hams find out after its up.”
Shown below are two
reports:
Rick, KC9NIY gets
better TAK-tenna performance with Horizontal orientation.
Andre, N9RWG gets
better TAK-tenna performance with Vertical orientation.
Are radials needed?
No.
A vertical dipole
does NOT need radials.
TAK-tenna is a dipole
antenna.
Typically, the
“vertical” we use is the quarter-wavelength monopole...also known as the
“Marconi.”
Marconi – the genius
that he was – discovered that the performance of a vertical antenna was aided
by wave REFLECTION from the ground surface under and around it.
The textbooks
describe this effect as being from an “image” of that aboveground vertical antenna
as if it was actually buried in the ground and equal in size to the vertical
antenna sitting directly above.
Of prime importance for good vertical antenna performance
is the QUALITY of ground conductivity!
Poor conductivity =
poor reflection = poor performance.
Radial wires are an
attempt to correct for this poor ground conductivity.
The not-so-good news
is that a relatively large surface area surrounding the vertical base needs to
be laid out with these wires...how many...how long ...’depends.’
Fortunately for us
Hams, the performance for a vertical DIPOLE is a different matter...and radials
are NOT needed.
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7'th month review |
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I've had the TAK-tenna 40 now for
approximately 7 months. I have used the antenna at various heights from
approximately 10' to 36' mounted on a monopole mast.
Coax run is
approximately 65" with approximately
30' of it buried some 4" underground.
That is
hooked to a FT-897 with a LDG 897 Tuner. Max power is 100W. The QHT is 312' ASL
in
My property
overlooks the
Several people have reported good results with the TAK-tenna mounted vertically
a few feet off the ground, hot side up. I tried that for about two weeks without much success. That isn't to say
it won't work for you, but it didn't for me.
For my location I have found horizontally
mounted at 32' seems to give the best performance.
When I
lower the antenna I've found that I get better short range ( NVIS ) performance
such as KY, IL, TN and better long and DX performance as I raise it; nothing
overly surprising there.
For example when
On several occasions when there have been stable band conditions I've found
cooperative Hams who have worked with me to check directional characteristics
of the TAK-tenna.
The
procedure was straight forward.
Starting with the antenna's cold side pointing at the remote station I would
rotate the antenna through 180 degrees while doing a slow count. The remote
station would then report the
S readings
at various numbers which told me where the antenna was pointed at that time.
Not
controlled or scientifically valid methodology, but it gave me an idea of what
was going on.
During the
rotation I typically got 1-2 S change
although one person reported no change at all. Whether others can reproduce
this I don't know, but those are the reports I received.
I've
managed to make contacts on every band from 160-6m, but the TAK-tenna is not
suitable as a 160 and I don't believe it is advertised as such.
The antenna
works to a fashion on 80 and I've made numerous contacts on 80 and several on
60, but the majority of contacts have been on 40-20-17 with a fair number on
30m primarily due to band openings. All were done with a tuner. I have worked
CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK and a few SSTV. The majority of contacts have been SSB and
PSK.
As far as performance goes I have worked all but 3 states with the TAK-tenna.
I have made
SSB contacts with
I've made
SSB contact with all the provinces in
I've also
worked all continents. Some of the more interesting contacts have been
I've also had QSO's with most of the
In the
Going
South, I've had several contacts with the
I've read a number of comments from people who criticize the fact that people who
give good reviews to the TAK-tenna do so without side by side comparisons.
That's a fair criticism.
However, if
I had the room for a multi-band vertical and all the required radials, I'd
probably have one. Same for a stacked Yagi on an 80 foot tower and if I didn't
mind repairing, replacing or re-stringing a multi-band dipole every time the
wind blew over 40 mph which breaks numerous limbs I might go that route.
As it is
I've managed to make a number of interesting contacts using a very inexpensive
antenna without a whole lot of muss and fuss.
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A fun antenna that is a real lifesaver for restricted
users! |
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I live in a second floor apartment in northwest I tried a MFJ telescopic antenna-tuner, with very poor results,
so much so, that I thought that my radio had gone kaput! I mulled over purchasing the TAK-tenna 40 for quite a while,
read the reviews and finally gave in (what the heck, right?). When the antenna came, I was able to get it assembled in no
time, as the instructions were easy to follow. I tuned the antenna with a Radio
Shack SWR meter and nailed it at 7.220, in less time it took to put the
thing together. With my landlord watching with a very critical eye, I mounted
the antenna horizontally out of a window. I was surprised to get an email from Steve, the maker of the
antenna, who asked me how it was working out. He suggested that I try a vertical
orientation, and I did. WOW! I had more contacts
that I could shake a stick at! Although my wife probably wants Steve's head on a spit (because
I am planted at my shack when I am not at work), I am extremely happy. The customer service was wonderful, and something that is
extremely rare these days. This is a great antenna that you absolutely cannot go wrong
with. |
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