[Antennas] Vertical

Sat Nov 26 10:10:31 EST 2005

Thanks to all who responded. It is appreciated.
I've been studying verticals, dipoles, long wires, end-fed antennas, etc,
for many years. To restate my question, since I want to be clearer, does
anyone have any practical hands-on experience?
Assume lots of radials...
Vertical length of around 30 feet...
Has anyone ever found a clear difference, non-theoretical, when going from a
dipole to a vertical? Can anyone on the list tell me that instead of
working stations two states away, they now work hams 5 states away? I've
been using dipoles for years and really want to build a nice homebrew
vertical (with lots of radials). Knowing that this lowers the angle of
radiation, does this loss in gain result in such poor performance that you
might as well stay with a dipole?
Hands-on...
Thanks again,
Sean
W8OKN