[Antennas] off-center fed dipole vs end-fed zepp

Fri Dec 8 12:11:05 EST 2006

Hello fellow antenna experimenters!
Like most of us, I have a suburban average size lot. This limits most of my 
experiments to verticals and low-elevation dipoles.
I have had some success with an off-center fed dipole running along a NE-SW 
axis, using balanced transmission line. This antenna is three half waves 
total length, fed 1/4 wave from the northeast end, which is about 30 ft 
above ground. The major lobe of radiation seems to be off the SW end, 
elevation 20 ft above ground, rather than broadside as with most dipoles.
A local ham tells me that I would increase my radiation off the SW end if I 
remove the feedline connection to the short leg, essentially creating an 
end-fed zepp that is five quarter wavelengths.
There is little information concerning this in the ARRL antenna books or the 
RSGB books that I use as guides for invention and modification.
Does anyone have thoughts on this? I welcome any input you may contribute. 
Since this antenna is a good 20M pipeline from Seattle to the South Pacific, 
I'd like some ideas before I change it.
Bob WB7QOU
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