> Thanks ! OK, now, how does it perform?
> Tom, NoBS
Depends. I have a G5RV inverted V with the apex at about 53 feet to
compare. As expected, the G5RV usually does better up to about 1300 miles.
Beyond that, the vertical often does better. If you were able to get a
dipole up at least a half wavelength (not the center of a V, but the whole
dipole), the dipole would do a better job all around, I believe.
I had a QSO recently where the other guy could only hear me when I used one
of the antennas, and I could hear him only when I used the other antenna.
Had to switch the antennas when going between xmit and rcv. The point to
learn is that no single antenna will be best for all circumstances.
In real estate, the three most important factors are location, location,
and location. In HF antennas, the three most important factors are height,
height, and height. The vertical antenna attempts an end-run around that
rule, but at the expense of very large ground losses which can never be
completely overcome even with an infinite number of radials.
How would the Gap Titan compare with other vertical antennas? I can't say
for sure, but I would think that the Gap has at least a fighting chance
against other multi-band verticals judging by its design and construction.
It will need periodic maintenance, though.
If I could only have one antenna, I'd pick two. But if pressed, I'd
probably pick an open-wire fed dipole 70 feet or more high.
Mike K1MG
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