Hi all,

Thinking what is the best multiband vertical that would give gain over a dipole on each of the bands: 7mhz, 14mhz, 18mhz and 21mhz ?

Looking forward to your comments

73 - Simon

I'd be interested too

Gain over a dipole? My gut instinct says "you'll be lucky".

I wound my own vertical, covers all bands. Best DX from Salisbury was China.

D

This has gain on 10 and 15

http://www.hy-gain.com/Product.php?productid=AV-18HT

Don't think gain and vertical go hand in hand unless you want some CB gain which is just marketing,

Best for what - DX? A ground-mounted vertical over a decent radial system will often out-perform a dipole for DX on the lower bands, unless you can get the dipole up very high.

I've been using a Hustler BTV ground-mounted over radials for years and am very happy with it: total of 292 DXCCs worked inc over 200 on 40m, 20m and 15m. The Butternuts are well thought of too. However, you need it out in the clear, probably wouldn't work as well in a suburban area: how and where you site the antenna is as important, if not more important, than the construction, with a vertical.

Alternatively make your own for a few bands, get a fishing pole and tie-wrap quarter wavelength wires for the various band onto the pole, terminating at a common point and making sure they don't touch and they reach up the pole.

I had been using a multi band dipole for the low bands and got hold of the 6BTV hoping it would improve my dxcc scores. Only a dozen radials, of various lengths, maximum is around 40 foot long. Wasn't impressed, dipole went back up in the air, so I need to borow the neighbours garden when they go on holiday in the summer.
That said, reception was greatly improved on the vertical, and I could hear much more. But as I'm not an SWL, that wasn't of much use.

Ian M0KCM

try a gap antenna I use one and they are superb in fact I was selling one but when I looked at the rest and Ive had a few this was the best so I am now using it again .. gap eagle or gap titan.

IMO there's only two worth having, the Gap & Cushcraft range which incorporate their own counterpoise....they are complete antennas therefore can be installed high in the air well clear of obstructions. The others all play down how crucial a role the ground system they lack plays, they either have to be ground mounted or if installed at height with at least 1 radial for every band of resonance, buy one of these antennas and you must bear in mind you've only bought half an antenna, the other half (ground system/counterpoise) needs to be supplied by the user.

Regarding gain....being omi any vertical will have more gain that dipoles firing off their nulls, however stick on in the sand at the seaside and there'll be only one winner.

Diamond CP-6 has its own counterpoise too.


I'm not sure how effective the radials on the Gap and Cushcraft can be, given the length of them.

I've got 2 Butternut antenna, an HF-9v and HF-2v, the instructions stress how important the radial system is, certainly no 'playing down' its importance.

Butternut actually sell an elevated radial kit if you want to mount it up in the air, but they don't really rate it themselves!

I've used a Cushcraft R8 and thought the counterpoise worked the best.
I've also installed Hustlers and Butternut's for club members that needed radials for every band, not an easy task when the guys that bought them lived in terraced housing, postage stamp property and unhelpful neighbours, but without the radials the SWR's were woeful.

Radials do affect the tuning/SWR, but without radials you can still tune them for low SWR, just need to move the traps a little (on the Butternut). In fact, too many radials often results in an inferior SWR as it moves the impedance well away from 50 ohms (but better DX performance)

I've used verticals on HF for years, yes they can be a bit of a pain and don't work in every situation, but when they're good, they're good. I've also got an Cushcraft MA8040 (dual band 80m & 40m) - no radials on that (I know I should have, but it's a temp setup) - worked KH6 on 80m at sunrise this morning.