RadioDXfun
Omni low angle radiator
As a DX focused operator I have to go for 20m myself. I do not have a high degree of experience on 40m. I used a 1/2 wave end fed mono band vertical cut for 40m one afternoon/evening when there was low wind. (20m long - on a 18m Spiderpole with a 2m plant stake, added extension) essentially ground mounted and made no DX from the UK (just a 1,200 mile contact into Romania). Ground mounted EFHW probably putting out no more low angle radiation than a 8m elevated 1/4 wave. In any event down to conditions of the afternoon/evening of course.
So 20m is the band for me for DX. In the summer it seems to have some short hop possibilities most likely from the E layer, almost NVIS style though of course no where near as often as 40m. 20m gives a lot of DX value despite its busyness and a little noise here and there. A bit of noise even out in the countryside makes it sound like a radio band. 15m/10m have that fast QSB and low noise at the moment which kind of does not sound quite like radio if you know what I mean.
So for me 20m is the best band as portable, my vertically polarized 100W signal can get pretty much anywhere on earth. On 20m I use a ground mounted DIY 5/8 wave 12.7m long with 30 radials (yes I am a glutton for punishment) or a 1/2 wave elevated to a feedpoint of 8m. Both are great DX antennas on 20m and I have had a lot of enjoyment from them using barefoot 7300 power. I am heard well globally.
I know some covet their 10m band contacts over other bands as it is open less and often shorter at the current phase of the solar cycle. For myself being portable 100pct of the time 20m offers some challenges to get some good low angle radiation out into the low horizon for a 10m/12.7m long vertical antenna. So I prize those contacts I have made in weak conditions on 20m just as much as those on 10m do using a beam.
So 20m is the band for me for DX. In the summer it seems to have some short hop possibilities most likely from the E layer, almost NVIS style though of course no where near as often as 40m. 20m gives a lot of DX value despite its busyness and a little noise here and there. A bit of noise even out in the countryside makes it sound like a radio band. 15m/10m have that fast QSB and low noise at the moment which kind of does not sound quite like radio if you know what I mean.
So for me 20m is the best band as portable, my vertically polarized 100W signal can get pretty much anywhere on earth. On 20m I use a ground mounted DIY 5/8 wave 12.7m long with 30 radials (yes I am a glutton for punishment) or a 1/2 wave elevated to a feedpoint of 8m. Both are great DX antennas on 20m and I have had a lot of enjoyment from them using barefoot 7300 power. I am heard well globally.
I know some covet their 10m band contacts over other bands as it is open less and often shorter at the current phase of the solar cycle. For myself being portable 100pct of the time 20m offers some challenges to get some good low angle radiation out into the low horizon for a 10m/12.7m long vertical antenna. So I prize those contacts I have made in weak conditions on 20m just as much as those on 10m do using a beam.
