EFHW 49:1 placement

[KK4IXETerry]

When installing a EFHW will it preform better with the 49:1 elevated or closer to the ground? I asking in regards to a sloper configuration.

Kk4ixe
Terry
73’s

 

[K6GBW]

There are several ways to set up an EFHW. None are "better" than the other, but they are different depending on what you want the antenna to do. The antenna primarily radiates from the center of the wire for the primary band it is made for. So if it is a 40 meter EFHW will radiate from the center of the wire. If the tranformer is elevated and the wire slopes down you can visualize the wave propigating slightly in the direction it slopes toward. If you mount the transformer near the ground and string the wire upward it is the same. If you place the transformer up high and run the wire perpendicular to the ground the wave acts just like a dipole hung in a similar fashion. The advantage of placing the transformer low is that you can easily ground it to a ground rod and if you hang it high then the coax that hangs down will radiate somewhat. If you operate the antenna on any band above the primary base band then it develops additional lobes. So at 20 meters a 40 meter EFHW would have two lobes. The EFHW is influenced by its height above ground just like a standard dipole, so if it is down below a half wave height the pattern will become more NVIS. As you can see, it's a very versitile antenna and it can be deployed a number of ways. It just depends on what you want it to do and what you are able to do.

 

[merlin]

You might consult the ARRL Antenna book. The section on EFHW wire antennas has some good diagrams that will help you understand the characteristics if this antenna.
K6BGW gives a good brief overviw, I can't add to that.

 

[KK4IXETerry]

There are several ways to set up an EFHW. None are "better" than the other, but they are different depending on what you want the antenna to do. The antenna primarily radiates from the center of the wire for the primary band it is made for. So if it is a 40 meter EFHW will radiate from the center of the wire. If the tranformer is elevated and the wire slopes down you can visualize the wave propigating slightly in the direction it slopes toward. If you mount the transformer near the ground and string the wire upward it is the same. If you place the transformer up high and run the wire perpendicular to the ground the wave acts just like a dipole hung in a similar fashion. The advantage of placing the transformer low is that you can easily ground it to a ground rod and if you hang it high then the coax that hangs down will radiate somewhat. If you operate the antenna on any band above the primary base band then it develops additional lobes. So at 20 meters a 40 meter EFHW would have two lobes. The EFHW is influenced by its height above ground just like a standard dipole, so if it is down below a half wave height the pattern will become more NVIS. As you can see, it's a very versitile antenna and it can be deployed a number of ways. It just depends on what you want it to do and what you are able to do.

Thank you

 

[KK4IXETerry]

You might consult the ARRL Antenna book. The section on EFHW wire antennas has some good diagrams that will help you understand the characteristics if this antenna.
K6BGW gives a good brief overviw, I can't add to that.

Thank you

 

[KK4IXETerry]

There are several ways to set up an EFHW. None are "better" than the other, but they are different depending on what you want the antenna to do. The antenna primarily radiates from the center of the wire for the primary band it is made for. So if it is a 40 meter EFHW will radiate from the center of the wire. If the tranformer is elevated and the wire slopes down you can visualize the wave propigating slightly in the direction it slopes toward. If you mount the transformer near the ground and string the wire upward it is the same. If you place the transformer up high and run the wire perpendicular to the ground the wave acts just like a dipole hung in a similar fashion. The advantage of placing the transformer low is that you can easily ground it to a ground rod and if you hang it high then the coax that hangs down will radiate somewhat. If you operate the antenna on any band above the primary base band then it develops additional lobes. So at 20 meters a 40 meter EFHW would have two lobes. The EFHW is influenced by its height above ground just like a standard dipole, so if it is down below a half wave height the pattern will become more NVIS. As you can see, it's a very versitile antenna and it can be deployed a number of ways. It just depends on what you want it to do and what you are able to do.

Thank you, this helps a lot.