End Loaded Dipole

End loading can also help reduce the size of antennas, particularly useful for dipoles used on the  80m and 160m bands. An end loaded dipole will produce an antenna that is H shaped. There are several commercial designs available produced in designs that cover a single band and others that cover multiple bands. The version shown below is only 3 metres tall so will be suitable for very unobtrusive, low profile use. It is the ProAntennas Multi-band I-PRO: 20m 17m 15m 12m 11m & 10m which uses a capacity hat with some loading at the centre. http://www.proantennas.co.uk/

Other similar antennas were available from Force12 Antennas in the form of, amongst others, the Sigma 5 and Sigma GT5. The Sigma design used T-bars at each end of the vertical dipole for loading technique and off-center loading coils.  http://www.force12inc.com This was supplied supplied in the UK by Vine Antennas at one time http://www.vinecom.co.uk . Transworld Antennas also have produce antennaa using a similar concept - the TW2010 Adventurer and Backpacker http://transworldantennas.com

K9AY Notes that: "I have come to the conclusion from my experiments, readings and observations, that a capacity hatted vertical dipole, a few feet over ground, is less compromised than a 1/4 w/l vertical of the same height fed against a less than perfect ground. Let's face it, most amateur's ground systems are mediocre at best. Also, the dipole is easier and cheaper to rig, and is two dimensional..Very important in my situation, as I cannot run out radials on my neighbours property.  Or, to quote W4RNL.."Since only a handful of hams can ever have 160-meter antennas high enough to yield a low angle DX signal, more practical are vertical arrays such as yours.  Vertical dipoles with hats (or Tees) save a plethora of wire needed by monopoles." http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=7466

Information by K9AY

Information by K9AY

Interesting concepts from K9AY