| If you
are in need of an antenna for the lower
bands that will perform good for dx then
the half square may be just the ticket.
This design will require two supports at
least 1/2 wave apart. The height is not
really critical as you can bend the lower
wires to fit. This antenna is simply A
dipole with 1/4 wave vertical sections
hanging on the ends. It works as two
verticals fed in phase by the top wire.
This antenna does not require any ground
radials. It has A low angle of radiation
making it great for DX. The gain over A
dipole is several db at low angles, but
at high angles for local work A dipole
will probably work best. It has A fairly
wide pattern in two directions along the
horizontal wire)
To start figure A half wave for your
band, this will be the horizontal section.
Now figure A quarter wave for the
vertical sections. Feed it at either
corner directly with coax, connecting the
shield to the horizontal wire and the
center to the vertical wire.
Of corse, just as with most any
antenna, the higher the better but, If
your supports are not high enough for the
vertical sections to hang without
touching the ground, simply bend them in
at A few feet from the ground. This will
not degrade performance as much as you
would think.
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