Good to see someone talking sense about this subject for a change, whereas others mislead people to believe our verticals radiate in a unrealistic way.

This is an excellent example of how a lifetime of experience can enlighten those of us who accept on face value what a software package is telling us but actually fails in design. Thank you Peter for sharing!.

Very good video Peter. Les Moxon also went into this quite extensively in Chapter 10 of "HF Antennas For All Locations". Your points about multi-hop (I'd add chordal hop) for really long DX paths make sense also.

Thank you Peter. It's a very intetesting subject. My tutor often emphasised the importance of using an antenna with good low angle radiation for DX. I only have small garden, so have never been able to make a good practical comparison for myself. I cannot put up a full size horizontal antenna for 40 m or a full size G5RV. Although I have used verical antennas, I have mostly favoured the Inverted L format. Initially 1/4 wave fed against ground, but more latterly an EFHW as an Inverted L. This works well for me. My assumtion is that the Inverted L has a mix of vertical and horizontal radiation that can cover a range of propagation circumstances. I concur with the basic conclusions in this and other your videos that we should put up the best / most efficient antenna that will fit in the 'back yard' and have fun! That might make the 5 degree / low angle / Brewster Angle seem rather esoteric, but it's worth keeping in mind. Thank you for the detailed presentation! 73, Mike. M0MTJ

Again another excellent video. I have always said that there are a lot of “half truths” out there in Ham radio. A large void in the knowledge of how verticals ( and grounds) work! This video dispels some of that and you are doing a great service. 73, Don N4DJ

south south west of me lies Argentina (south america) and Australia new Zealand (antartica) North is EU, west brasil, and USA, east north east japan.. over the years i have had many vertical versions, including phased for 80m and 40m, Christman method.... my 2 contenders were dipole / vertical too name 2 of them... my most difficult contacts, ZL1iu 80 m band, but he did peak one year at 5/9 youtube has my recording for that... very seldom did the vertical/s out perform my dipole up at 20m high, i always had my doubts just as you Peter, then one year i raised my 40m vertical atop the mast 12 m high, sloped the 4 radials and wow! i was suprised but sort of expected the result, getting clear of the buildings around me made a huge difference, a week or so later the western cape had a strong storm with high wind , by by vertical, topband eu from ZS on a dipole no problem 80m as well, i needed about 250 watts to work a station in netherlands on TB... the mountain range north of me (close) blocked the vertical low angle(that's what i thought) so i build 2 phased vertical for 80m facing JA and PY it did outperform my dipole but not always at times the dipole are way better, like 2 spoint's... then one early morning i worked into USA and Argentina chile, brasil the verticals beat the dipole hands down, but USA was Dipole s...the King... to the North lay my friend ZS 6HA we always worked 80m dx at 3.795 , he had a advantage being north of me to europe, i always had to wait a few minutes (like 30 min) before i could work EU, Ja i was stronger and south America i was stronger than him, but most of the times weaker towards EU. then along came Greenland one evening i worked him and busted a eu pileup was funny, i could not help but think my signal traveled around the south pole :) topband has been the band with the most surprises fan dipole 20m high and a vertical yet the dipole always win... now remember dx to me means outside of Africa! so USA, SOUTH America, EU, VK, ZL etc a bit farther then across the ocean from G to stateside.. hmmm. ZS2CX

To "activate" the angles

In reviewing the conclusions in the second article by Zavrel, unless I misunderstood the text, the PBA is insignificant for ground mounted verticals?

Thank you for bringing this back to light from the 60s. I think this was missing piece around how I should visualize ground reflection (which in my mind had to have some cancellation and assumed model software was taking that into account). Surprised they don't already incorporate it and texture the area where loss will occur and how low depending on frequency. Does it pull the highest gain part of the lobe downward some or does that tend to stay at same angle when accounting for Brewster?

Spot on as always Peter, how about the end fed inverted V for some of us with small gardens as the weight at the centre would be less (no feeder pulling it down) and the width across the bottom as would only be about 3/4 of the length at the base of a straight dipole. Regards Dave.

Are we sure that such reflection does not appear in modelling software? Adding a ground does make the sort of difference that is shown in the diagram from the RSGB handbook.

Interesting information. I count myself lucky that my area is relatively flat and my antenna has a clear path to the horizon at a low angle.

Excellent Excellent video and very interesting, what will happen if you put a vertical antenna 10 meters up in the air with radials, will the Brewster Angle change to be lower or higher or the same or will the radials have something to do with this Brewster Angle. LA2VLA

Very interesting information, Peter. The link is not working it says Not Found The requested URL was not Found on this server.

Outstanding I concur The only time i had luck with a verical was over salt water Rest of time prefer a horizontal antenna Plus you get ground gain

Thank you. This forgotten information from the past is importent. I think that no one wants a cloud heater so low angle is good but look where the maximum is, there is your far feld not at any other angle. Great video.

Excellent Report, Thank you

The performers off the antenna imo depends on conditions ...top 3 for me are conditions... antenna .. coax ...at last he rig the antenna that works for me may not for you ... depends on circumstances at youre QTH

Low angle ground reflection angle = The Brewster angle/reflection, quite important....

Greetings from Orlando, FL

Peter no disrespect implied or intended...i dont understand fully why frequency varies the Brewster effect sorry,, im asking not critising ,why is this please. over ground quality i grasp that.. but if you have best quality ground then why would freq change it please.. i love your input videos and theyre honest and factual Sir..only sayin

Great video and links. Thanks!

tnx fer input - my brain will have enough to handle over the weekend ;) 73

I have always had great luck with inverted v antennas. The g5rv is my favorite.

Very informative as usual Peter...W6QR

Greetings from Switzerland 👍

Great video enjoyed it keep them co ing

Greetings from Colombia

really expensive tea cup coaster you have there :)

Ancient wisdom (from the 1960’s😂). The ground is an unknown constant for most of us, so though critical it is left out. Reminds me of our current times! The wisdom of the past is ignored and therefore is taken off the map of consciousness….. hence our Godless condition. 😂😂 Thanks for this video it has partly answered the very same question that has been rattling around in my puny brain 🧠 73 de VK2AOE George

Interesting Peter, but in reality I think ‘it does not matter with that reflection angle because: No Antenna I have seen have a stronger radiation a 5 degrees than 15. So - if you attempt to optimize for 5 in the modelling software - you are given an even more optimized antenna at 15-20 degrees. Those 5 degree patterns are for people at the beach, with a counterpoise in saltwater - and only tiny waves 😂

At the end of the day, either way, if propagation is good you will get dx, if not it's still a great hobby.

Grüße aus Deutschland. 73, walter

Makes complete sense. Thanks Peter

Yes it's not normally shown on the free be sortware untill you start paying lots of money for professional based software.

The DX con man and his good buddies say you are wrong.....

Many thanks for sharing your knowledge of an amateur radio life with us / 73 CS7BDO