Do you want an HF antenna that performs 20~40 db better than a back stay ?

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by Goudurix

Yes Bill...the never-ending quest for the optimal all-band antenna on a sailing boat...

I would expect even a vertical 'random length' end-fed antenna will have directionality because of the effect or the nearby backstay, mast, stays, etc.

I would very much like to try and model my own sloping "alternate backstay" antenna "Copyright B.Trayfors " to really find out about the expected radiation patterns... but I'm novice at Eznec.
Modeling the mast, stays and my 1/4 wave radials etc. is feasable, but what about the pushpit, lifelines, toerail who are in fact grounded since they are linked to the copper tape to an underwater bronze....

I wish our good old friend Greg was around to help me there....

Jan
ON3ZTT

Yeah....wonder what he's up to these days?

Just about anything you can put on a sailboat will have some "directionality" or, more properly, some "dead zones" because of absorption into the standing rigging, mast, etc. But, since there's little you can do about that and since the boat generally swings at anchor it might not be such a big issue.

I've found the "alternate backstay" antenna to work very well...as well as the traditional backstay. And, it's generally a bit "cleaner" in the feedline because the run is often much shorter and there are no rigging screws or chainplates or whatever in the path from the tuner to the antenna.

But, we're quibbling at the edges of what matters here. Backstay antennas work fine on most boats and on most bands, and I believe all sailboats should have them as the robust multipurpose good-but-not-great antenna.

73,

Bill

[Goudurix]

yes I will keep my alternate backstay antenna, it will go into its 3rd season. I find it works very well on 17m but I have to admit 17m is also my favourite DX band. I have always had my best long distance contacts there both at home as on the boat. Maybe it is also because I hate those weekends with all decametric bands blocked by contests....

I will certainly "revamp" my vertical dipoles. I might even be tempted to try out hairpin matches on them to get the SWR down - since they are not intended for permanent use, they don't need to be that rugged.

And now waiting for the spring & the first navigation....

Jan
ON3ZTT