I’m currently testing my EndFed antenna vertical, on a 40ft/12m glassfiber spiderpole. I still got the same QRM as before (S9+ on 40m, S6+ on 20m) but the first results look quite good. This is just an expiriment to see if an vertical antenna will fit my needs. I’m in doubt between the Hygain AV-640 (Cushcraft R8) and the GAP Titan DX. Lenght is not really a problem but I don’t have space for long radials.
Tonight I worked VK2CCJ on 20 meter in JT65. I was missing Australia in the DXCC list. I was missing Oceanea at all. So there is my WAC-certificate. Can’t wait for the QSL card. Let’s send this one direct. nice to know: he was using an mobile antenna!
The first impression of vertical is that the reception of signals is somewhat better. I can’t compare it by real-time switching. Hight will have to do with this, since the Endfed in horizontal polarization will only have a height of 3 meters above the tiles (which actually is a roof, not ground level, see the picture below).
Update (16-okt-2012): I’ve changed the feed-point. Where the EndFed-antenna was fed at the bottom of the vertical pole, I’ve changed the set-up to a sloper configuration, feeding the antenna at 8 meters high. The antenna picks up less noise then before and levels are acceptable now. New noise situation is S3-5 on 40 and 20 meters which is very acceptable. I’ve made the first JT65 QSO’s with the US now.
