According to Brian (ZL3XDJ), an easy way to boost performance of your 20 meter vertical antenna is to simply elevate the structure off the ground and use only 4 radial wires.
Brian tested this arrangement against his 3 element parasitic vertical antenna with 300 ground radials. He found the elevated vertical had a definite edge over his parasitic vertical system.
Responding reader "petemillis4666" found a DX improvement over his usual vertical when he elevated his 20 meter vertical antenna approximately 2 meters (6.56 ft) above ground.
I've had similar result when I raised my 20 meter vertical several meters above ground. Apparently, raising the antenna above ground cuts antenna losses and lowers the radiation angle-a nice advantage for DX chasing.
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Thanks for joining us today.
Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).
Here are some comments from Brian (ZL3XDJ)"
which is better, my old 3 ele parasitic vertical antenna with 300 radials, or my new 1 ele elevated antenna, with only 4 radials. What a surprise i got testing these ants, and some results not found here, which are not in the handbook.
Thanks to the station master/xyl/ wife , for her encouragement for more ants equals more enjoyment. TranscriptFollow along using the transcript.
Follow along using the transcript.
