Hello all,
I currently have a G5RV hanging from a tree in an inverted V configuration, with the center about 37-42 feet above ground. The ends, however, are very near the ground and I'm hoping to better understand wire antennas in general, what would be optimal, or if this even matters much.
Will I see improvements if I raise the ends to at least 6-10 feet off the ground? I may be able to raise the center by another 5-7 feet but I'm not sure how close I can keep the overall angle of the "V" near 90 degrees if I raise the ends by more than a few feet each. Am I over thinking this? I really just want to be sure I'm maximizing my TX power and not losing as much into the ground.
Thanks in advance for your replies,
73,
Matt - W4MBT
Yes, you will see improvement by raising the ends of your inverted vee from near ground level to 10 feet (or greater). Your current configuration with the ends very close to the ground is contributing to a large loss in antenna performance. Plus they're a safety hazard 1) due to high voltage to humans and animals, and 2) a trip hazard. So raising the ends and if you ALSO raise the center portion by 5-7 feet will markedly improve your system. You really don't need to keep the angle of the vee at 90 degs; in fact, the more the vee approaches a horizontal dipole, the better!
Let us know your findings. GL, 73, Rich, K3VAT