I know from my mobil antenna tinkering that short antennas are not very efficient.
The erp or effective radiated power is just a fraction of the power input.
My question is, if I use my 160 m inverted L which is up 40 ft with a loading coil at the base, is there a easy way to estimate the erp or percent of radiated power?
For receiving would a simple tuned tank circuit work just as well as a base loaded coil? Us old timers have a few 455 IF transformers and capacitors in the junk box.
I have been listening and have heard a few CW signals just by plugging the inverted L into the back of the transceiver. I think a tuned antenna would work better.