Comparing Elevated 1/4w Vertical vs. Link Dipole with WSPR

Hello Ham Radio Ops,

K5ACL from SignalSearch here with another Antenna comparison/testing video using the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) network.

Testing out an elevated 1/4w vertical vs Link Dipole using a simultaneous WSPR transmitter that was homebrewed by W6LVP - thanks Larry! I'll run the test on 20 & 40m only (40m using a portion of coil on the Vert. antenna) at 500mW.

The results were a bit surprising since I chose to only use 1 radial on the vertical. I've done switching comparisons before, but never a simultaneous one. DXplorer.net (Premium subscription comes with the WSPRlite device from SOTAbeams, but the basic service is free) offers a really neat way to compare antennas with some valuable information.



Hope you enjoy!

73
K5ACL

 

I believe your results match with what would be expected considering elevation radiation lobes and angles of radiation involved. That said, it is always refreshing to see actual test data, especially when comparing antennas.

It is nice to see real numbers and trends in experimental testing. Good job and thanks for sharing.

 

Inquiring minds want to know how beer cans compare against bed springs... ahem.

 

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. Subscribed for more videos.
I would like to see how delta loops (or other loop variant) stacks up.

 

Interesting video, and nicely done, Staff Sergeant. Thanks for posting.

73,
Al

 

1/4w is usually interpreted as 1/4 of a Watt. 1/4 lambda with the Greek small l should be used but QRZ won't let you use it.

 

Well done. Correlates nicely with my findings years ago on 160, only with more power. Get those verticals off the ground guys. Forget the ground screen of miles of wire. A single elevated counterpoise will do the trick, and the bandwidth will only be slightly narrower.

 

Very nice report - keep up the good work!
73
Jim, WQ2H

 

Very interesting comparison. I have to agree with the last post. I always have better results by keeping the counterpoises elevated.

 

Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Liked some of the slick vid effects at beginning and showing equip setup too!

 

Thanks for sharing the video. Great job.

 

I couldn't actually see either antenna in the video. Are they both verticals? If not, wouldn't you have to take into account the polarization of the receiving antennas? What kind of information is usually communicated with the mode or is this mode used for testing antennas only? This is my first introduction to WSPR so please forgive my lack of knowledge. 73

 

Good job with the antenna testing and of course - with the video production, Johnny.

73,

Jon Pearl - W4ABC

 

Sky Wave arrives at the receiving station elliptically polarized regardless of transmitter antenna polarization, so antenna orientation is seldom a factor.

WSPR is simply communicating ones call sign, IIRC, so it's not used for QSOs.

73,
Al

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. So beer cans & delta loops for the next test eh?

We need to do this. My buddy K5URU won the Bedspring Challenge contest on the Amateur Radio Reddit Group

Thanks for answering this Al! 73