03-11-2017, 05:09 PM
I only put the Diamond vertical in the mix because I knew that the idea of a "radial-less vertical" would arc some people up. We all know what will be acting as the second half of the antenna - the coax feeder, with all the problems of common-mode currents that goes with that scenario. 
Lou, I disagree that the Rippletech trapped vertical is over-priced. The other station that I operate from, VK4KG, has the 40-10m model and it is very well made and works well, and I am sure that a lot of experimentation and testing went into its production that needs to be recovered in the price. Home brewing a trapped antenna would certainly be beyond me, and I expect it would be beyond a lot of hams. As you say there are a lot of wire antennas that would perform better but they are not possible or desirable at this QTH.
Doug, the existing mast is 10m high and is tilt-over. It would not be hard to put an insulator a the bottom and fed it against ground with an unun and putting out some ground radials would be easy. A wire from the top of the mast to the corner of the block would give me an "inverted L" about 14m long when is the same as the popular 42ft vertical marketed by DX Engineering. This is obviously my preferred option unless there is evidence that the trapped vertical would be better.
73
Wayne VK4WDM
Lou, I disagree that the Rippletech trapped vertical is over-priced. The other station that I operate from, VK4KG, has the 40-10m model and it is very well made and works well, and I am sure that a lot of experimentation and testing went into its production that needs to be recovered in the price. Home brewing a trapped antenna would certainly be beyond me, and I expect it would be beyond a lot of hams. As you say there are a lot of wire antennas that would perform better but they are not possible or desirable at this QTH.
Doug, the existing mast is 10m high and is tilt-over. It would not be hard to put an insulator a the bottom and fed it against ground with an unun and putting out some ground radials would be easy. A wire from the top of the mast to the corner of the block would give me an "inverted L" about 14m long when is the same as the popular 42ft vertical marketed by DX Engineering. This is obviously my preferred option unless there is evidence that the trapped vertical would be better.
73
Wayne VK4WDM