Your more then welcome Mark,
It is a lot better to be on a forum then ask these questions on FB and get 100 shouters to provide a reply without facts.
@ BC Coyote..
Well, actually ( in worse case scenarios) it could help with transmit and receive.
Just to have it said, im not a fan of the optional kit.
If the coax for example becomes part of the antenna systems it is logical it will also contribute to its gain and thus antenna pattern.
Sometimes this is a good thing... (as the halve wave end-fed needs something to radiate against)...but... it could also degrade the performance.
W8JI has some examples on his site. https://www.w8ji.com/ground_plane_verticals.htm and
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.w8ji.com/end-fed_vertical.htm#IMAX[/URL]
We also know CMC's can provide additional noise, which will mean our reception will be less.
For most it seems difficult to notice CMC
But you can measure CMC's rather simple;
You could buy the MFJ853 for example, and it is not difficult to construct one for your self. There are lots of simple homebuild versions on the net. Google HF RF current meter and you will find them.
To measure degration of the antenna pattern is far more difficult.
Hope this is of use,
Kind regards, Henry
