It's a bit of a shame that the same ancient myth, handed out as advice, constantly regurgitated by some so-called senior experts, that a horizontal dipole cannot be used effectively for local QSO's. It's just not true. Are they perfect for local? No. Do they work for local? YES. Are there nulls in the pattern? Yes, but those nulls are small and in most situations likely don't cause large issues. The polarity mismatch knocks a slight bit off of the Smeter reading but does not prevent clear communication, as good or maybe better than some of the $200 fiberglass tubes that end up radiating mostly from the feedline if they're not set up correctly at the onset (end result= negative gain). Inverted V's can remove/reduce some of the issues mentioned above that make dipoles so mythically horrible for local use.
Perhaps the biggest value that simple dipoles have is the antenna knowledge that can be gained by folks who are looking to learn. Easy to build and put up, they're a great stepping stone to larger/higher gain antennas (most of which are based on a dipole). Perfect for beginners. Constructing and using your first antenna is fun as hell, keeps you in the hobby and dipoles always work. Seems like anyone would be more likely to stay in the hobby in that scenario, especially if they're on a budget as most young beginners are. Then on to bigger and better things because you know how to. Given the correct information, of course.
Newbies/beginners, if you are looking to learn about radio, the forums on WWDX are a rich source of valuable information held by some really smart and dedicated folks who are more than happy to share. Use it, but don't limit yourself to a single source. Let your Google-fingers do the walking and you'll find buckets full of usable info out there that can bolster what you learn here. (Hint: most Ham antennas work just like CB antennas). Bring that info back here and share it and we all get better and have more radio fun. Homebrew the things you read/learn/hear about and try them. You'll enjoy that so much more than just plopping down $ on something you were told was the greatest thing since radio was born. Learn and try, find out for yourself.
Yes this is an old thread but the myths persist and it lit the fire. End of rant.
73
