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Homer, I have a 1/2 square, which is similar to the BobTail, but IMO these don't work too well due to their best performance being noted with the vertical elements being only .3% of a wavelength above Earth...which puts the top 1/2 wave element at or less than about 20' feet high when working in 11 meters. If you are in the very wide open (little around you) with relatively flat terrain, then you may be OK however.

When I raised mine up very much higher than the height specified, I think the pattern lost its advantage over a dipole at a similar height. I think it also began radiating more like a horizontal wire instead of being vertical, as it is intended. The match is great, but IMO you need at least 50' feet of horizontal space to hang this one in order to help prevent the feed line from ill-affecting the pattern...even if you set it low to Earth.

I see these types of antennas likely working best at much lower frequencies.

<blockquote data-quote="Marconi" data-source="post: 285492" data-attributes="member: 903">Homer, I have a 1/2 square, which is similar to the BobTail, but IMO these don&#039;t work too well due to their best performance being noted with the vertical elements being only .3% of a wavelength above Earth...which puts the top 1/2 wave element at or less than about 20&#039; feet high when working in 11 meters. If you are in the very wide open (little around you) with relatively flat terrain, then you may be OK however.&nbsp;When I raised mine up very much higher than the height specified, I think the pattern lost its advantage over a dipole at a similar height. I think it also began radiating more like a horizontal wire instead of being vertical, as it is intended. The match is great, but IMO you need at least 50&#039; feet of horizontal space to hang this one in order to help prevent the feed line from ill-affecting the pattern...even if you set it low to Earth. &nbsp;I see these types of antennas likely working best at much lower frequencies.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Marconi, post: 285492, member: 903"] Homer, I have a 1/2 square, which is similar to the BobTail, but IMO these don't work too well due to their best performance being noted with the vertical elements being only .3% of a wavelength above Earth...which puts the top 1/2 wave element at or less than about 20' feet high when working in 11 meters. If you are in the very wide open (little around you) with relatively flat terrain, then you may be OK however. When I raised mine up very much higher than the height specified, I think the pattern lost its advantage over a dipole at a similar height. I think it also began radiating more like a horizontal wire instead of being vertical, as it is intended. The match is great, but IMO you need at least 50' feet of horizontal space to hang this one in order to help prevent the feed line from ill-affecting the pattern...even if you set it low to Earth. I see these types of antennas likely working best at much lower frequencies. [/QUOTE]

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