Something to contribute to the discussion:
Horizontal antennas have a additional 6 dB from the groundgain (if it is up high enough).
Vertical antennas lack that additional gain.
Something i have been told by a propagation guy:
If the HF signal penetrates the inosphere the signal gets broken up in 3 parts:
1 the ordinary 2 the extraordianry en the Z component.
Due to the influence of the earth magneticfield each part gets a circulair polarisation.
The stronger the magnetic field (near south/north pole) the stronger the signal will rotate.
It has absolutly no advantage to place your antenna either vertical or horizontal from that perspective.
Any advantege that will be seen comes through the different take-off angles produced by the different polarisation.
(the same advantage one can have using different antenna heights).
The biggest loss is (as always) between the angle of propagation and the angle of radiation of the antenna.
So near the equator the rotation of the signal isnt that bad, near the magnetic poles it is not.
We cant "predict" which way the prop will go, but on the other hand im not so sure if we can actually "switch" that fast and keep up with the rotation of the signal.
So, im saying..it migth not be the polarisation which gives people the advantage..
Its the change in take-off angle for those who "claim" good results with theyre duo/quatro or what ever polarisation
Kind regards,
henry 19sd348
All about antennas