In my recent testing, when I mounted my SD'r I took a chance to get it up another 7' higher, I used part of an old RS Crossbow boom. When I stuck the boom into the hub, the set screws seemed to tightened up fine, but when I took it down later the boom was loose, with the hub just sitting on the mast.
I also found the small cap hat on the radiator was loose, and again one of the set screws was loose. I can't be sure, but I think that affected the performance...because it came in dead last on my 03/21/11 recap, and I sure didn't expect that. The antenna also react odd when I ran my analyzer bandwidth curve, and that is when I did a video showing my VOM test...where the antenna was registering a current with just one VOM set in continuity mode and with only one probe contacting the shield and/or center conductor.
Booty Monster, do you remember my talking to you about radials on your 5/8 wave? If so, was that why you slanted some of your radials down? W8JI, in a few words confirms some issues that I've claimed for years, and again nobody would listen. You wanted to know about how long and how to position the radials on your end fed 5/8 wave radiator, see here:
IMO and as usual with W8JI, he likes to be somewhat evasive the way he describes things. His style makes one have to think in order to really get a handle on his ideas. I think if you read his comments here you will get his answer to your question. I will re-model one of my models to check his idea on length and angle for the EF 5/8 wave.
