There are many vertical antennas made for HF. Some, like the cushcraft R5, 
are good up in the air. Some, especially if they go to 40 and 80 meters it's 
better on the ground because you're talking about some insane ground radial 
lengths. Mine goes from 10 to 80 meters so ground mounted is about the best 
way, a 1/4 wave ground radial or 2 up in the air would pretty well have to 
be tied off to something, they'd never support themselves. I know someone 
who did it and he has h is radials tied off to trees, why he didn't just put 
up dipoles I don't know because that's what it ends up looking like he has 
anyway but it works for him. Does it perform any better than mine ground 
mounted? nope, not that I can see and that's figuring he has a better 
location,half inch hard line verses my RG-213, and his is the Mosely 
expensive vertical against my hustler 5BTV. I've operated from both stations 
and don't notice much difference, a vertical is mainly good when the band is 
open anyway and once the bands open up they're pretty equal. In fact until 
trying his, I was thinking about raising mine but now that I know how equal 
they are, I decided not to bother and am leaving mine right where it is.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Tillinghast" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 11:13 PM
Subject: vertical hf antennas


> Hi all,
> A neighbor gave me an HF antenna that has a couple of traps in =
> it=E2=80=99s length.  My question is, are there different vertical =
> antennas made for HF?  I also noticed that there were brackets on it for =
> guide lines.  Are these antennas better closer to the ground?  I have =
> heard the chatter about adding as much wire underground as possible.  =
> Gary KB2YAA