Steve, I'm not using radials, though it would probably work better with them. I'm using a 16 foot mast as my counterpoise and that seems to work for me. Bob Tinney, K8LR, [log in to unmask] Skype, bobtinn Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]> To: "Bob Tinney" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 11:53 AM Subject: Re: Vertical antennas Bob, I notice that S9 recommends quarter wave radials for maximum efficiency. Are you running yours with or without radials? Also, are you using the 4:1 unun they recommend? Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Tinney" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 14:09 Subject: Re: Vertical antennas > Hi Steve, > > I just put up a cheap vertical called an S9antenna. All it is is a wire > that's about 18 feet long inside of a telescopic fiberglass pole. I > mounted > it on top of a 16 foot mast and I'm feeding it with RG8 coax with the > braid > grounded to the mast. I have a palstar tuner and I can work anything from > 20 through 6 meters. I'm sure that other verticals with lots of traps, > side > mounted elements and radials will do better, but I was looking for a > simple > cheap antenna that would act as a listening antenna so I wouldn't have to > keep turning my beam. > > www.s9antennas.com > also sells a 40-6 meter version, but the 20-6 version is only $49.95 and > this simple antenna intrigued me. > > Bob Tinney, K8LR, [log in to unmask] > Skype, bobtinn > Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting! > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, September 24, 2010 12:23 PM > Subject: Vertical antennas > > > I'm thinking about buying a vertical to use primarily on 20 through 6 = > meters. I definitely don't want to mess around with radials, and right = > now, I'm considering one of three antennas: the Cushcraft MA6VA, the = > Cushcraft R6000, and the Cushcraft R8. I realize the R8 also works on = > 40, which doesn't particularly interest me, but I'm willing to consider = > it if it works significantly better than either of the other two = > antennas. > > Do any of you have any experience with the antennas I've mentioned, or = > with any other verticals that don't use radials? I want to know the = > good, the bad, and the ugly, so don't hold back. > > Steve >