Inverted V Dipole in Loft Vs T2LT outside?

Hi All,

A matter of opinion this one. I live near Manchester Airport and there is some activity on the band's in the area. 

I have a 9m telescopic pole and a small garden I can put it up in with my T2LT attached - I am yet to make a contact on FM 4 watts from this set up but will keep trying. 

I don't want to put up a permanent vertical attached to the house, so was wondering what people think about Inverted V Dipole antennas in the loft. 

I think they would be similar in height (give or take a m or so). I know polarity is questionable for local contacts as most use verticals - would it still work? Does anyone use an Inverted V set up? 

Is it worth the bother of crawling around the loft to set one up or just persist with the T2LT on a pole?

Cheers,

Tony

Hi Tony,

I used to have an Inverted V antenna in my loft for 11m and it was pretty awful for local CB contacts but absolutely awesome for DX especially with good propagation conditions and SSB use.

That said I did get some Continental action on it a few summers ago using FM on the Euro/CEPT/Mid block frequencies but again on some sporadic 'e' DX.

A contact that used to hit me S9+ on a vertical dipole dropped to around S7 with the Inverted V and another that was a good radio five but S5 on the vertical all but disappeared into the noise with the inverted.

That's just my experience and others are bound to have different opinions probably relating to antenna theory, maths, numbers etc.


Hope that helps if only even a little.

All the best,
Victor

Hi Victor,

Absolutely spot on thanks. From my reading on the internet and considering your own experience this seems to rings true with many others. As you say, as a DX proposition the Inverted V has its uses. Perhaps not the best 'one antenna solution'. One to mull over I think.

Many thanks,

Tony

No worries Tony, just that was my experience but commonly heard.

In the end I went for my Ham ticket and never had so much fun with all those bands and frequencies. Unfortunately the problem reared it's ugly head again contacting a friend on 2m mobile as well as the repeaters but at least a vertical for that was easier to squeeze in my loft space!

As much as I love my radio I live in a very 'conservative' village so don't have any antennas on display. (Not worth the hassle!) With my 'doublet' bit of wire in my loft now though I've been slowly working the world on HF and thoroughly enjoying it.

I wish you well with your antenna discoveries as well as radio ventures.


All the best,
Victor