However if i believed that a 1/2 wave J pole works better than my 5/8 wave then id pack a bong with some good weed!!!!
i've smoked a few packed bongs in my life, but its never ever deluded me into thinking a 5/8 wave is better than a sigma/vector, at extreme distance on line of sight communications, the sigma/vector has always been slightly better than any 5/8 wave i've used,
but i still prefer the smaller more neighbour friendly 5/8 wave as its less of an eyesore and in my experience less likely to get you grief from local council planning officers in the uk. i also find they stand up to the very rough weather conditions my city see's on a regular basis, i've also found the gamma match seizing to be a common problem area in them once corrosion starts, although its easily sorted out.
as for which is better for skywave dx, thats just a pointless and for the most part unprovable debate, both work superbly well when conditions allow and i'd be happy with any of them, come to that a 1/2 wave endfed/dipole or 1/4 wave groundplane all work well when conditions allow, but as propagation is far too changeable, (even second by second) it is impossible to tell which is better.
one thing is proveable though, anyone who states my antenna is better for skywave dx than X antenna because its worked here or there is talking one huge pile of shite. anyone with any knowledge of serious radio dx via skywave knows how unpredictable it is, thats what draws them to dx'ing in the first place.
i have proved many times confidence in the voice attracts far more exotic dx than any over hyped antenna ever will, people naturally avoid those who sound very nervous in favour of a more confident (easier qso) operator,
it comes down to a simple human trait called laziness.
if you don't believe me try this simple test, if you are confident and successful at dx'ing (and i don't mean working countless activations for a s9/r5 report), get someone who isn't, to use your station, i guarantee they lack the success you find, by the same token the reverse is true, if your nervous/unconfident at dx'ing, invite a more experienced operator too your shack and he'll show you just how capable that gear you lack faith in really is.
i've even proved it on some peoples setups that were running amps and lacking success, yet when i turn their amp off, i still get contacts, why is that? belief in your equipment and yourself brings a lot more than piece of mind, even after a heavily packed bong
