Earth-electrode antennas

Many years ago I tried to compare my vertical Marconi vertical with my earth-electrode antenna in the groundi on  472kHz.I think these tests were mainly in 2012 and 2013. 

My conclusion is that on the LF bands it is a very few S points down. If you have problems erecting a big antenna and extensive ground do not ignore this antenna as it is surprisingly good.

“These are my conclusions:

1. The earth-electrode antenna at 472kHz (2 earth rods in the soil 15-20m apart fed from the TX output) behaves like an H-field loop transmitting antenna.
2. It has directivity, with strongest signals in the line of the loop and weakest signals at right angles to it.
3. It works as an effective RX antenna too. 
4. In my environment the loop looks like about 50-60 ohms resistive, so a good match to my transverter directly without matching.
5. The structure works because much of the return current flows deep within the soil and rock beneath the earth-electrode antenna. In my case Rik OR7T calculated that the loop area in the ground is effectively 290m sq with a radiation resistance of 0.017 ohm and a loss resistance of 66 ohms.This is a BIG loop!
6. Performance compared with my 9m high top loaded Marconi antenna averages only around 8dB down, not a bad figure at all, even with the connecting wire on the ground and not elevated at all.
7. Where no other antenna option is available, the earth-electrode antenna is well worth trying both on 472kHz and on 136kHz both for RX and TX. Although it works well here, your geology may be different and results not the same.

These last few days have been most interesting and, with the help of many people - listeners giving me WSPR reports, advice from others on the Internet forums, suggestions by email - I have been able to do some quite useful science. Thank you one and all “.