"jim rozen" wrote in message
...
In article , Ed Huntress says...

That's the rule-of-thumb, but it only applies to line-of-sight (VHF) or
other space-wave transmission (some ducting, satellite, etc.). There's no
way to predict polarization in sky-wave, which is ionospheric skip. And
true
ground wave is always vertical, as one end of the wave is "sunk" into the
ground.

Sure this all sounds right in theory. But if there are other metal
items nearby they're going to scramble the polarization, so he
really doesn't have to work too hard to get a vertical antenna.

That's true, but it doesn't address the same issue. The point was that
there's no inherent signal strength advantage in having a vertical or a
horizontal antenna (in terms of polarization) for HF, short-wave reception,
nor for BCB at night.

There are noise issues, and some others. But polarization with a sky wave (a
wave skipped in the ionosphere) is not one of them.

BTW, I found my old antenna handbook, and a bit about why longer antennas
typically pick up more signal than resonant antennas.

--
Ed Huntress