12.7.1 Short Range (0–300 Km)

For short ranges the take-off angle must be between 60˚ and 90˚, which can be achieved by a number of antenna designs including a horizontal half-wave dipole suspended above the ground at a height of λ/8 to λ/4. A three-quarter wave, end-fed antenna is a compromise between a sky-wave and a ground-wave antenna. Under best conditions it radiates approximately 2/3 of the energy as sky wave and 1/3 as ground wave. The quarter wave end-fed antenna can also be used but is not as efficient as a dipole or a three-quarter wave antenna.