What to use as a vertical

The following describe typical 4-Square successful installations, in use world-wide with the Comtek ACB-4 series Hybrid Phasing Coupler for 4-Squares and 2 element arrays.

1. Rohn 20/25G tower on insulated bases for 80 and 160 meter verticals. Non-conductive guying or steel guys broken with insulators required to minimize distorting patterns. See our tower insulators page for heavy duty insulators for Rohn 25G, 45G and other tower verticals.
2. Aluminum irrigation tubing. 3" to 5" o/d., 30 foot lengths. Nine (9) sections required. The 9th piece is cut to 3' lengths and slotted to make a splice for two 30' pieces. Average is 64 feet for resonance at 3.650, preferred by contest and DX stations to cover 3.5-3.8MHz without retuning the array from CW to SSB (DX window) operation.
3. Wire elements supported from ropes tied to tops of towers. Pulling feedpoints to specified distances is very important. The "inward sloping" is permissible, i.e., "slanted Inverted L's" supported by a central tower. The vertical leg should be two-thirds (67%) of the total length.
4. Modified Hy-Gain Hy-Towers. All other band stubs removed and aluminum "stinger" extended for a total height of about 75 feet self supporting.
5. 5. Home-brew short top-loaded verticals for 80 and 160 meters. See Comtek diagram. The recommended vertical leg is two thirds (67%) of the overall length.
6. 6. Shortened commercial verticals with narrow bandwidths include, but are not limited to Butternut HF-2V, Force 12, Hy-Gain and MFJ-1792.

DX Engineering is a complete source for antenna information and products. Items include vertical antennas, aluminum tubing, radial kits and plates, baluns, copper strap, etc. - everything you need for a complete installation. See www.dxengineering.com

Additional References:

Antennas and Techniques for Low-Band DX'ing, John Devoldere, ON4UN, ARRL
The Amateur Radio Vertical Antenna Handbook, Capt. Paul H. Lee, N6PL (SK)
All about Vertical Antennas, William I. Orr, W6SAI & Stuart D. Cowan, W2LX
DX'ing On The Edge, Jeff Briggs, K1ZM, ARRL