# asymmetric shortened dipole

It seems a resonant dipole can be shortened by either loading coils near the center feed point or capacitive "hats" at the ends (and still be resonant).

Say I run out of linear physical distance for a full-sized wire dipole by X.

What would be the difference (radiation pattern, radiation resistance, efficiency, SWR, etc.) if I use one of the above additions (loading coil or cap hat) to asymmetrically shorten only one side of the dipole by X, instead of symmetrically shortening both sides, each by X/2? Or how about one side short by X/3, the other by 2/3rds X?

(in all cases, "tweaking" the L or C additions to the shortened partition to optimize for the desired resonant frequency).

I the case of a vertical dipole, would it make a difference whether the upper half, or half closer to the ground was shortened? (in the extreme, replacing the bottom element with a large enough cap hat seems to be approaching being equivalent to a vertical over a ground plane).

• It can also be shorted physically, by zig-zagging the wires. – Mike Waters Jan 4 '19 at 22:58