Currently I'm testing a beacon on 2m USB.
I know SSB is generally used on a horizontal antenna,
but is a vertical antenna (Hustler SF-2) useable for USB?
Or am I wasting my time?
thanks
73
You can use any polarization on any mode.
As you suspect, the 5/8 wave vertical is a short range antenna and you
won't get much distance using it, unless you're on a mountaintop or
the antenna is atop a TALL tower.
Also, the antenna may be cut for the higher end of the band -- around
146 MHz. If your beacon is operating in the SSB portion of the band
-- down close to 144 MHz, the SWR will be high but should not be a
problem.
A 5/8 wave vertical has a decent DX takeoff angle. No gain, but most of
the energy is in a single lobe.