The useful model: Antenna polarization describes the orientation and time behavior of the electric field in the direction of propagation—linear, circular, or elliptical.
What controls the result
It depends on observation direction and complete current geometry. Ground reflection, Faraday rotation, multipath, and antenna tilt can change the polarization reaching the receiver.
The misleading shortcut
Calling every vertical conductor “vertically polarized” ignores bent wires, loops, slopers, high-angle radiation, and direction-dependent components.
Make the better decision
Use the exact 3D field or documented principal polarization, align antennas when line-of-sight loss matters, and allow for path rotation and mixed polarization on HF.
Evidence boundary
Propagation and antenna metrics are meaningful only with their frequency, path, geometry, reference plane, loss assumptions, and measurement method. Use current observations and the exact installed system.
