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[TowerTalk] re: rhombics

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Subject: [TowerTalk] re: rhombics
From: LOMAX1@prodigy.net (frank ayers jr)
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 19:23:43 -0400
With the talk of rhombics I figured I'd try this question here.
I'm looking for a fairly sharp high gain antenna for 6 meters mainly for F2
and Es.
A few issues ago, there was an article in NCJ about a guy who couldn't put
up a tower due to deed restrictions or the like. So, he made up a 10 meter
beam which had the elements supported by two ropes on each side of center
and strung the sucker up between two trees. Now, I have towers but let's
face it - swinging a 50 foot boom is a pain with the stress on the tower,
the size rotor, etc. So, my thought is to scale a 2 or 222 K1FO design for
6 meters and try the rope trick with one aimed at Europe and another at SA.
I posted this on a VHF reflector and some suggested I consider a rhombic. I
hear great stories about rhombics with really high gain figures quoted.
I could go 6 to 8 wavelengths per leg with a rhombic. The most I could see
on the rope beam is about 16 dbd before construction got hairy and started
needing center supports.
It seems that the beam idea has advantages of proven design and easy
matching and/or feeding. The downside is that it's a great ice and wind
catcher and requires a sturdy far end support.
The rhombic is easier and cheaper to put up and support, doesn't look as
wierd (as if my neighbors with the cattle or the ones with the llamas
really care) but has a funky matching impeadance and needs the ever popular
pure resistive terminating resistor.
Any ideas? anybody ever do this on 6 or maybe 10 and any good rhombic web
sites I can check?
I'm sorta hoping to do something with this in a month or so.

Thanks
Frank
W2FCA

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