OK -- I will have to widen my research to include both the sky wire loop
and the delta loop - and they are clearly different animals with different
feeding and grazing behaviors.
Great fun.
Thanks for the feed back.
My Antenna Conundrum = I have been researching low band antennas,
including towers, verticals, and wire antenna designs. My conundrum is
there is no reliable source of information comparing the efficiency and
effectiveness of the different antenna designs with each others. The
reviews in QST say whether or not the antenna is a good one, but rarely
compare it with the performance of anything other than the proverbial
hypothetical dipole in free space. Looking on eHam.net is not
particularly useful or reliable, as the typical ham typically recommends
whatever he has used, and has limited experience in using several
different types of antennas (like one recommending boxers or briefs
depending on what HE likes to wear), and says he "can work whomever he
hears" - but when no one can tell whether he is hearing all who might be
heard on a better antenna...
Some people suggest an inverted L design, others recommend a horizontal
sky loop, others recommend a vertical Delta loop, still others suggest a
40 ft aluminum mono pole like what DX Engineering and Force-12 sell,
while others say I need a HyGain Hy-Tower, and yet others suggest I put
up a 50 or 60 foot tower, and hang long dipoles or loops off it, or
suggest I load up the tower, itself, as a low band antenna. Some guys
tell me to give up at my location. Thus, I don't know how to evaluate
and compare all these different ideas in order to select what might work
best at my location.
And, I understand it is difficult to select a single design for all
locations, and understand all the variables that arise in different
locations -- which, of course, makes it all the more difficult. Also,
there is a paucity of good antenna holding trees at my location, so I
will must install some sort of mast or pole to sufficiently elevate any
antenna off the ground. Otherwise, I may be compelled to install a 45
foot aluminum pole, and tune it for the low bands - but, again, my
original conundrum remains: how do I compare its efficiency with some
other design, perhaps a sky or delta loop, which might perform better,
perhaps for much less expense.
I am fortunate in that I saved up for this over the past 30 years while
working. So, money is not an object, other than I don't like spending
more money that is necessary to accomplish the task, but I don't mind
spending real money to get real results. I just don't know how to
select from all the alternatives.
To compound my conundrum, most hams I talk to locally, and even many
store salesmen, tend to suggest some cheap, inexpensive shortcut
solution that will, purportedly, save me a lot of money. But, again,
I am looking for good results, not to just save money, and although I
don't want to over spend money on a commercial solution if a home brew,
inexpensive method works better, I am not averse to spending a penny to
get it right. Yet, most advice is about how I can save a bunch of
money - not on what might work best at my location.
The more I research, the more overwhelmed I become. I need a reliable
methodology for selecting among all the alternatives.
Consequently, I have no idea what I I can install this summer and use
this winter after the snow falls. But time is wasting away, and I
worry I will not be find a solution in time to get it installed and
operational.
And I figure I cannot be the only guy facing this dilemma....
What is a mother to do?
Anyway, thanks for considering my plight. Any ideas are welcome on or
off list. I do not wish to overstay my welcome. I know this reflector
is about towers, but I fear if I install a big tower, it will hold a a
beam for 20 m and up, and I will still have the same conundrum as to
what to do on the low bands. What do guys with towers and small
backyards do to play on the low bands?
Thanks loads and happy trails to all.
=================== Richards - K8JHR ====================
/// Richards ///
===================================================
Bill Stacy wrote:
>
> The ARRL Antenna Book does NOT discuss delta loops. There is, however, a
> good discussion in ON4UN's Low Band DXing book.
>
> The delta is hard to beat for DX, especially when one considers its
> relatively low cost.
===================================================
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