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[TowerTalk] 40-m. 4-Square vs. 40-m. Yagi - Update

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] 40-m. 4-Square vs. 40-m. Yagi - Update
From: RLVZ@aol.com
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 01:24:08 EST
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Guys,

Thank You for the quick replies that stated the "Shorty-Forty should be doing 
much better".  That's what I originally thought too or I wouldn't have put up 
the antenna.

Some asked "what type of Shorty-Forty"?  It's a new Cushcraft XM-240 that was 
cut for Mid-Band.  The resonant frequency turned out to be 20khz higher than 
the chart.  (1.2 to 1 SWR).
Tomorrow I will take a look at the Shorty-Forty with a AIM 4170 antenna 
analyzer.

Since several people indicated that the Forty-Shorty should be working much 
better than it is I need to back track and clarify the ground system of the 1/4 
wave vertical.  I didn't tell the whole story about the 1/4 wave vertical: 
it's mounted 30' out in a saltwater river that has a pretty clear saltwater 
path 
to Europe, Africa, and South America.  (I'm about 2 miles from the Atlantic 
Ocean and there are numerous small barrier Islands in between... but it's 
mostly saltwater river)  The reason I listed "average ground conductivity and a 
reasonable radial system" is because the vertical has no radials and just a 
single corroded ground strap going down into the salt water... and I've been 
told 
that isn't sufficient to connect to the saltwater.

Perhaps the vertical is making better connection with the saltwater than 
expected?  If so, would that be the reason the simple 1/4 wave vertical with no 
radials is equal in performance to the Shorty-Forty at 90' on DX qso's... or do 
you still think I have a problem with the Shorty-Forty?  

One more thing, to the West where the vertical does not have a saltwater 
path, the Shorty-Forty is 10-15db better.  But since the vertical has no 
radials 
and no saltwater to the West I'd expect at least that much difference.

73,
Dick- K9OM


In a message dated 12/31/08 11:13:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, RLVZ@aol.com 
writes:

> I'm not impressed with the performance of a 2-el. Forty-Shorty at 90' on DX 
> 
> qso's.  While it's great for 1,000 mi. or less... my single 1/4 wave 
> vertical 
> is just as good on the average DX contact.  (since the Shorty-Forty at 90' 
> doesn't have any gain at low radiation angles... I guessed I should have 
> expected 
> as much)   
> 
> Question: Considering flat terrain, average ground conductivity, and a 
> reasonable radial system: do you predict that a 40-m. 4-Square would 
> outperform the 
> 90' Shorty-Forty by 3-5dB on the average DX qso?
> 
> 73.
> Dick- K9OM
> 




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