Now that we are sharing on-the-air comparisons, here's mine from my last QTH
on a WV mountainside:
Antennas:
40 and 30 meter - two element yagi at 80ft (24M)
20 thru 10 meters - 3 elements at 73' (~22M)
160 and 80 meters - Inverted Vee at 70' (~21 meters), 80 meters vertical
about 80' away from Inverted Vee, 160 meter 60' top loaded vertical away
from everything else
Multiple band 40 thru 10 meter vertical with 32 radials about 45' from the
tower (SteppIR BigIR)
Beverage receive antenna
Results:
In all cases on all bands the beams beat the multi-band vertical for DX.
The vertical came pretty close to parity to the beam on far out DX on 40
meters.
In all cased the verticals beat the inverted Vee on 160 and 80 for DX.
Sometimes the 20 thru 10 meter beam heard better than the beverages on 80
meters. Never did figure that one out. Not so on 160.
What's important - get an antenna up and get on the air. Worry about the
rest later.
73... Bill ND9E
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Peter Voelpel
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 7:20 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Vertical vs Beam
I used a half wave vertical on 40m above 130 radials 15-30m long.
This vertical was tested for half a year against a straight dipol at 30m.
There was not any path where the vertical came near the performance of the
dipol.
In addition reception was worse on the vertical , lot of frontend overload
from the east while working Japan.
To Japan the dipol was endfire, but the dipol still 3-6db better.
Broadside to the US and SA the dipol was 6-10db better then the dipol.
I think the vertical was too low above ground, just 30cm, which probably
caused too much absorbtion.
Now I use a 4-square on 40m which performs very well, my dipol at 30m seems
to have the same gain (same signal to the US) but hears far better of
course.
On 80m and 160m I have different experience with verticals.
The vertical on 80m actually is the one I used on 40m and performs better
then my dipol at 30m most of the time when the path length extends about
7000km.
To the Eastcost the dipol is 90% the better antenna, also during grayline
Westcoast traffic.
During greyline conditions it is stronger to the Eastcoast then the 4-square
of PA0GMW.
On 160m I use my tower fed at at the 15m level against to 5/8 long elevated
radials.
Here the vertical is the better antenna starting at 800-1000km distance.
This vertical is the best antenna I ever used on 160m and it is an
exceptional receiving antenna.
It consistently hears better then my one lambda beverage to the US.
73
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of N7mal
Sent: Montag, 6. April 2009 01:56
To: John Geiger; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Vertical vs Beam
I have been following this thread with great interest. I'm curious how many
of the guys who have responded have ever built and/or used a 1/2 wave
vertical,,, other than me.....
One guy said:""1/2 wave vertical won't show any gain over a quarter wave
vertical unless it has a much larger radial system"".... First of all a 1/2
wave vertical is a voltage fed antenna therefore it doesn't want/need or
like a radial system. The current portion is 1/4 wave above the feedpoint.
Because the 1/2 wave vertical is a
1/2 wavelength it will automatically have gain over a 1/4 wave vertical.
There were several comments about the """"horrible/terrible"""" noise a
vertical hears and they are useless for receiving. Those guys obviously
weren't following my DXing activities this winter 75 meter DX season. 95% of
the time my 1/4 vert outheard my 1/2 wave dipole, at 1/4 wave high. The only
time the dipole heard better was when there was exclusively high angle
propagation. The only guys, out west, who regularly beat me were the guys
with multiple element yagi antennas and much much much higher power than my
100w.
To 'sort-of' answer AA5JG's original question I will go heads up against any
2 ele 40 meter yagi against a 40 meter 1/2 vertical at the 100w power level.
It has been my '''on-the-air''' experience the 1/2 wave vertical will beat
the 2 el yagi 90% of the time, working DX. John if you have extra money
laying around there is a very good performing loaded 1/2 wave vertical
antenna made by hy-gain. I used one for a couple of years, before it took a
direct lightening hit. It was mounted 12 feet above the ground. You will
work a lot of DX with it. You won't be the first guy through a DX pileup but
you will be a long, long, way from the last guy using that antenna.
73
MAL
N7MAL
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
http://www.n7mal.com
Everyone in the world is
entitled to be burdened
by my opinion
----- Original Message -----
From: John Geiger
To: towertalk@contesting.com ; dx-is@yahoogroups.com ; okdxa@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 5:39
Subject: [TowerTalk] Vertical vs Beam
I have a question for the group about experiences with different antennas:
I was looking at a recent issue of CQ at the local bookstore tonight (it
wasn't the April issue) and in a column dealing with semi stealth antennas,
they mentioned that a 3/8 or 1/2 vertical will show comparable performance
to a 2 element yagi. Is this true? Will such a vertical really do as good
as a 2 element beam?
Also, how would a roof mounted 1/4 wave vertical compare to a 2 element
tribander at a low height-like 25 feet or so?
73s John AA5JG
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|