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Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna?

To: Bill Eisinger <Bill@theeisingers.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna?
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV via TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Reply-to: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <lists@subich.com>
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:13:39 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

The 25 year old K7LXC/N0AX data showed that even a *small*
interlaced tribander of that era (the Force 12 C3) significantly
outperformed both the TA33 and a 2 element Quad (Gem Quad).

A modern *small* multi-band antenna like the JK Navassa or XR5-JK,
the Innovantennas XR5 or XR6, Monobeam Penta 10 cover five bands
in the same boom length and general size as the old small trapped
tri-band antennas while providing performance somewhat better than
the 25 year old C3.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2026-03-31 11:12 AM, Bill Eisinger wrote:
Given the advances in computer modeling technology over the years I don't 
understand how anyone could believe that a trapped antenna based on a 40 year 
old design (such as the Mosley) could possibly perform better than current 
interlaced element designs...JK, Optibeam, Skyhawk,  etc. Small trapped 
tri-banders certainly have their place...size, weight, etc., but will they win 
the performance wars...not likely.


________________________________
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of Joe Subich, W4TV via 
TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 7:57 AM
To: dj7ww@t-online.de <dj7ww@t-online.de>
Cc: contesting, towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna?


On 2026-03-31 3:36 AM, dj7ww@t-online.de wrote:

  > But I doubt that dipoles work as well as the TA36.

The range tests by K7LXC and N0AX some 15 years after I
got rid of the TA36 proved my "feeling" correct.  Mosley's
"large tribander" (Pro 77) showed negative gain compared
to a dipole on 10 meters and the phone portion of 20 meters.
In the second report, the Pro 57B showed negative gain
(average) on both 10 and 15 meters.

In both cases, those results were between 4 and 6 dB
inferior to all other antennas in the large tribander class
(Skyhawk, C31XR, TH6/7, TH11, KT34-XA, X9).

Considering that the K7LXC/N0AX tests were performed by
directly comparing the tribanders with a dipole at the
same height, I will stand by their results and my own
anecdotal observations over "receive only" observations
that have no basis for comparison.

73,

     ... Joe, W4TV

On 2026-03-31 3:36 AM, dj7ww@t-online.de wrote:
I would not look back to a three element trap yagi either after installing 5 
element Hygain monobanders.
But I doubt that dipoles work as well as the TA36.

73
Peter


-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna?
Datum: 2026-03-31T01:46:08+0200
Von: "Joe Subich, W4TV via TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
An: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>


On 2026-03-30 7:18 PM, Peter Voelpel via TowerTalk wrote:
Then how comes that they are always providing same or better signal
strength then other tribanders?
They are not, as proven by proper range testing.

My first tribander (50 years ago next year) was a Mosley TA36 ... I
quickly replaced it with a set of Hy-Gain antennas (204BA, 155BA,
105BA) and never looked back.  Comparatively, the Mosley was a lead
(HEAVY) dummy load and a set of dipoles performed as well.

73,

      ... Joe, W4TV


On 2026-03-30 7:18 PM, Peter Voelpel via TowerTalk wrote:
Then how comes that they are always providing same or better signal strength
then other tribanders?

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim
Brown via TowerTalk
Sent: Dienstag, 31. März 2026 00:41
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] New antenna?

On 3/30/2026 3:16 PM, Gary Smith wrote:
Suggest you get catalog from Mosley and consider one of their monobanders
if you don’t want traps.

Monobanders are a great idea IF you have the real estate to rig them.
Moseley's big tribander came in dead last in the testing that N0AX and
K7LXC did in 1999. It even had negative gain (dBd -- with respect to a
dipole) on 15 and 10M, only 0.7 dB on 20M.

73, Jim K9YC




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