[CQ-Contest] A3S or TH3JR or....a QUAD!

[steve.root at culligan4water.com]

Having used Quads for the last several decades I have to admit that I'm enjoying the direction this thread has taken. Sometime I feel like the last guy on Earth using a Quad.....
Regarding element dimensions, the antenna described in recent ARRL Antenna handbooks ("A Two-Element, 8 foot boom Pentaband Quad" page 12-8 ARRL Antenna Handbook 19th edition) works very well. I helped K0XN construct a two element Quad and then we spent a lot of time tuning it. When ARRL version was first published, I found to my surprise that their computer generated dimensions were within 1% of the dimensions that we had dervied experimentally. I'm currently using the same antenna at 55 feet and have been very happy with it's performance. One note of caution here....the published dimensions are for bare wire. If you use insulated wire (to protect against polutants, salt, etc.) be aware that insulated wire has a slower velocity factor than bare wire. The effect is on the order of 2%.
73 Steve K0SR




>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Pruett [mailto:k8cc at comcast.net]
>Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 11:37 PM
>Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A3S or TH3JR or....a QUAD!
>
>K9TM and I used a GemQuad kit for the 20-15-10 antenna at the little 
>station we've assembled down on St. Croix, and we have been very pleased 
>with it's performance. However, we found through computer modeling that 
>GemQuad's element lengths are not correct. We modified GemQuad's 
>lengths in K6STI's NEC-for-Wires program to get the F/B and SWR centered 
>on the band, then we built the quad with those lengths and the SWR curve 
>is very, very close to the model prediction. The antenna has been up 
>now for almost two years and has produced two world top 10s in the 
>multi-single category of WPX SSB and the #2 SOHP score in SS phone. Not 
>bad for an antenna with an 8' boom.
>
>The GemQuad hardware (spreaders and mounting spiders) appear substantial 
>and of good quality. Like any quad, wire flexing at the corners had to 
>be addressed, but so far we've been very happy with the antenna.
>
>Dave/K8CC
>
>
>Dan Violette wrote:
>> Looks like GemQuad is still available out of Canada:
>> http://www.gemquad.com/ 
>> Boomless Quad and an excellent performer, I used for many years in the 80's.
>> Each band more optimally spaced in this arrangement.
>>
>> Dan KI6X
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
>> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of N7MAL
>> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 3:54 PM
>> To: Dale Putnam; kr2q at optonline.net; cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A3S or TH3JR or....a QUAD!
>>
>> Dale have you looked at Cubex.?.?.?. Since lightening bolt went out of
>> business Cubex is the only mfr left...
>> again my -2cents worth
>> 73
>>
>>
>> MAL
>> N7MAL
>> BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
>> http://www.n7mal.com
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: Dale Putnam
>> To: kr2q at optonline.net ; cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 13:37
>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A3S or TH3JR or....a QUAD!
>>
>>
>>
>> Now you're talking... the best 20-10 mtr antenna had here has been a 2 el.
>>
>> Hy-gain 244 quad,
>> have been looking for another for a long time... since the tower came down
>>
>> after a guy line failure, in near 100 mph wind. Have new tower, need 244 for
>>
>> top. The quad out performed the three ele yagi, almost every time, only 
>> exception is when working close in. and not backscatter.
>> That was better with the quad.
>> --... ...--Dale - WC7S in Wy
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>
>
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