[CQ-Contest] Using Multiple Antennas in a Contest

[Chuck]

I would like to chime in here.  I use multiple antennas in contests.  (I can 
think of no other use for this.)  This is not about stacked, phased 
antennas, but antennas in different directions fed at the same time.  It has 
nothing to do with QRMing a direction you are not working.  I set up each 
band so I can feed one or all the antennas at the same time.  At the shack I 
have a homebrew aluminum box I bring all the feed lines for 10 meters into 
with relays to select any of them.  I have a simple relay "logic" circuit 
that switches a linear coax matching line in to match the impedance any time 
2 or 3 of the feed lines are selected. (I only have 3 feed lines, some 
antennas are selected and matched on the towers.)  By cutting the 
transformer lengths to match about 20 ohms to 50 ohms, 1/2 way between the 
combined impedance of 2 and 3 antennas fed together (25 ohms and 17 ohms) I 
have a good match for any combination.  In a contest I configure the 
antennas toward the desired areas where propagation is open, feed multiple 
antennas if needed and work stations. If one is weak, I drop out antennas 
until I find the "right" one.  If there is noise on one antenna, I 
frequently drop it out to make sure it is not masking weak signals on other 
antennas. In this way, you can make rapid-fire QSO in different directions 
in contests.

Chuck W5PR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "rob beaudoin" <wa1fcn at charter.net>
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 3:40 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Pleasant change


> Hi Guys
>
> Ok please excuse my last post, I really messed that one up.  What I really 
> would like to
> see is information on sending output from one rig to multiple antennas at 
> the same time.
> I am experimenting with this now. The rest of my post on "all the talk of 
> cheating/bending
> the rules/ect/ect " and feeling  I do not need to know all this holds.
> 73 Bob WA1FCN
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