[RTTY] RTTY Contesting and Verticals

[John Barber GW4SKA]

Given a choice between stacked TH7s and my verticals, maybe the beams would 
win!

In the real world of many contesters, especially beginners, not many will 
have the space or the cash for big towers and beams. Verticals offer an 
alternative and cost next to nothing to build. The only commercial antenna 
that I have ever bought was a multi-band trapped vertical; very expensive 
with an 80M add-on. The first time I showed it some power the traps burnt 
out! It taught me to stick with single band quarter waves which will stand 
the abuse.

It's surprising that nobody has mentioned the different requirements of 
antenna systems for contesting or DXing. Stacked monobanders would be great 
for beating the dx station pile-up; contesting is a different game. Big gain 
comes at the expense of coverage. That's why it is a little unfair to 
compare the performance of a beam, in one direction, with an omnidirectional 
antenna. Yes, I know that's how gain is measured and quoted, but it's not 
the whole story.

Cheers,

John GW4SKA.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry" <w2up3 at verizon.net>
To: "RTTY List" <rtty at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: [RTTY] RTTY Contesting and Verticals


> When I first set up my SO2R station, I had a pair of TH7s stacked.  To
> minimize potential interactions, I put up a ground-mounted Hygain
> vertical about 200 ft from the tower.  A dummy load worked better!
>
> I remember calling a KP4 on 15m and I got beat out by everyone, and I
> was running high power.  I couldn't get through until nobody else was
> calling.  Sooo, I put a third TH7 on the tower at 25 feet (yes, 25 feet)
> fed separately from the stack.  I did A/B comparisons vs. the vertical,
> and the average difference was 6 S-units.  After that experience, I
> swore off (and at) verticals for the high bands.
>
> 73,
> Barry W2UP
>
> Gedking at aol.com wrote:
>> Stick that 2 el 40 at 120 ft and someplace in the world will always be 
>> open.
>> " quote Jamie N8TT"
>> ED K8OT
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 3/27/2009 12:06:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> ws7i at ewarg.org writes:
>>
>> Just  thought I would add some comments on Verticals.  I have used 
>> butternuts
>>  for some time in various configurations.  I started with it roof mounted
>> using the kit from butternut with about 10 additional radials.
>>
>> That  worked the best BTW.
>>
>> Later I ground mounted it and had rather  extensive radials as I 
>> installed
>> them prior to putting in a lawn.  I then  tried phasing two of the 
>> butternuts
>> but that never worked as well as a  2-element old Hygain yagi at 40 feet 
>> on 40
>> meters.
>>
>> The best butternut I  have ever used was at Hal Blegens back in our eary
>> contest days. It was  mounted on top of his tower at just over 100 feet. 
>> Hard to
>> believe some  of the stuff we did to try and get a single tower M/S 
>> station
>> going.
>>
>> That was one band opening and closing antenna and it worked on  all bands
>> 10-80 quite well.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
> -- 
>
> Barry Kutner, W2UP             Newtown, PA
>
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