Topband: RDF for Transmit 4 Square vs 8 Circle Array

[daraymond at iowatelecom.net]

I've had a full size four square on 160 for about 15 years.  I still always 
put up Beverages.  They heard well but usually did not out perform the TX 
array.  That said, they hear "differently" as one might expect.  Several 
years ago I put up a Hi-Z 8 circle array optimized for 160.  That was the 
end of the Beverages as they did not perform as well (they were only about 
600' although I did have an end-fire Bev array but the 8 circle still out 
performed it).  That said, having had the 8 circle array for six of seven 
years, it only "out hears" the four square maybe 20% of the time.  That 
said, it is helpful to have it in diversity with the TX array.  Having 
really high RDF RX antennas is not that significant of a benefit here as I 
have low noise levels (although they continue to creep up with distant new 
housing, various digital junk, etc.).

YMMV. . .73. . .Dave, W0FLS

-----Original Message----- 
From: Chuck Dietz
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2017 1:26 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband: RDF for Transmit 4 Square vs 8 Circle Array

I was always told that, if one had a 4 square, there would be no need for a
receive array. I am finding this to be untrue when looking at the list of
RDFs. (Receive Directivity Factor) I have snooped through the archives
reading about RDF.
Can anyone verify this from actual experience?  Can you actually hear stuff
on an 8 Circle that can't be heard on the transmit 4 square? I would think
the difference might be more than marginal with the difference in RDFs of
2.48 db.  I'm not sure of the difference in takeoff angles. That could be
important too.
As a practical matter, the 8 Circle  is huge and expensive for a single
band antenna...

Chuck W5PR
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