[TowerTalk] Antenna Models

[KI7WX@aol.com]

Seems this whole issue would be moot if the manufactures would simply make 
their models and/or .yag type files available via web page, FTP server or 
other means.  Each of the big manufacturers has a presence on the web so this 
is a simple addition.  Hy-Gain already put up the .yag files for their 
popular antennas.  It's a good model to follow I think. FWIW, when asked, 
both F12 and M2 have been very responsive to requests for information about 
thier antennas so this isn't a complaint, merely a suggestion which should 
make a lot of people happy.

Practically speaking there are several advantages to providing yagi info in 
an accessible format: (1) It cuts down on people like me bugging you for 
information.  Let me download it and play to my hearts content.  I'd even pay 
a couple bucks for a disk if necessary to get the info. (2) Just about 
everyone is modelling thier current or proposed arrays for electrical 
performance.  Although the utility of these data may vary, I personally 
wouldn't consider an antenna where I couldn't at least look at it on the 
computer first. (2.1) If the manufacturer supplies the data file it is more 
likely to be 100% correct and will allow for people to do apples vs apples 
comparisions. Folks are going to do it anyway so facillitating a better model 
makes sense (to me). (3) Physically planning a stacked antenna install 
requires that you know several parameters for each antenna - rotating beams 
down the tower is simple, but needs to be carefully planned. All that info is 
in the .yag type file.

As for copying designs and copyrights, patents et al.  I would hope F12 could 
care less about a C31XR model being posted to TT.  Perhaps looking at it and 
fixing it if needed to keep folks from drawing wrong conclusions. Tom has a 
nice US patent covering some of his feed point ideas and can choose to try 
and enforce that and other IP as he chooses. We know Natan and Tom read TT 
and they didn't say anything so why are we beating up the poor guy that tried 
to do a kindness and save some of his amateur collegues a bit of effort?

Best regards,

Mark
KI7WX/4

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