[TowerTalk] Re: Beam Headings

[Al Williams]

An interesting observation!  As the originator (this time) of this thread I
am surprised of so many responses.  Readers may be interested in my reason
for initiating this question.  I have a 500' horizontal V at about 100'
sloping to 50' at the far ends.  This antenna is hard to rotate as it means
moving the ends from one tree to another all the time trying to maintain the
apex angle optimized. Eznec reports that the gain at 28mhz of this antenna
falls from +20.07 dbi to + 14.02 dbi at 5 deg off center on each side and
falls to -22.06 dbi at 15 deg off center.

k7puc

-----Original Message-----
From: Wes Attaway <wes@attawayinterests.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 8:37 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Re: Beam Headings


>
>Call me a simpleton if you want to, but I think the recent thread on "lat,
>long, beam headings, etc" begs the question: Why worry about exact
headings?
>I offer the following thoughts:
>
>1.  Most HF beams have 3-db beamwidths of somewhere between 30 and 60
>degrees (this is admittedly a wide range, intended to cover big, long yagis
>and the worst of the small ones);
>2.  There is usually some degree of "play" as the beam rocks back and forth
>in the wind; depending on how old and loose the installation is, this
"play"
>can amount to several more degrees, plus and minus the intended heading;
>3.  Most rotor direction indicating schemes are not perfectly accurate all
>the way around, and tend to become less accurate over time;
>4.  Many DX paths for "best signal" (particularly on long path routes) turn
>out to be dramatically different from what you would expect from looking at
>a chart;  you find the best signal, if necessary, by moving your beam back
>and forth; you do not use a chart and just point the beam where the book
>tells you to and then sit there and call;
>5.  Finally, after about 45-years of DXing with all sorts of beams (the
last
>20 with two big Telrex yagis) I have yet to find a single situation where
>knowing the precise heading of the DX, and the precise direction my beam
was
>pointing, had any bearing on my ability to work the DX.  I use essentially
4
>directions ..... approximately SE, NE, NW, and SW.  Sometimes I use E, N,
>and W (I don't remember ever pointing my beam due South).  That's it.  Of
>course, depending on where you are your basic directions will be different.
>I've turned my beam a lot during QSOs and just listening over the years and
>can truly say that fussing with exact headings is just not worth the
effort.
>
>What this really boils down to is that I really don't think there is much
>need in calibrating your rotor and beam headings more precisely than to
just
>use practical methods.  If you live in an urban area with streets laid out
>on an E-W/N-S grid, use the street to line you up.  Or, use a compass
>(remember those things?) and add or subtract the proper deviation.
>
>Spend less time worrying and calibrating and more time operating!
>
>--------- Wes Attaway (N5WA) ----------
>2048 Pepper Ridge, Shreveport, LA 71115
>----------- (318) 797-3012 ------------
>
>
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>


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