[TowerTalk] Passive Repeater Antenna

[WA3GIN]

Looking for comments from those that have used passive repeater antenna systems. Our local repeater has excellent coverage in the DC/NOVA area but the area is rimmed by ridges to the west which shadow large areas of NOVA.  We thought we'd take a page from the cellular folks and install a passive repeater antenna at the ridge with 5 ele pointed back at the repeater antenna and a 2 or 4 element beam pointing toward the weak reception area.  

We're looking for recommendations as to the gain of the antenna pointing to the weak signal area.  Our thinking is low gain fat pattern rather than higher gain and less coverage.

73,
dave
wa3gin
W4AVA Repeater 146.625 -  PL107.2 420ft ASL