[TowerTalk] 80 meter antenna comparison

[Tonno Vahk]

I have right now on 80 meters 3 element coil loaded Optibeam Yagi at 36m
height on rotating tower and also full size 4 Square with 64 ground mounted
1/4wl radials per each tube vertical using Comtek hybrid coupler.

I was very interested myself about how they compare. The yagi has been up
now for ca 3 months. 

I would say most of the time yagi is the winner by ca 3db for DX stations on
average and more to EU (up to 2 S units) where the radiation angle is
higher. Still the difference is not as big as I was maybe hoping/expecting.
For some DX there is no difference. Of course it depends a lot on radiation
angle. I would think the 4 Square outperforms yagi at some lower angles
maybe. I wish I could have the yagi a bit higher.

Then again all this matches the models very well as modelling suggests that
well built 4Square over average ground has just about the same gain and
pattern as 2 element yagi at 1/2wl. This seems to be very true.

Another thing I see is the different QSB on two antennas. This is very
exiting and amazing. I can listen to the DX station and as the signal
incoming angle changes at one moment yagi is 2 S units better and at next
moment 4Square is 1 S unit better!!

As a conclusion I say that I would prefer 4Square to 2 element yagi for sure
as it is just SO VALUABLE to be able to switch the directions instantly and
the cost is also much lower if you have space! Then again having two
antennas is always the best option!:)

73
tonno
es5tv

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dan Hearn
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:53 AM
To: n8de at thepoint.net; VE6WZ_Steve
Cc: 'StellarCAT'; 'tower'
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 80 meter antenna comparison

It is 105 ft. See Photos and the one of the tower base. 73, Dan, N5AR

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of n8de at thepoint.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 4:21 PM
To: VE6WZ_Steve
Cc: 'StellarCAT'; 'tower'
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 80 meter antenna comparison


Steve,
Nowhere on your website can I find the MOST important detail of your 80m
yagi:

HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND.

Don
N8DE

Quoting VE6WZ_Steve <ve6wz at shaw.ca>:

> Hi Gary:
>
> For two years I ran the Force 12 EF-180B rotatable dipole at about 100'
>
> I switched out to my homebrew 2-el coil loaded Yagi in 2002 and it has
> been an outstanding DX performer.  A direct answer to your question is
> that there was a significant and very noticeable improvement in worked
> DX on 80m compared to the dipole.
>
> Not that working DX is final proof of good performance, but each of the
> past 6 winter seasons (from Sept. to March) starting from zero, DXCC has
> been worked on 80m. DXCC was worked this year in less than 2 months. I'm
> not sure that would be easily do-able with just the dipole from this
> northerly location.
>
> Notes on my Yagi can been found here: http://www.qsl.net/ve6wz/intro.htm
>
> I would say...go for the Yagi...it might open up a whole new world of
> DX.
>
> De steve ve6wz.
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
>> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of StellarCAT
>> Sent: January 29, 2008 1:58 PM
>> To: tower
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] 80 meter antenna comparison
>>
>> Anyone do a comparison either sequentially (owned one and then
>> the other) or ideally simultaneously
>> of a well placed 80 meter dipole vs. a 2el long(er) boom Hi-Q
>> coil beam?
>>
>> I currently have a F12 Sigma180Magnum. It's mounted at 136'. It
>> performs very well.... I have been
>> wondering if I would see/hear any real differences between it
>> and a 2el at the same height.
>>
>> I'm of course aware of the paper difference - but would like to
>> hear from anyone that has played with
>> both under similar circumstances (same location would be
>> nice)... and what they think about one vs.
>> the other.
>>
>> Same thing applies to a well built 4 sq vs. a 2 el beam.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any info.
>>
>> Gary
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
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> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.15/1249 - Release Date:
> 29/01/2008 9:51 AM
>
>
>



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