[TowerTalk] Converting 3 el to 2el

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Hi John,

Trimming the boom and making it a 2-el should work, but you may need to play with element spacing and lengths for better optimization.

But don't give up on a new antenna just yet.  I bought a Force12 C-3SS several years ago (I live on a small surburban lot) and it's amazing for it's size.  6 elements on a 12-foot boom with a 13.6' turning radius (it uses linear loaded 20m elements to reduce the size - full size 10m and 15m elements).  Though it may be a 2-el design per band, the lack of traps increases efficiency - the C-3SS replaced a Cushcraft A3S and works just as well (if not better).  Biggest problem is getting one...it was F12's best selling product, so you may need to order one and wait.  F12 just switched hands, so it might take a few weeks before manufacturing catches up as they're moving from CA to TX.

Anyways, give it a once over.  http://www.force12inc.com/.

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:48 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Converting 3 el to 2el

Here is a question I should know the answer for, but
just can't some up with it right now.  Must be brain
fried from grading papers and getting final grades
ready.

My current HF antenna was damaged in a storm last
week, and repair efforts haven't lead to pre-storm
performance, so I am looking for a replacement.  I
really only have room for a 2 element tribander, if I
go that route.  However, these are kind of rare to
find, and 3 element ones seem much more available. 
What would happen performancewise if I took a 3
element and just cut off the boom and director in
front of the driven element, making it a 2 element
tribander?  Will this work?  Would performance be down
relative to a 2 element tribander?

73s John AA5JG