[TowerTalk] Vertical vs Beam

[Roger (K8RI)]

It seems like most every one is thinking along the same 
lines...IE...Gain when often, and particularly so on the lower bands, 
front to back and front to side may be as, or even more important than gain.

I strongly disagree with the premise that the dipole/2L yagi is always 
the better receiving antenna as well. It may be better most of the time, 
but I've found times on 40 and 75 where the vertical cut down on state 
side QRN bringing the DX up well above the noise.

On 20, 15, & 10 a roof mounted vertical should do well and the bands are 
often long enough that stateside QRN is not a problem.

So, as others have said, it all depends on what you want to do and how 
much work you wish to put in. Try to use the vertical as a limited space 
antenna and you are likely to be disappointed. OTOH they are low 
profile, and a good installation works well.  Generally the multi band 
verticals are not great performers, but you still hear people rave about 
them.  Good band conditions and nothing to compare them against and most 
anything will work.  I worked a guy on 6-meters in Central America who 
was testing his rig on the work bench with a piece of wire stuck in the 
coax connector.


73

Roger (K8RI)

John Geiger wrote:
> I have a question for the group about experiences with different antennas:
>
> I was looking at a recent issue of CQ at the local bookstore tonight (it wasn't the April issue) and in a column dealing with semi stealth antennas, they mentioned that a 3/8 or 1/2 vertical will show comparable performance to a 2 element yagi.  Is this true?  Will such a vertical really do as good as a 2 element beam?  
>
> Also, how would a roof mounted 1/4 wave vertical compare to a 2 element tribander at a low height-like 25 feet or so?
>
> 73s John AA5JG
>
>
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