[TowerTalk] log periodic beam performance
jim Jarvis
jimjarvis at optonline.net
Sun Dec 13 19:17:33 PST 2009
w4boh wrote:
I'd appreciate hearing of experience with LP beams, especially performance
vs number of elements. The little T6 spec's are remarkably similar to the
T10, but some experienced people are pretty adamant that six elements don't
do a good job.
Anything will be a lot better than the little low endfed I use now, but I'd
like to have some real idea of what to expect.
The LP is great for getting me WARC coverage and avoiding traps!
Thanks, Wilson W4BOH
-0-
Wilson,
I've had a cushcraft lpda, as well as a Tennadyne T8, along with a host of tribanders,
and a SteppIR 3 element yagi. Hopefully, my empirical comments may have value.
1) The LPDA was as good as any of the kt34a's I had up, and better than any other
tribander. With the log at 70', I was highly competitive, and highly agile. In switching
from a kt34a @ 60' to a T8 at the same height, I didn't feel I gave up any performance.
But I couldn't do an A/B comparison. The antenna changeover took about 3 hours,
and propagation had shifted in that time.
2) The Tennadyne boom-feed system is superior to the Cushcraft system with multiple
connections. less lossy, and easier to assemble, too.
3) I can't speak to the M2 logs, although Mike has a good reputation, and his work bears
consideration. Having owned and refurbed 4 kt34xa's, and a couple of kt34a's, I have
an appreciation for his design work. If you compare Tennadyne to M2, look carefully
at the boom and feed systems.
4) In the discussion about out of band interference, it IS true that the log does not serve
as an RF filter. This was never a major problem, although I DID see baseline disturbance
on my 756pro band scope, when shortwave broadcast was 60 over 9 on 21450, and I was
working 15m cw. Never HEARD any interference... just saw elevated baselines in the
broadband scope receiver.
I perceive this as a non-problem, with contemporary receivers and roofing filters.
5) Apart from lower losses than trap bearing antennas, and broad frequency coverage,
the principal virtue of the LPDA is its electrical simplicity. In the Tennadyne design, this
also translates to lower losses.
6) I also felt the T6 was a bit light on elements, and went with a T8, at the time. Now, I
think I'd go for a T10. One of the benefits of more elements is a smoother vswr curve, within
the one octave coverage of the log. I have a friend who has had a t6 for years, and been
quite pleased with it.
7) As a practical matter, you're going to see 20dB f/b ratio and reasonable forward gain.
One nice thing about the log is, you're likely to see that over most of the band. A trapped
tribander, or even a monoband antenna is likely to have f/b, vswr, and gain optimized
at different frequencies. So you never quite know what you're going to get for performance.
8) My 3 element steppIR replaced the LPDA, and performance went from a 2 element beam
equivalent to a 3 element beam. It was a noticeable improvement, at considerable expense,
and with the potential for mechanical failures. As it turned out, I had no problems with the SteppIR,
in the time I owned it, and in 2 VT winters.
That said, my next antenna will be an LPDA. Probably a T10. Principal consideration is
robustness of design and efficiency.
73,
N2EA
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