[TowerTalk] F12 Delta 240 performance observation

[SPWoo]

Hi Steve,

I don't get to see sunrises very often as I'm not a morning person, hihi.  My test was with Puerto Rico which is not exactly long haul DX.  I have worked many long-haul DX stations with the D240 but doing a performance test on them was difficult due to the low S/N ratio.  Perhaps this winter will provide me with more opportunities on performance testing.

Yes I still have the same mounting configuration.  The Skyhawk has insulated elements.  I get a ton of wind static from it.  But that's another topic for another day, hihi.

Since I'll be changing out my mast soon I'm considering of putting the D240 under the Skyhawk.  This doesn't help with wind loading on the tower so I'm hesitant to make the switch.  Many others have it above the tri-bander will no ill effects.  Per the F12 gang (Tom and Mark) the D240 is designed to be mounted close (>4') to a tri-bander.

Copying W2IRT as he also has a D240.

 
Best Regards,
Jonathan Woo
(970) 646-1711


________________________________
 From: Steve London <n2icarrl at gmail.com>
To: towertalk at contesting.com; jj_2_woo at yahoo.com 
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: F12 Delta 240 performance observation
 
Jonathan,

Before you conclude that your D240 doesn't have much pattern, run some more tests on DX signals. From your QTH in Colorado, I would recommend listening around your sunrise for signals from Japan and the far east.

Are you still using the Bencher Skyhawk/D240 stack as shown in the photos on your qrz.com web page ? Does the Bencher Skyhawk insulate the parasitic elements from the boom ? If not, it is possible that the combined electrical length of the boom plus the uninsulated elements is close enough to a half wavelength on 40 meters to have significant interaction with the D240.

73,
Steve, N2IC