[TowerTalk] 6 meter antenna comparisons

[Jay Kesterson K0GU]

The 617-6B is a very old design. If you look at the manual is is dated 
9/91. It was designed before antennas were computer modeled. More boom 
usually means more gain *IF* you have enough elements to produce that 
gain. At 33 feet plus of boom the 617-6B needed another element. There 
are one or two newer designs for the 617-6B out on the internet that 
include a 7th element.

If you believe modeling, which I do, the 6M7 is indeed a better antenna. 
Both gain wise and front to back. IMO it is no contest unless you want 
to mod the 617-6B with an extra element. The 6M7 is a better antenna 
than the stock 617-6B and has about 2/3 the wind load.

As for 6m Es being either open or closed and any antenna will work I beg 
to differ.
http://www.qrz.com/db/K0GU
Just like any band or mode you can do things with gain that are not 
possible otherwise.

73,  Jay  K0GU