[TowerTalk] How high is enough

[john at kk9a.com]

An antenna at 50' will work. Your subject "How high is enough" suggest
that you are looking for some compromise between performance and tower
height. Only you can make that decision. Certainly you could install a 70'
tower instead of a 50' one on your small lot if you really wanted to. K9YC
suggested reading the ARRL Antenna Book. This is a great suggestion! If
you can find W2PV's (sk) yagi book there is also a lot of information
there regarding yagi radiation angle relative to height. Regarding the
question is a SteppIR 80m dipole better than a wire one, the answer is
again not simple.  A true full size horizontal dipole at the same height
should be more efficient than a loaded one, however you cannot turn the
wire dipole or adjust it for the segment of the band that you are using.

John KK9A


To:	 <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Subject:	 [TowerTalk] How high is enough
From:	 "Jim in Waco wb5oxq" <wb5oxq_1 at grandecom.net>
Date:	 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 21:46:28 -0500


When choosing a height for a beam is 1/4 wave above ground at the lowest
frequency enough?  1/2 wave?  I see Force 12 rating the gain on their
beams at
74'1".
Why that height?  At 20 meters is 100' a lot better than say 60'?  I am
talking
about relatively flat terrain.  I see Stepp-ir makes a beam that even has
a 80
meter dipole in it.  Would that workmuch better on 80 than a wire dipole
at an
equal height?  I have never had enough land to put upmore than 50' bit nest
year I might have over an acre and be able to go much higher.  I just wonder
how high when you spend more to go higher than it is worth?  If I had the
room
for a wire dipole to run any direction, what would be the best choice from
central Texas considering being in the center of the country east/west
wise?  I
want to get the best bang for my buck!  wb5oxq