[TowerTalk] 2 Meter Balun Question

[Tom Nicholson]

This paragraph reflects the way that I'll more then likely go:

"If you really want to work 2m optimally, an antenna made for a 
frequency 12% away isn't the right choice, unless it is vastly less 
hassle to deploy and use. Then, it might work, but it could be 50% as 
efficient, again depending upon a number of factors as not yet discussed 
here. "

NOT to say, IF the marine band antenna was already up, that I wouldn't 
give it a try, but it is not up, so I'll sell the marine band antenna 
and purchase an antenna dedicated to the 2 meter band.

Thanks again for everyone's input. It is always a learning experience on 
this reflector.

Tom  W1ALZ


On 11/22/2013 8:58 AM, Mickey Baker wrote:
> Engineers and proficient technical people live in a world of measurement,
> optimization, and facts. Lots of things "work." Someone may use an antenna
> with an unmatched 3:1 swr and get to the DXCC Honor Roll. I'm sure it has
> happened.
>
> But questions are posed and, hopefully, answered factually. Anecdotally,
> there is the story of the ham who WAS on a light bulb. Yes, it worked, but
> it was far from an optimal solution, I think we can all agree. With
> tenacity, I'm sure someone could work all states on 20m or any
> other band with a transmitter connected to a marine band antenna, but it
> would be far from optimum.
>
> As an engineer, I cringe when these anecdotes are told in context of an
> answer to a technical  question. They're entertaining, but not factually
> helpful.
>
> The problem is that the uninitiated user might not know the difference
> between good advice and an entertaining anecdote.
>
> If you really want to work 2m optimally, an antenna made for a frequency
> 12% away isn't the right choice, unless it is vastly less hassle to deploy
> and use. Then, it might work, but it could be 50% as efficient, again
> depending upon a number of factors as not yet discussed here.
>
> Mickey N4MB
>
> On Friday, November 22, 2013, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
>
>> Absolutely no offense taken.  I read with interest and appreciate your
>> contributions to the technical issues on this site.
>>
>> I am just standing up for a solution that was good enough and proven to be
>> so over a period of decades.  Perfection is a wonderful goal but not always
>> cost effective in time, or dollars.  The OP apparently has the MB antenna.
>> If he tries it and gets acceptable results then no harm done.  If it
>> doesn't work acceptably for him then he can profit from the tech
>> suggestions offered here.  Should be a win-win for him.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Patrick AF5CK
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Jim Brown
>> Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 12:59 AM
>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 2 Meter Balun Question
>>
>> On 11/21/2013 1:17 PM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
>>
>>> I think the light bulb comment is unwarranted.
>>>
>> I'm sorry if you're offended -- none was intended. But most of us who
>> have heard Tom speak on the topic have found the story a clever way of
>> observing that some things work better than others. I have a vertical
>> half-wave dipole for 40M hanging next to a very tall redwood, and I can
>> make a lot of QSOs with it and get good signal reports. But if I switch
>> to a high horizontal dipole in he middle of the QSO, the other station
>> will tell me the horizontal dipole is ten dB louder.
>>
>> My comments were specifically written for the original poster, and to
>> give him enough ideas to think intelligently about his problem.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>>
>>
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