[TowerTalk] In Shack Tuner Vs. Remote Tuner for Multi-Band Antennas

[Tom Osborne]

Hi Matt

Isn't that effect present in any antenna (except maybe a vertical)?

If you put up a dipole, there are 2 main lobes and off the ends is a big 
null.  I just don't see any antenna that is going to be perfect.  In 
order to cover many directions with dipoles or fan dipoles, you are 
going to have to put up 2 for each band at right angles to each other.  
If I want an antenna to cover NE/SW, a dipole will do that, but will 
have nulls NW/SE, (assuming it is high enough to have lobes and not 
shooting straight up) so now I have to put up 2 antennas.

I still can't see any disadvantage to an 80 meter (or longer) dipole fed 
with ladder or window line, except maybe a bit more noise on the ladder 
line.  Every antenna has advantages and disadvantages - you just have to 
weigh them out.

I have an antenna that is about 190 feet long, up in a tree about 90 
feet fed with window line.  I also have an 80 meter elevated vertical 
with the base at 6 feet with 5 radials.  For 40 I have a full sized 
delta loop in a tree up about 70 feet.  The center fed antenna works 
better in most cases than both of those antennas doing an A/B test, and 
I can use it on 160, 80 and 40.  But, I am not using a tuner with a 
funky built-in balun to try and match the antenna.

I just don't think there is one perfect solution for just 1 antenna.  73
Tom W7WHY



On 5/4/2014 9:56 PM, Matt wrote:
> As the frequency of operation increases from 1 to 2 antenna 
> wavelengths, 4 new narrow lobes appear at ~45-50 degree angles to the 
> main lobes and continue to grow while the main lobes continue to 
> narrow and ultimately disappear.