[TowerTalk] Yagi gain vs rotary dipole.

[Richard Karlquist]

On 2014-11-24 09:26, john at kk9a.com wrote:

> Regarding comparing a tribander vs a large monobander, I have tried
> comparing various antennas and stacks and I often find the difference 
> very
> hard to notice on my transceiver's S meter. I think with QSB 2 or 3 dB 
> is
> just hard to see, especially if you're not listening to a steady tone.
> 
> John KK9A
> 

Another poster writes:

> apart.  equal length feedlines.   tribander on tower1  and a hb 6 el 
> 20m yagi
> on the other.  We could not tell the difference between em, while
> switching...listening to EU short path.... night after night.  he was 
> not
> impressed.  F/B and F/S on the monobander was better..and pattern was

I can definitely see a 2 dB or so advantage to my MonstIR vs my 2 
element
SteppIR, if I crank down the MonstIR to the same height as the 2 element
SteppIR.

It is tough to watch the S meter and figure this out.  What I like to do
is to turn down the RF gain until there is no AGC action.  It is then
possible to listen to the audio and compare the two antennas.  Upon
inserting a 3 dB pad on the MonstIR side, the audio difference is 
equalized
for example.  Even with QSB, a step in gain vs time is readily audible.
It is even better if you have dual matched receivers with each ear 
listening
to its own receiver.  Stereo balance is easily discerned.  I believe
this can be done with a K3.

High end audio fanatics like to point out that the ear can detect very
small differences in audio level and go to great lengths to match levels
with A/B'ing speakers or other audio components.  They claim that 
mismatches
that seem too small to detect nevertheless make the louder component
"sound better".  Anything from high end audio should be taken with a 
large
grain of salt, but sometimes they do have a point.

Rick N6RK