[TowerTalk] 6-meter antenna height

[N1BUG]

Purely anecdotal, but... I have been using the same 7 element, 33 
foot boom 6 meter yagi for over 12 years. During that time I have 
had it at heights of 30, 70, and 105 feet.

30 feet worked very well for single hop Es and quite well on double 
hop. I believe on average I got stronger signals from stations out 
to 2000 miles or so at that height. On DX beyond two hop range, I 
did not do well compared to the stations around me who have high 
antennas. I worked a lot of DX, but I did not get as many openings 
as the high antenna boys around me, nor was I able to work as far in 
each opening.

At 70 feet, long haul DX was very much better. I would get more and 
longer openings to Europe, Africa, and the middle east. I could 
compete better with the "big guns" around who get the most DX. 
Signals within one hop range may have been down somewhat compared to 
the lower height.

At 105 feet I was often able to open and close the band on long haul 
off-continent Es. This did not happen at either of the lower 
heights. There consistently seemed to be a marked advantage at this 
height for DX. This height was also clearly best for tropo, such as 
during VHF contests when there was no other propagation. One hop Es 
signals were on average quite a bit weaker but still very workable 
since we don't need 40 dB over S9 to work a station.

A year ago I relocated the antenna from 105 feet back to 30 feet. 
How very disappointing! Now I sit listening to the high antenna boys 
all around me working DX that doesn't exist for me, but I am still 
doing very well with single and double hop stuff. It had been a 
number of years since I had operated with the antenna at this 
height. Oh yes... now I remember.

For me the moral of the story is I need another tower. I am 
fortunate to have what I do, but cannot have all my antennas up high 
at the same time.

73,
Paul N1BUG FN55mf