[TowerTalk] Strange behavior

[Jim Brown]

Right. Hams should study the horizontal and vertical patterns of their 
antennas.  John's antenna is narrower than most. The -3dB points of a 
typical 3-el Yagi are around +/- 35 degrees.  A 4-el Yagi is a few 
degrees narrower. 3dB is half an S-unit. It matters only when the other 
guy has noise or there's a lot of QRM.

While contesting, I'm often called by stations well off-axis of where my 
antenna is aimed, even off the back and sides. The fact that they have 
called and I am copying them means that the antenna is aimed well enough 
to make the QSO, so that's all I care about. I'll swing the antenna only 
if I'm calling a multiplier and not getting through. In domestic 
contests, most W6 hams will lock our antennas at 70 degrees. KL7, KH6, 
and VE8 are off the back and sides, but I never have any trouble working 
them when they are there!

73, Jim K9YC

On Tue,1/24/2017 4:43 AM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> It is nice to have the antennas aimed accurately, however as a contester
> you never know what country is calling next or exactly what path the
> signal is taking. Luckily on HF direction is not critical. 10 degrees off
> on my 60' boom OWA 20m antenna is less than 1/2 dB down.