[TowerTalk] 40 meter dipole

[Steve Babcock]

Indeed SWR is not a measure of Yagi antenna performance.
However Yagi performance IS a function of the narrow bandwidth of a shortened PARASITIC element. (not the driver)
Explained here regarding a 2el short 40m Yagi: https://youtu.be/VZ9esNGBP7Y?si=Xj8shPN9NnNALw8O <https://youtu.be/VZ9esNGBP7Y?si=Xj8shPN9NnNALw8O>

Steve, ve6wz


> Yes, but extensive modeling shows that SWR bandwidth is the only important downside of loading that is not inductors at the feedpoint.
> 
> SWR is NOT a measure of antenna performance, and the added loss due to SWR values below 3:1 at the feedpoint are too small to matter unless you're using line smaller than RG8/11, and/or the lines are very long. My 80M dipole at 125 ft fed with about 170 ft of a good RG11 presents a 5:1 SWR on 60M at the TX, but is quite effective running legal limit (100W ERP).
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC