[TowerTalk] TH6DX Comments

[Gerry Maira]

Thanks for the info. Gain and F/B are both important to me, but gain
more-so. I'm surprised at those results and I should really order a
copy of that report. I've been wondering if a TH6 was compared with a
TH7 (which I can't put up here), not that I expect much difference.
Anyway, the TH6 here is ready to go up asap before the weather gets
nasty (I'm in Buffalo), and I'm not going to cancel that to try and
get a C3 up instead for  It has 2 elements per band on an 18' boom
though, compared to 3/4
 > elements per band on a 24' boom with a TH6. I think a TH6 would
 > perform noticeably better, and might be more durable as well if the
 > hardware has been replaced with SS parts as was done on mine.
 You would lose you bet if "performance" means forward gain. In head
 to head testing by N0AX and K0LXC many years ago the C3 showed about
 0.3-0.5 dB more average forward gain than the TH7 on 20 and 15 and
 0.2 dB less on 10 meters.

 The data was reported in "HF Tribander Performance - Test Methods and
 Results" (1998) and "HF Tribander Performance - Test Methods and
 Results Second Edition" (1999).

 73,

 ... Joe, W4TV

 On 11/10/2024 11:26 AM, Gerry Maira wrote:
 > Thanks. I read the manual, looking past all the hype in it, and
read
 > some reviews. It seems like a decent antenna that I could put up.
It
 > has 2 elements per band on an 18' boom though, compared to 3/4
 > elements per band on a 24' boom with a TH6. I think a TH6 would
 > perform noticeably better, and might be more durable as well if the
 > hardware has been replaced with SS parts as was done on mine.
 >
 > 73, Gerry KA2MGE
 >
 > A Force 12 C3 is a very small but good tribander. I do not see any
 > reason
 > that it would not fit on your tower. I have one that I brought to
KP2
 > just
 > for a contest weekend.
 >
 > GL
 > John KK9A
 >
 > Gerry Maira KA2MGE
 > Thanks Dennis.
 >
 > Those SWR readings are very useful. I just wonder how to go about
 > adjusting the driven element if it's needed. I have zero experience
 > with this. Would I first adjust the innermost section for 10M, then
 > the middle for 15M and then the outermost for 20M? And I suppose
it's
 > best to try and get resonance on each band near what's shown in the
 > manual for your chosen band segment, which the other elements were
 > already set for, correct?
 >
 > I haven't decided yet on which balun I'll use but I'll definitely
 > consider what you said about the BN-4000.
 >
 > A lot of people recommended using a more modern antenna., but I
don't
 > have a lot of options on what antenna to put or how to put it up.
 > Space is very limited here. You can get an idea of how limited from
 > the photo on my QRZ page. When I put up my tower a year ago, I was
 > also shopping around for a good antenna, but it had to be practical
 > for the space I have to work with. I found a lot of antennas with
no
 > reviews and/or questionable specs, and the better, well known
 > antennas
 > were all too large. I was familiar with the TH6 but couldn't find
one
 > at the time. The size of a TH6 is just below the limits of what I
can
 > have up on the tower, but there's not even enough room to fully
 > assemble one on the ground while keeping it completely on my own
 > property. Even if there was, it would be very difficult/expensive
to
 > maneuver for getting it up the tower. Building and raising 2
12-foot
 > sections is doable though. My contractor uses a very large bucket
 > truck that can hold each section lying flat on top of the bucket.
 > With
 > a strong support like that plus 2 guys in the bucket, it shouldn't
be
 > too hard to put up one section, then bring up the 2nd one and guide
 > it
 > into the boom to mast clamp. If anyone knows of a better, modern
 > tribander of comparable size that can be put up in a similar way,
I'd
 > like to know what it is.
 >
 > 73, Gerry KA2MGE
 >