[TowerTalk] re; STEPPir ANTENNAs

[Stan Stockton]

I became a believer when I listened to a recording of an EME signal transmitted and received at N2QV…..wait for it.   - 20M CW.  20m is the third best band for that antenna array.   I’ve probably missed it but haven’t heard too many instances of EME on 20m CW even with highly optimized mono band Yagis.

Rick is way smarter than I could ever imagine being but I believe not correct on this one. Model four 32 foot boom optimized Yagi antennas on 20, 15 and 10 (60,90,130,150 feet) for all three bands and see what you get as compared to a single Yagi. The antennas are 36 foot booms but probably average 32 feet for any particular band.

I believe it’s more likely that W6BH had some of them out of phase with the others than his stack didn’t work well.  

Although you would really like to switch between Upper and Both/All and see/hear a big difference and can find people who will tell you about the gigantic differences they have seen, sometimes you scratch your head because you can’t see or hear it, don’t have any of those stories to tell, and have to trust the model to be accurate. 2-3 dB is sometimes hard to discern with nothing but a transceiver and headphones.

73…Stan, K5GO

> On Apr 6, 2025, at 9:40 PM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> 
> If I recall correctly, N5DX has had a US high score in CQWW many times using a four stack of multiband Yagis vertically stacked on a 150ft rotating tower.   I don't know how well they work in an H-Frame.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> Ron WV4P wrote:
> 
> I am very surprised to learn that multi-band antennas do not work well in
> stacks.
> 
> Ron, WV4P
> 
>> On Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM Mike Fatchett W0MU <w0mu at w0mu.com> wrote:
>> 
>> He could have used 20m monobanders and saved a ton of
>> money......Obviously money was not an issue.  4 80 ft towers as the
>> supports.....etc.......And then when it broke you were SOL.
>> 
>> W0MU
>> 
>>> On 4/6/2025 7:34 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>>> A stack in 2 dimensions like that only works well on one band.
>>> It won't be anything great whether SteppIR's or any other tribanders
>>> are used.  W6BH tried a stack of KT34's (only vertical stacking)
>>> and it didn't work very well, which should have been obvious without
>>> building it.  As was said, more cents than sense.
>>> 
>>> 73
>>> Rick N6RK
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk