[VHFcontesting] Es beamwidth

[Charles.Morrison at apcc.com]

Bigger is not always better.

With Es from W4 or W5, what beamwidth is needed  for typical  Es opening ?
Does an Es opening from a southern QTH extend from W1 and west to Minnesota
at the same time?
Do you have DM/DN/EN grids all in at once ?
                          EN/EO/FM/FN/FO all at once?

Can it be 45  degrees of azimuth wide ? 60 ?
Is this beamwidth needed? Can less be a disadvantage ?
( i.e.  8ele yagi - 13 or 14 dbi with 40degree beamwidth.
         11ele yagi - 14 to 15 dbi with 32 degree beamwidth   )

Usually from here, at a given moment the opening is much narrower.

Charlie
N1RR