[VHFcontesting] Yagiphobia, Confusion and Infusion

[Jack W6NF]

On 9/19/2013 8:31 AM, beamar wrote:
> When Six is open, you don't need much. But, the gain of a yagi will get you through a pile up. When I went from a three element yagi to a five element, I did  better working into the Caribbean, Central and South America because the longer yagi would attenuate all the domestic signals off the back of the antennna
Going from a 3 to a 5 element yagi shouldn't provide *that* much 
additional f/b ratio. Checking on various manufacturers I find a typical 
difference in f/b from 1 to 4db. For example, the M2 3 element yagi has 
a spec'ed f/b ratio of 20db and their 5 element yagis are 21db. Only 
when you get to a long yagi (7 elements or more) do you get to 23db+ f/b 
ratio.

Other manufacturers often specify about a 4db difference going from a 3 
or 4 element to a 5 element yagi.

-- 
Jack, W6NF/VE4