[VHFcontesting] Antenna decisions

[nosigma at aol.com]

Mike,

You may be on to something with back lobe sensitivity.  I get a quarter of my contacts from the back lobe of my cushcraft 2m beam (sloppy pattern).  146.520 is where my QSY's start so the more initial contacts there the better.  I never get new back lobe contacts on 448 or 223.5 where I have very precise M2's where the gain is essential to making the QSO.  I run FM category where I need a lot more bandwidth to get a readable signal.  I got rid of my omni's last year because they were comparatively unproductive to the sloppy cushcraft beam.  

If you do something conventional you will get conventional results. DO IT.  You might be surprised.  I suggest staying with a high F/B ratio for the QSY bands where you have time to get it dialed in.

Good luck, 73
John
KM4KMU

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

On Thursday, December 28, 2017 Mike (KA5CVH) Urich <mike at ka5cvh.com> wrote:
Since my original plan was to build a moxon or equivalent antenna for 50 in
the first place I've decided that I'm going to build my version of that
EAntenna, 50DDO-R2. Since no one had any comments about it I've scaled a
quad to resemble it but instead of a reflector, driven configuration, I'm
going to do a driven, director version. While I loose F/B, it enables me
to listen off the back side a little better.

No guarantee it will be worth anything, at least I can take a little pride
in building something myself and giving it a go.

Since I'm only doing a two band (50/144) rove I'll throw my DSE144-6RS up
with it. I have a new QD (quick disconnect) design in mind for the mast.
Construction on both begins tomorrow. My non penetration mast mount should
be here today. First order if business will be to assemble it this evening.
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