[DX] Yagi height and DX

Fri, 12 Apr 2002 18:28:09 +0200

John

You are doing amazingly well with your antenna so low.
20 feet off the ground is only about 6metres.  For good low-angle
performance of a beam antenna one wants it to be as far as possible above
ground level, but certainly aim for minimum of half wavelength for the band
you are operating on.
So for 20 metres, your need an extra 4 metres off the ground at minimum;
Taking into account that the house itself has some effect, I would certainly
go for height before anything else.

73

Peter
ZS6PHD
Johannesburg, South Africa

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Geiger" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>;
<[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 5:55 PM
Subject: [DX] Yagi height and DX

> I am currently using a Cushcraft MA5B mounted on a
> tripod on top of a one story house-approximately 20
> feet off the ground.  This antenna has worked well,
> but I am wondering if I am hitting the performance
> plateau with it.  I have 294 worked, including 4 new
> ones this year-JD1o, PW0T, VP6DI, and XW0X.
>
> It seems that I am not hearing so well, though.  Last
> night several 5 land stations reported SV2ASP/A as Q5
> on 20 meter SSB, but I could not hear a thing.  Also
> could not hear VK9L on 15 ssb that other stations were
> putting on the reflector.
>
> I plan on replacing the MA5B with a full size
> tribander right after the KH1 dxpedition.  WOuld like
> to do it before,but need to make sure I have something
> up for that station.  HERE IS MY QUESTION:  WOuld
> getting a tower and going to 40 feet make a hugh
> difference over 20 feet?  Is it worth the trouble of
> getting a tower and putting it up (do not look forward
> to this).  Will that extra 20 feet allow me to hear
> THAT much better?
>
> Figured I would get some profession opinions before
> jumping into anything.  WOuld have to sell some gear
> that I like to get the tower also.
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
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