[DX] Re: [dx-list] Mini Beams

[n4kg@juno.com]

John,

You neglected to state the height of your antennas.

Typically, antenna HEIGHT is MUCH more important than the small differences in antenna gain between antennas.

I recommend 40 to 50 ft for High Band antennas, assuming level terrain.
At those heights, ALL of the energy in the first lobe will be refracted back to the earth at useful angles supported by the ionosphere.

Antennas lower than 40 ft send a significant portion of their energy into space, never to return to earth.  

Antennas higher than 40 ft have significant NULLS in the vertical plane pattern.  NO SINGLE ANTENNA HEIGHT will cover ALL of the angles supported by the ionosphere.  I like 120 for my HIGH antennas and 40 ft for my low antennas.  My 40 to 60 ft high tribanders and monobanders are almost always my BEST DAYTIME antennas.

Tom  N4KG  (RF Engineer, Contester, all band DXer)





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