[DX] Quad vs Yagi antenna height

[K2DP]

John,

Here's a couple of thoughts for your consideration:

1) Congratulations on working 300+ countries ! Once you pass the 300 mark,
life in the DX world does become more difficult ! (regardless of your
antenna)

2) The decline of the solar cycle will ebb the flood of world - wide
DX-peditions, and so the opportunity to work the really rare ones will
diminish to some extent. But , hang in there !

3) Based upon my 40 years of hamming and DX'ing, it is true (not proven
scientifically though) that 2 element cubical quads generally outperfom 3
element tribanders at low heights of 25 - 40 feet on the longer dx paths,
ie: >3500 miles. From the east coast of the US, where I had the opportunity
to make lots of comparisons under those circumstances, the path to South
America , Europe and N. Africa didn't show much of a difference. However, on
the VK/ZL/JA, VU and longer paths, the quad always won out.

4) I would not recommend jumping into a 2 el quad sized only for 10 & 15
meters as this is probably the last year for 10 meters for a while and 15
will be closing down about a year later (for consistent DX'ing).

5) Mounting a quad on a roof top tri-pod tower is going to be a tough
situation anyway.....a full size 2 element quad for 10 thu 20 meters will
extend 8 feet below the boom, which means your tower and mast would need to
give you a minimum height of 12 feet above the roof line (to give you 4 foot
of clearance).

6) Based upon your W� call sign, I would suspect you may live in an area
that receives ice and snow during the winter....two of the worst enemies of
the cubical quad....they do not do well in ice storms and heavy wet snows
(lots of broken wires and spreaders)

7)My suggestion for 10-20 meters is to go with a full sized 3 element
trib-bander and get it up on the roof at least at 25 feet total height above
ground. You can guy the mast when using the tribander to make the
installation structuarlly sound.

8) Begin working on 5 band DXCC concentrating on the lower HF bands. Get a
Butternut HF-2V or similar vertical that is at least a full 1/4 wave length
in height for 40 meters and put down lots of ground radials. YOu'd be amazed
at what a great 40 and 80 meter antenna that is !

9) Patience, patience, patience...the watch word of the DX-community !

73 and I'd be glad to answer any of  your questions,
Dave, K2DP, St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Geiger" <johngeig@yahoo.com>
To: <dx@mailman.qth.net>; <dx-list@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2003 10:29 PM
Subject: [DX] Quad vs Yagi antenna height


> I am looking for some information about the optimum
> minimum height for a quad antenna. I have looked
> around at various sources, and keep seeing that a quad
> will work at a lower height than a yagi, but see
> nothing definite as to that height.
>
> Here is the situation.  I currently have a Mini
> Products 2 element mini quad at 30 feet or so.  It is
> mounted on a tripod on the roof of my 1 story house.
> I have currently worked 305 countries barefoot with
> either a dipole, the mini quad, or a Cushcraft MA5B
> which I used to have.  However, the DXing is putting
> me in a funk. I have only worked 2 new countries this
> year (A7 and ST), missed the 3C0 before they went QRT,
> and am not getting good copy on the VK9X, the XZ, or
> the BQ9P.  It is starting to feel like I will never
> work a new country.  I supposed that the decline in
> sunspots is not helping any.
>
> Anyway, it will be a few years before I can afford to
> put up a tower, and I also want to get tenured at the
> university I am at so I know I wont be moving anytime
> soon.  Given that I can't get an antenna up above 30
> feet or so, I am looking into alternatives.  I had a
> full sized 2 element tribander for awhile, but it
> didn't do too much because of its height.  That is why
> I am looking at a quad.  Will probably have to go with
> a 15/10 meter model only due to cost and size
> constraints.  What would be the minimum height to get
> such an antenna to really play?  Am I doomed without a
> tower?  Should I find something else to do other than
> chase DX?  It sure is getting frustrating as of late.
> The local ham who I sold my MA5B to worked Pratas
> yesterday, and he has been a general all of 3 or 4
> months.  Some guys get all the luck.
>
> Any help as to antenna ideas or height requirements
> would sure be appreciated.
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
>
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