[Elecraft] Rhombic antenna "gain"

[Fred Jensen]

Symmetry?  The whole show with rhombics is beamwidth and elevation 
angle, not really gain, which has been pointed out in much of the 
literature.  A "perfect" rhombic will have an extremely narrow beamwidth 
in the 10 to 15 deg range at HF [and if large enough, at MF as well].  
Asymmetry will distort that characteristic, and raise the amplitude of 
side lobes.  Effective rhombics for ham usage will require an "array' of 
them with different headings.  Lots of land, lots of property taxes. 
Stacked, rotatable yagi's might be a better choice if your bank account 
is sufficient.  Trees growing inside a rhombic will slowly degrade its 
performance, yet another cost.  Of course, you might be able to sell the 
lumber. [:-)

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 9/13/2019 5:01 PM, David Haines wrote:
> Well, I'm not wealthy.  But we do have 270 acres of forest-land 
> covered with nothing but trees.  So a rhombic or two sounds really 
> good, which never occurred to me before.  Thanks, Don!
>
> Across the field from my shack, maybe 600',  is a row of 90' pine 
> trees.  More trees on either edge of the field for the vertices. And 
> the feed could be right at the shack.  How important is symmetry?
>
> I've been deciding how much Wireman #534 to buy, so it sounds like I 
> should go for at least 1000'!   Still will need a lot of support line, 
> though.
>
> david, in the forests of Maine
>
> KC1DNY
>