[NLRS] 1296 omnis

[Jon Platt]

So Bill, how is the 902 and 2304 station coming along ??

Regarding omni antennas for roving, they sure are handy and easy to deploy,
and they work fairly well on 2m, 222, and perhaps 432 to a lesser degree,
but even a small yagi, or loop yagi for the higher bands beat the living
snot out of an omni.    On 1296, a yagi with just a 6' boom will have about
15 dB more gain than an omni.   My home brew 902 yard stick antenna (3'
boom) that uses the J-pole like feed measured 11.2 dB at CSVHF and Aurora
and it took me all of an hour to build.

Speaking of antennas, I have the follow antennas that I can loan out for the
contest for roving or whatever.

6m - Homebrew dipole using a single U-bolt mount with 20' of feedline and a
PL259.  Used for many a rove.
2m - A cushcraft junior boomer, 15' boom, The "Road Warrior".  Comes with
dead bugs attached.
2m - A knockdown portable 7 element yagi with a single U-bolt mount.   Think
its 6' boom or so.   The boom knocks down and the elements rotate on
wingnuts into a small 3 or 4' package.   Very very portable.
222 - My home brew 3 element endmount on a 2' boom or so.  Measured 8.1 dB
at CSVHF this year.   Perhaps the winner in the gain/size category.
432 - A cushcraft 424B that is modified to K1FO style.   17' boom, so a bit
long, but has gain.
902 - My end mount yard stick yagi, 3' boom, 11.2 dB at CSVHF and Aurora
2304 - A DEM loop yagi, believe its the 12' boom model, center mount.
I also have a 100 MHz thru 1300 MHz log periodic.  About 6 dB of gain on all
bands on a 6' boom, but lots of elements, kind of like a porcupine.   Nice
for closer in rover efforts in that you have gain on 2m thru 1296 in one
package.

Again, if you want to borrow any of this aluminum, just drop me a note.   My
QTH is Bloomington close to the Mall of America.

73, Jon
W0ZQ


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill K0AWU" <billd@2z.net>
To: <NLRS@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 9:26 AM
Subject: [NLRS] 1296 omnis


> Hi All
>
>    This is a KNOWN "self-centered" response! Rovers, please use high gain
> directive antennas !!
>
>    Those of us out in the boonies whom have made MAJOR investments to
> get on 1296 are limited to 1296 operations ALMOST to contests only
> anyway, now if many rovers go to omni's we will loose those contacts or
> possible contacts. Half my 1296 contacts during the last contest were
rover
> contacts. 4 unique grids that I have worked on 1296 have been rover grids.
>
>   Rover investments are higher yet, but they can move closer to activity
> centers, which we can not! So drive closer or use directive antennas!! I
vote
> for the antenna...
>
>   I have no plans at the moment to add additional bands to my EN37 station
> because to the most part, poor activity on 1296 ..... Please use gain
> antennas (THEY ARE SMALL) and look toward EN37ed during the contests
> for contacts on 50, 144, 222, 432 and 1296 MHZ!!!
>
> PS:   I have far more invested in 1296 than any other single band and I'm
> even missing QSL's from 2 states that I have worked !!
>
> Lonesome Bill  K0AWU EN37ed
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