[NLRS] 6 and 2 meter antennas

[tosca005 at umn.edu]

On Jan 25 2012, kp hpjr wrote:

> I'm in the process of deciding which direction to go in regards
> to changing my 6 and 2m antennas.
>
> Currently I run a 2/432 8 element Quad at 50'.
> I'm considering the following antennas and would like some input
> from this group.
>
>For 6m these have my attention:
> DS50-4HP 50 MHz Yagi from Directive Systems
> LFA 406-11.5' 4 element Loop Fed Array from Force 12
> M2 6M3 from M squared

>For 2m, These have my attention:
> M2 2M9SSB or the 2m12
> DSFO-144-12 from Directive Systems
> LFA-902 9 element Loop-fed Array from Force 12
>
> The LFA antennas look appealing if in fact they do what is claimed
> and reduce the local noise pickup. But I know of no one that has
> or uses these newer antennas. And I'm not really aware of how well
> they are constructed for that matter so any input would be great.

I have no insight to offer regarding loop-fed antennas having lower local 
noise pickup, but (in my ignorance) I am skeptical of a benefit. Force 12 
has a history of building solid, durable products.

I would consider the M squared 6M5XHP over the 6M3. I have used the older 
6M5X and am extremely pleased with it's performance. (The newer HP model 
uses a hairpin feed.) Much to my surprise, its 18 foot boom length has not 
been a problem to put up, keep up, or rotate.

On 2 meters, I have had excellent results with the 2M12 for years. I have 
been planning for a long time to stack two of them for more gain with the 
same horizontal beamwidth, but haven't found that elusive round tuit to put 
it up. But when I get a round tuit (get around to it), I expect I will be 
even happier. Though I now have plenty of time, the antennas and tower are 
1300 miles away from my current location...

I can't provide any objective data to eliminate the other choices, however. 
I prefer the higher gain of the longer antennas, however.

> Choosing any of these options clearly leaves me w/o 432.
> My only option then would be to mount a 432 yagi at about 19'
> on the side of our chimney and turn with TV rotor. At that
> height, how well will an antenna on that band perform? I'm
> begining to think that, for the most part, the only real
> contacts to be had from this area on 432 are what is
> available during the contests. So I would assume that even
> at 20' or so, I'd still be able to make the QSO out at a
> range of 100-200 miles w/o much trouble. Would this be correct?

I am very leery of chimney-mounted antennas. How short is the mast on your 
current 50 foot tower? I use a 432-9WL antenna with excellent performance, 
even though it is only about 25 or 30 feet AGL. Furthermore, on an 8 foot 
mast I have crammed 4 antennas for 50 - 432 MHz with satisfactory results. 
I have a second 432-9WL in storage, and plan to stack two of them 
vertically, like I hope to do with the 2M12's. I will build an H-frame (12' 
high and 12' wide), with the two 2M12 antennas on one of the two vertical 
sub-masts, and the two 432-9WL antennas on the other vertical sub-mast. 
Since the stacking distances are 12' for the 2M antennas and 6' for the 
70cm antennas, I'm also considering stacking a pair of 222-5WL antennas on 
the 12' sub-mast that will be holding the two 70cm antennas. Sure, the 
presence of the 70cm antennas between the 135cm antennas will cause me to 
lose some of the 3db gain of stacking two of them, but probably will still 
out-perform a single antenna on that band. And I would not expect that the 
pair of 222-5WL's will degrade the performance of the stacked pair of 70cm 
antennas. This will also leave me plenty of room on the 8' main mast to 
squeeze in the loop yagis on 902, 1296. 2304, and 3456 MHz.

73 de John, W0JT
EL09 for the winter and EN34 for the summer.