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Re: Beam antenna question

Posted by Ian Kahn, KM4IK on May 20, 2017; 12:04am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Beam-antenna-question-tp7630845p7630847.html

Terry,
If you need a beam with a smaller footprint, have you consider one of
the many hex-beams that are available? I've had one for several years
and really enjoy it. I have a 5-band model that covers all bands, 20m-
10m, WARC bands included. Mine has about as much gain on each band as a
2-element beam, with a moderate front-to-back ratio (about 9 db or so).
Mine is an older model of the original Traffie Technologies HX5-Bi.
Traffie is no longer in business, but there are a few vendors in the US
that offer beams or kits for beams, and if you visit http://www.karinya
.net/g3txq/hexbeam/, there is a wonderful tutorial on the hex-beam,
along with links to plans so you can homebrew yours. 
I have mine on a 30' Force 12 tilt-up mast, so it sits just a few feet
above my roof line. It has something like a 21' turn radius, and about
a 9 pound windload. And the whole antenna only weighs in at about 25
pounds. With this antenna, and my K-Line, if I can hear 'em, I can work
'em!
Good luck with your move and setting up at your new QTH.
73 de,
--Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA  EM74ua
[hidden email]
10-10 #74624  North Georgia Chapter #2038PODXS 070 #1962
K3 #281, P3 #688 KAT500 #860, KPA500 #1468
On Fri, 2017-05-19 at 23:40 +0000, Terry Brown wrote:

> I apologize that this is not a direct Elecraft equipment question,
> but
> having the K2, KX2, KX3, PX3 and KXPA100, I thought I would ask.  I
> will be
> moving to a new QTH.  I just took down an old Cushcraft ATB-34, on a
> 50 ft.
> tower.  It was the predecessor to the A4.  I need a beam with a
> smaller
> footprint.  I am looking at the Mosley TA 33-JR.    My other antenna
> will be
> a multi-band doublet fed with 450 window line, so it will be able to
> work
> the WARC bands, however, the apex will only be about 25 ft. high,
> about roof
> level,  so it will mostly be a cloud burner, but great for my local
> CW skeds
> on 80 and 40.  My beam will be at 32-35 ft; 8 ft. above my roofline
> to the
> east.  My QTH will be high on a hill facing the east.  With that
> background,
> here is the question:
>
>  
>
> If I were to order the Mosley TA33-JR-N-WARC,  with the WARC bands
> included,
> even though they will have zero gain, will the ability to rotate the
> beam
> make the reception of the 12 and 17 meter bands better in all other
> directions than the orientation of my doublet?  My intuition says
> yes, but I
> thought I would ask.  
>
>  
>
> Also, I know that longer length antennas for a given band usually
> perform
> better than a trapped antenna, but I would think that my low height
> doublet
> will not be as effective as a WARC beam.  My doublet will be just at
> the
> height of my house and drop to 10 foot poles on the NW and SW lot
> corners.
>
>  
>
> I hated to give up my 50 ft. tower and beam, and my 80 meter
> horizontal loop
> at 40 ft., but sometimes compromises have to be made.   Being
> primarily a CW
> op will help some.
>
>  
>
> Any advice would be really appreciated!
>
>  
>
> Very 73's,
>
>  
>
> Terry de N7TB
>
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