I agree with Tom that 60 degrees makes more sense than 45 degrees from the
Eastern U.S. I studied this before settling on the orientation of my 40M
4-square. I modified an old BASIC program that computes beam headings to
count the number of countries in CT's CTY.DAT file that fall within the -3dB
angle of the 4-square's beamwidth. Of course, it's a bit like splitting
hairs, since that angle is about 60 degrees!
I did this primarily to make sure that it would be OK to rotate the 4-square
10 degrees (making NE 55 degrees) so that the radials wouldn't cross my
property line and the elements would be on somewhat flatter ground (a few
feet made a big difference in that regard.)
It turned out that the greatest number of DXCC countries falling within
the -3dB points from my QTH (western NH) occured with the NE element aimed
at 80 degrees! This would be the best orientation for, say, going for 40M
Honor Roll or the maximum multiliers in CQ WW. But when I cross-checked the
program results with an azmuthal projection from my QTH, it was clear that
this was not the orientation that optimized for the countries with the
largest active ham population (i.e., QSO points). I chose 55 degrees as an
orientation that made a good compromise between the number of countries, ham
population, and where the radials ended up on the ground.
73, Dick, WC1M
-----Original Message-----
From: T A RUSSELL <n4kg@juno.com>
To: CQ-CONTEST@CONTESTING.COM <CQ-CONTEST@CONTESTING.COM>;
TOWERTALK@CONTESTING.COM <TOWERTALK@CONTESTING.COM>; no6x@inreach.com
<no6x@inreach.com>
Cc: N4AR@UKCC.UKY.EDU <N4AR@UKCC.UKY.EDU>; JERRY_L_CROSS@POBOX.TBE.COM
<JERRY_L_CROSS@POBOX.TBE.COM>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Monday, November 24, 1997 6:27 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Re: [CQ-Contest] Which way do we go? (Beam Headings)
>Fixed Beam Heading Preferences de N4KG
>
>>From the EASTERN USA, the answer is simple: 60 degrees.
>At one time I had a 2 element Delta Loop supported by a 20 ft boom
>attached at the 120 ft level on a 130 ft tower, aimed at 60 degrees.
>This antenna was a KILLER to Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Indian
>Ocean.
>If I had made it reversible, then I could have added the South Pacific.
>A pair of such antennas would cover the world by adding one for JA/SA.
>
>BTW, these headings also make sense for 4 SQUARES, instead of the
>conventional NE,SE,SW,NW with their nulls at N,S,E,W. By rotating 15
>degrees clockwise, the 4 square crossovers then become 15, 105, 195,
>and 285 degrees. From the Eastern USA, (almost) nobody lives at
>those headings!
>
>de Tom N4KG
>............................
>
>
>On Mon, 24 Nov 1997 04:01:13 +0000 Mike <no6x@inreach.com> writes:
>>I know this may seem like a stupid question but it is of valid reason
>>to me.
>>
>>If you were to have a wire beam up for 80 meters and had to fix it one
>>direstion for contests. which way would you point it? Oh yeah this is
>>from
>>the west coast!
>>
>>Is it better to work a bunch of 3 points apiece contacts ,or is it
>>better
>>to get the multipliers from EU? (which I am not sure of how well that
>>would
>>work anyway)
>>
>>My solution was point it at JA and get all you can. Or am I even in
>>the
>>correct part of the compass, maybe I need SA, or VK, I DONT KNOW!
>>
>>OK, Now who knows the "correct" answer?
>>
>>New at this contesting and ready to kick some more butt.
>>Mike...NO6X
>>
>>P.S. this ant design will be mainly for DX contests.
>>
>>
>>
>>Check out my home page at http://home.inreach.com/no6x
>>
>>--
>>CQ-Contest on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
>>Administrative requests: cq-contest-REQUEST@contesting.com
>>
>
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