Not only do you have to decide is anything higher worth the QSO increase,
but what is the higher antenna getting you as far as usable take-off angle
vs. terrain gain. I believe the very high antennas of KC1XX and W3LPL can
open a band early but after the initial opening these two guys are in the
pack with the rest of us. Operating skill can overtake allot of mediocrity
very easily.
I do think that a terrain gain analysis can prevent you from making a
decision on what I would call midsize tower heights such as 90-120 feet. I
found that 120 feet did not take advantage of the terrain gain to Europe as
well as 90 feet did on 20 meters. Thus, we only put up 90 feet on the 20
meter tower with the bottom 204BA at 35 feet.
I guess at a height of many wavelengths such as 300 feet all you are looking
at is a band opening advantage.
Not a scientific observation but a 30+ year on the job training.
73 Dick - KB1H
Nat Heatwole wrote:
> I've noticed that both KC1XX and W3LPL have yagis for 10m-20m going all
> the way to 200ft high. Are yagis in the 150-200ft range for those bands
> really all that useful, or are they more of a "few QSOs per contest"
> level of usage? I would assume that once you get above say 150ft there
> wouldn't be a whole lot of cause to put yagis even higher, correct? Is
> there really enough long haul DX at those heights or is it really just
> for a handful of QSOs?
>
> 73, Nat, WZ3AR
> <nat@ajheatwole.com>
>
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