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Re: [TowerTalk] Optimum yagi stacking distance

To: TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Optimum yagi stacking distance
From: Cqtestk4xs@aol.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:45:01 EST
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
In a message dated 1/19/2008 4:15:10 P.M. Greenwich Standard Time,  
gdslagel@yahoo.com writes:


I've  been using the HFTA software to try and get an
idea of the optimum distance  to stack a couple yagis
for best performance.  I'm stacking  10/15/20
tribanders for increased performance.  I was  really
surprised that on most bands the optimum performance
seems to be  with them separated by only about 10'...
for instance 65' and 56'!  I  expected it to be more
like 20' to 30'!  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a caveat somewhere about this from N6BV.  It is something  
like...when using very close spacing (like 10 feet) for HF antennas, the HFTA  
program 
by N6BV will give false results.
 
If your top antenna height is going to be 65 feet, it would be in your best  
interest to have the other at 32 feet if you are going to operate all  bands.  
It is a little too close for 20 but should do well on 15 and  10...assuming 
you are running a garden variety tribander of normal boom  length.
 
The HFTA is a wonderful tool if used with caution.  Out here in a  VERY 
mountainous terrain N6BV's program was invaluable in designing my  stacks.  I 
wanted to stack three KT36XAs but I found that with my terrain  anything higher 
than 90 feet was a total dud for 20 through 10 meters.  The  result will be 
90/56/29.  But, that was an optimization for my QTH.  
 
I too was amazed with how much gain I could achieve with spacing of 10  feet, 
until I read the instructions for HFTA.  Generally you will need  a minimum 
of .5 wavelength for the stacks to start to play and from what I've  read, 
.65-.75 plays about the best.  Of course this depends on boom  length.  
 
I hope this helps.
 
Bill KH7XS/K4XS







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