Purely anecdotal, but... I have been using the same 7 element, 33
foot boom 6 meter yagi for over 12 years. During that time I have
had it at heights of 30, 70, and 105 feet.
30 feet worked very well for single hop Es and quite well on double
hop. I believe on average I got stronger signals from stations out
to 2000 miles or so at that height. On DX beyond two hop range, I
did not do well compared to the stations around me who have high
antennas. I worked a lot of DX, but I did not get as many openings
as the high antenna boys around me, nor was I able to work as far in
each opening.
At 70 feet, long haul DX was very much better. I would get more and
longer openings to Europe, Africa, and the middle east. I could
compete better with the "big guns" around who get the most DX.
Signals within one hop range may have been down somewhat compared to
the lower height.
At 105 feet I was often able to open and close the band on long haul
off-continent Es. This did not happen at either of the lower
heights. There consistently seemed to be a marked advantage at this
height for DX. This height was also clearly best for tropo, such as
during VHF contests when there was no other propagation. One hop Es
signals were on average quite a bit weaker but still very workable
since we don't need 40 dB over S9 to work a station.
A year ago I relocated the antenna from 105 feet back to 30 feet.
How very disappointing! Now I sit listening to the high antenna boys
all around me working DX that doesn't exist for me, but I am still
doing very well with single and double hop stuff. It had been a
number of years since I had operated with the antenna at this
height. Oh yes... now I remember.
For me the moral of the story is I need another tower. I am
fortunate to have what I do, but cannot have all my antennas up high
at the same time.
73,
Paul N1BUG FN55mf
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