Hello All,
Just a quick question. I have my HS4 Transceiver just as I want it. Have my light up callsign, antenna selector and rotator, as well as two UTC clocks..one set for my local time. Also have one of the custom nameplates.


http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j438/deputy69/imagejpg1_zps4cd256f3.jpg


So now to my question. I'm ready to purchase my first directional antenna. Should I go for a Yagi, a Quad, or a Cardioid? I'd kind of like whatever I choose to be useful on more than one band, but don't know if that's really possible with the directional antennas as offered by HamSphere.
Just noticed the 6 Band 5 Element Quad. It looks great but at what a price!
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
KD8WKI (Dave)

Hi Dave,

I prefer the Cardiods for the higher bands and they are very good for long-distance DX (e.g. Germany -> USA/Canada), because a Cardiod has a very wide angle (210°) and a very good gain of about 10 dBi as well.

A 3-el-Yagi is good for mid-range, mostly for the same continent. E.g. for 40 meters it's interesting with a smaler Yagi or a 4-Square antenna (which is also "rotatable" - not really of course, but you can simulate it by the phasing).

Some people also prefer the Quads. I would recommend to try it with a Cardiod first for just one band. It's not so expensive and I'm sure you will be impressed, ;.)

73 and good DX from Jörg :-)
JO31ok
Bochum / Germany

very good antenna is 3-band Dipole for 10-15-20. Big difference between IDC and Dipole. Dipole of course is much better. Also good antenna for HF is Cardioid, but it is monoband and more expensive than Dipole. For 40 metres is good 2-el Yagi or Vertical Collinear. For 30 m good 3-el Yagi. For low frequencies you must to decide for yourself what do you want from antenna. If DX contacts, than you must to buy 3 or more elements Yagi or Cardioid, if local contacts, than better don't buy anything and use IDC Vertical that makes sometimes on 160-80-60 meters amazing results (ask about it to UT1ZZ). My choice for the first directional antenna is 3-band Dipole for 20-15-10 meters bands, which is makes good results, much better than IDC and price is 12 euros in Shop and less than 10 euro in the second hand shop.

Whereby his question a rotatable (Beam) was:


> "So now to my question. I'm ready to purchase my first directional antenna. Should I go for a Yagi, a Quad, or a Cardioid?" <


Neither a Dipole is rotatable nor a Vertical like IDC (of course). ;-)

73 and good DX from Jörg :-)
JO31ok
Bochum / Germany

dipole of HS4.0 is very rotatable, believe me Joerg, because i made on this Dipole more than 75 countries, including Guam, Brunei, French Polinesia etc. Dipole is good also because it has 2 directions at the same time.

Ah, the 3 band Dipoles. Yes, you are right of course. :-)

73 and good DX from Jörg :-)
JO31ok
Bochum / Germany

Thanks to all who shared their views. I decided to go with the 2 el 5 Band Fan Yagi, as it covers only 1 band less than the 5 el 6 Band Quad which cost Euro 35 more. Anyway, so far I like the performance of the 2 el 5 Band Fan Yagi. We shall see!
Thanks again everyone!
KD8WKI (Dave)

good choices. it,much better, than 3-band dipole. and it also have 2 directions at the same time.

Yes, I think you've made a good choice as well, Dave.
Enjoy it and I'm sure we can test it on the bands together. :-)

73 and good DX from Jörg :-)
JO31ok
Bochum / Germany

Hi!

Beverage 300m (80-40m)...users of the receiving antenna reliable information please.
Is the noise bandwidth is at a low level ...? How does it look on different bands on 80, 60, 48 and 40m....?

Vy 73' de SP2DNI
Andy

Hello Andy.

You ask about the 300m beverage - What purpose do you want this antenna for ? In other places I wrote findings of the 3200m beverage (similar characteristics but sharper). I have found as expected that this antenna is for special purposes, it is not a general use antenna, an antenna for direct point to point communication. Unless you are prepared to carefully aim this antenna one could become very despondent and give up easily, although the 300m version is not as sharp. Yes as you ask there is certainly noise reduction as one sees in large longwire antenna for receiving. As if you know normally there is little transmit gain with the beverage but this antenna has been designed here with tx gain enhanced somewhat, you would have to ask Basu on the India DX Net to what degree I am sure he will be able to tell you. The uses I can see visions of is for point to point data communications especially as the sunspot numbers are going down and these bands 160 - 60m become more usable.


73 Graham (ZL3MA)

Hi Graham.....Thank you for the comprehensive information. I have this dish on my plot ( 750 m 1.8 MHz plus 3.5 MHz). I use only to receive!!!
It goes without saying. Radio reception is excellent. Once again, thank you for the feedback. Now I will be testing the antenna on HamSphere 4 (Beverage 300m (80-40m). I'll see what will be the effects.

VY 73' de SP2DNI
Andy