[amsat-bb] Re: Fw: ELK or ARROW

[n3tl@bellsouth.net]

Jim,

I don't believe Arrow publishes gain numbers for its handheld yagi. I'm confident someone will correct me if I'm wrong about that, and even provide the numbers.

Elk does - its Web site includes the following for the Model 2M/440L5 that I use:

2M Gain 6.8 dbd (8.9 dBi) 
440 Gain 7 dBd (9 dBi) 

Please help me to understand how the same comments you made about the Arrow apply to the Elk. What should the numbers be for that antenna?

Thank you in advance,

Tim
-------------- Original message from "Jim Danehy" <jdanehy at cinci.rr.com>: -------------- 


> 
> . there is the old adage that you get what you pay for . . . why buy a 
> poorly designed antenna that does not work very well 
> > ? 
> > 
> > If you have a 5 element yagi that only produces 4 dbi you are not getting 
> > what you paid for . . . most 2 element yagis would out perform that 
> > statistic . . . a 5 element yagi should be at least 9 db + or 10 db dbd 
> > (dipole ) not isotropic . . . . there is something that is called 
> > MERCHANTABILITY . . .i.e., an IMPLIED WARRANTY that you are getting at 
> > least the minimum for your money . . . 
> > 4 dbi for an Arrow is way off base . . . so it is not just ; you can not 
> > afford a Cadillac but you are not even getting a Ford or Chevy . . i.e., 
> > the gain of a 5 element yagi on 435 mhz . . . that is the issue, not cost 
> > alone . . . . . . same comments apply to the ELK but I have attempted to 
> > make the point that there is a minimum performance for a certain number of 
> > elements that is pretty OBJECTIVE and when it is not met . . . . well 
> > that is my point . . . these two antennas have shown to some testers that 
> > they do not measure up to the minimum EXPECTATIONS . . .unfortunately that 
> > is acceptable to some . . . . then it becomes acceptable to many . . . 
> > and objectivity is abandoned . . . 
> > 
> > Jim W9VNE 
> > 
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Trey Brown" 
> > To: "Jim Danehy" 
> > Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 6:39 PM 
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ELK or ARROW 
> > 
> > 
> >> Thanks for the comments. Realize, though, that not everyone wants or 
> >> can afford to have the Cadillac. 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 4:06 PM, Jim Danehy wrote: 
> >>> the Arrow antenna has been critiqued by Kent Britain, WA5VJB 
> >>> 
> >>> http://wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf 
> >>> 
> >>> he says that some have measured the Arrow for gain on 435 mhz @ 4 dbi 
> >>> (isotropic) . . . . and that further analysis showed that for the 
> >>> element lengths used on 435 mhz that it peaks at 457 mhz and not 435 mhz 
> >>> . . . Kent is a well respected VHF/UHF antenna person who has plenty of 
> >>> credibility . . . 
> >>> 
> >>> Kent opines that the Arrow, as built does not have its elements 
> >>> insulated from the boom. It uses dimensions for insulated elements . . . 
> >>> so much for the Arrow . . . . 
> >>> 
> >>> Now for the ELK : a local friend of mine owns an Arrow and he uses it 
> >>> successfully. He bought an ELK and attempted to compare the Arrow and 
> >>> the ELK . . . . he could not make an across town QSO on 435 mhz from his 
> >>> second story window with the ELK , so he sent the ELK back for a refund 
> >>> . 
> >>> 
> >>> I have worked and exchanged QSLs with several hundred satellite users . 
> >>> . .the majority of the folks that have worked and QSLed me (close to 250 
> >>> + ) have been using either the Arrow or ELK based upon the information 
> >>> on their cards. So they are popular. Are they optimum ? A lot of 
> >>> anecdotal information would seem to say NO . . . 
> >>> 
> >>> Thirty-five years ago I worked Oscar 6 with a homebrew 2 mtr yagi that 
> >>> probably was worse than either the Arrow or Elk but I worked YV and KL7 
> >>> from Indiana on CW with about 15 watts to the 3 elements which my XYL 
> >>> waved around at my directions . . . not any more . . .what do I use 
> >>> these days : a pair of circular polarity yagis on 10 foot booms 
> >>> manufactured by M Square . . . . 
> >>> 
> >>> Folks ask what should they buy ? Maybe a Ford or maybe a Chevy . . . 
> >>> neither is a Cadillac . . . . 
> >>> 
> >>> Jim W9VNE 
> >>> _______________________________________________ 
> >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 
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> >>> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> -- 
> >> Trey -- N5THX 
> >> 
> >> They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary 
> >> safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. 
> >> - Benjamin Franklin 
> >> 
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________ 
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