[amsat-bb] Antenna Opinions?

[Greg D.]

Hi folks,

So, we had a swap meet a couple of weekends ago, and I found a bargain I couldn't refuse.  Of course, now I need to decide what to do with it...  

The Find was a 35 element 1296mHz antenna, well built and in excellent condition.  Linearly polarized, horizontal; supposed to be 23dBi gain.  Manufacturer, of course, is unknown.  No markings, but it does not look home-built.  By the mounting hardware, it looks like it was part of some sort of stacked array.

The problem is that I already have a 1296mHz antenna.  Home-made, circularly polarized, 18 turns Helix.  Should be something like 17dBic, if the calculations are correct.

In the shack, which is at the wrong end of 60' of 1/2" hardline and a total of about 15' of RG-213 or something like it, I have my Yaesu 736R and its 10 watts of screaming RF power.  No preamps.

Which antenna should I keep up on the rotor assembly?

Last weekend I put up the new antenna.  I've made one AO-51 LU pass with the new antenna, and I was not impressed.  Several times I couldn't get into the bird, presumably because of the crossed polarization.  But when I did get in, it was full quieting, even at low elevations.  I don't recall having this much trouble with the Helix.  I think AO-51 is the only current satellite on L-band, right?

For other uses, there's nothing terrestrial to aim at, repeaters-wise; they're all hiding behind one or more hills, or went off the air years ago.  That leaves Weak Signal work (hence the horizontal mounting).  I do have one shot into the valley, to the North West, but probably slim pickings for contacts.  I haven't tried EME.

I'm leaning towards putting the Helix back up, and passing the new one on to someone more able to use it.  What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Greg  KO6TH