[amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions

[Stephen E. Belter]

I agree with Dee, but I'll add my opinion.  The fixed elevation option is a good approach to reduce your costs.

If you are going to fix the elevation, do *not* use a very high gain antenna with a narrow beam width.  You are better off with a moderate gain antenna (for example, the Elk or 4-7 element vertical or 2x7 circularly polarized) so that you have a wider beam width.

73, Steve N9IP
-- 
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-
> bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dee
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 2:18 PM
> To: 'Ted'; GW1FKY at aol.com; amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions
> 
> The actual fixed elevation on the AZ rotor is determined by the beam width
> of the yagi antenna used.  If at all possible, all the calculations based on
> the average pass elevation is near 30 degrees.  If you believe that you will
> use lower passes, say if the beam width is 25 degrees, putting it fixed at
> about 20degrees gives you the split of + - 12.5 degrees.  It IS a tradeoff.
> The higher the gain of the Yagi, the lower the beam width.
> Good Luck...
> Dee, NB2F
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-
> bounces at amsat.org] On
> Behalf Of Ted
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 2:02 PM
> To: GW1FKY at aol.com; amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions
> 
> Agree !!
> 
> Along those lines, before I put up my Kenpro az/el rotor, I plan on testing
> various locations using my Elk with a fixed el but on a small rat shack
> rotor for az. I have seen here recommendations for 15 deg and some for 30
> deg fixed el. Thus there seems to be 2 schools of thought on this. Is there
> any compelling argument for one or the other? I'm almost inclined to split
> the diff at +-22 deg. (most passes for me are N/S and to the E - not so good
> to W
> 
> Any thoughts appreciated
> 
> 73, Ted, K7TRK
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-
> bounces at amsat.org] On
> Behalf Of GW1FKY at aol.com
> Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 2:36 AM
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions
> 
> Hi all,
> Regarding the discussions on antennas - I am not into any debate about the
> pro's and con's, but would just like to encourage anyone to just have a go.
> Sure the argument will always prevail perhaps under the " Must do Better"
> comment and I am sure
> that one can always improve or progress with experimenting -  (  AMATEUR
> RADIO )
> 
> 
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