On 15 Oct 2004 15:23:31 -0700, (Amigaman) wrote:

do I have to use an antenna
tuner if I would, let's say, try to operate on 2/6 or 440?

Hi OM,

The need for a tuner, and the justification for the use of an antenna
design are separate issues. A dummy load will always tune up....

As for this frequency spread, yes, the Discone could easily tune up on
these frequencies, and every one in between. You also need to
consider what will happen if you actually try to USE this antenna for
a purpose other than a dummy load.

For one or two octaves it may operate very usefully, but when you try
to stretch it over a decade of frequency you will find that its best
performance is straight up for occasional satellite work.

When you get into the high end of the "specified" range, the overall
dimension of antenna becomes end-fire straight up because it is
becoming significantly long in terms of wavelength. If your interest
is in activity along the horizon, then you would experience a
sensation of being "deaf."

This deafness is the most common complaint of mis-interpreting the
ability to tune with ability to use.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC