On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 07:56:46 -0600, "Ken Bessler"
wrote:

OK, after the thread on PL-259 losses, I figured
my system (ant gain - connector losses - coax loss)

150 mhz total net gain 1.006 DBi
450 mhz total net gain 2.797 DBi
Antenna tip is 32'6" above ground

My proposed system would replace the RG 58 coax pieces
with a single section of Flexi 4XL and the antenna would
be a Comet GP-9. The new figures a

150 mhz total net gain 7.919 DBi
450 mhz total net gain 10.553 DBi
Antenna tip is 47'6" above ground

150 mhz = 6.913 db improvement
450 mhz = 7.756 db improvement
Antenna tip 15 feet higher

Cost - about $250 for the improvement.

Now here's my question - will I notice the improvement
enough? I've had several OM's tell me that on SSB, CW
or HF I would but not on 2m/440 simplex and repeaters.


Everything is relative.

As Dee said, if you do weak signal work you will notice it.

If you figure investment Vs performance yours is ahead of mine
http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/tower.htm in both dollars per
watt and hours to install. Took me two years to install, but I do put
it to use. OTOH I've thought of replacing the UHF/VHF arrays with a
single Diamond dual band repeater antenna, EXCEPT for the lightening
problem.
That tower has been taking about 3 hits a year and I have one Diamond
repeater antenna in the shop that looks like a well used exploding
cigar. The top end is pretty frazzled and the matching network in the
base is shorted. Inside it vaporized the top 4 or 5 inches of the end
element.

In my opinion the height is the important element, but I'd not worry
about the extra gain of the antenna. OTOH you *might* receive some
intermod, but you *probably* won't. (note weasel words)


Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Ken KG0WX