"Ken Bessler" wrote in message
news:nPRFd.18091$ph.11198@okepread01...
Several months ago I had a temporary U/VHF base antenna.
It was a MFJ-1729 dual band mag mount stuck to a radial
plate on a 30' mast. I was feeding it with about 36' of RG58
that was made up of 3 sections, joined with SO-239 barrels.

I thought it was working great because I could hear a friend
on the input to a repeater some 50 miles away (he lives very
close to the repeater).

I improved the antenna with a mono band vertical, better
coax & more mast. My math says I gained 10' in altitude
and 2.7 db overall (factoring in new coax & better antenna).

All of a sudden my new, better & higher antenna could NOT
hear my friend! WTF? I figured it was a band opening and
forgot about it.....

Last week the ice storms caused a branch to fall, ruining my
antenna. Due to $$$ shortage (replacing my HF rig), I opted
to go back to the temporary setup. The tip of the antenna is
10' lower and overall gain is 2.7db less.

I can hear my friend again!

I don't get it - the premium antenna worked better except for
hearing my friend, where it worked worse. Anyone care to offer
an explanation?

Ken KG0WX

Several possiable casuses. Your friend started using lower power for a
while. The patern of the new antenna had a null in your friend's direction.