I have to following quad parts that I got from a fella for whom I took
a tower down. Three spiders, twelve fiberglass poles, three small
copper coils, and a massive boom to mast fitting. I am wondering if
it might be worth rehabilitating the original antenna which is a tri
band 20, 15, 10 meter three element quad of unknown manufacture. I
have two AB-952 masts with extension kits that I use for special event
towers. I have a Hy-gain tri-band Yagi-Uda for one antenna but no
suitable antenna to top the other tower for field day, SET, and so
forth. I'm looking for insight from those who have actually assembled
quads. Is it practical, if one is well organized to use a quad as a
special event antenna? How long might it take to assemble once it is
fully assembled and tested and then carefully dismantled into a well
marked kit. I am open to hearing that there is an equal or better
performer that would be easier to assemble for a height of only fifty
feet. The positions I've read so far indicate a greater gain, a lower
take off angle at any given height, as well as a quieter receiving
performance for the quad. Naturally I would prefer real world
experience to a theoretical discussion partially because I am not yet
well educated enough in antenna theory to fully understand the
theoretical arguments.

On Dec 9, 4:49*pm, Tom Horne wrote:
I have to following quad parts that I got from a fella for whom I took
a tower down. *Three spiders, twelve fiberglass poles, three small
copper coils, and a massive boom to mast fitting. *I am wondering if
it might be worth rehabilitating the original antenna which is a tri
band 20, 15, 10 meter three element quad of unknown manufacture. *I
have two AB-952 masts with extension kits that I use for special event
towers. *I have a Hy-gain tri-band Yagi-Uda for one antenna but no
suitable antenna to top the other tower for field day, SET, and so
forth. *I'm looking for insight from those who have actually assembled
quads. *Is it practical, if one is well organized to use a quad as a
special event antenna? *How long might it take to assemble once it is
fully assembled and tested and then carefully dismantled into a well
marked kit. *I am open to hearing that there is an equal or better
performer that would be easier to assemble for a height of only fifty
feet. *The positions I've read so far indicate a greater gain, a lower
take off angle at any given height, as well as a quieter receiving
performance for the quad. *Naturally I would prefer real world
experience to a theoretical discussion partially because I am not yet
well educated enough in antenna theory to fully understand the
theoretical arguments.

Sounds like the makings of a good antenna . I use a 4 element quads on
10 6 & 2 meters.

On Dec 9, 8:31*pm, JIMMIE wrote:
On Dec 9, 4:49*pm, Tom Horne wrote:





I have to following quad parts that I got from a fella for whom I took
a tower down. *Three spiders, twelve fiberglass poles, three small
copper coils, and a massive boom to mast fitting. *I am wondering if
it might be worth rehabilitating the original antenna which is a tri
band 20, 15, 10 meter three element quad of unknown manufacture. *I
have two AB-952 masts with extension kits that I use for special event
towers. *I have a Hy-gain tri-band Yagi-Uda for one antenna but no
suitable antenna to top the other tower for field day, SET, and so
forth. *I'm looking for insight from those who have actually assembled
quads. *Is it practical, if one is well organized to use a quad as a
special event antenna? *How long might it take to assemble once it is
fully assembled and tested and then carefully dismantled into a well
marked kit. *I am open to hearing that there is an equal or better
performer that would be easier to assemble for a height of only fifty
feet. *The positions I've read so far indicate a greater gain, a lower
take off angle at any given height, as well as a quieter receiving
performance for the quad. *Naturally I would prefer real world
experience to a theoretical discussion partially because I am not yet
well educated enough in antenna theory to fully understand the
theoretical arguments.

Sounds like the makings of a good antenna . I use a 4 element quads on
10 6 & 2 meters.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

ooops 10 M is 2 eleement

Jimmie

On Dec 9, 3:49*pm, Tom Horne wrote:
*How long might it take to assemble once it is
fully assembled and tested and then carefully dismantled into a well
marked kit. *I am open to hearing that there is an equal or better
performer that would be easier to assemble for a height of only fifty
feet. *The positions I've read so far indicate a greater gain, a lower
take off angle at any given height, as well as a quieter receiving
performance for the quad. *Naturally I would prefer real world
experience to a theoretical discussion partially because I am not yet
well educated enough in antenna theory to fully understand the
theoretical arguments.

Greater gain per element? The way I see it is the 3 el quad would
have slightly more gain only due to the slight extra gain of it's loop
driven element, vs a dipole driven element on a 3 el yagi.
Is the extra gain worth the extra trouble? Not to me, but mpg will
vary to the user..
Lower angles per a given height above ground? I'd have to model them
to compare, but I don't think it would be enough to worry about.
Lower noise levels? This one I don't agree with unless you are in
an area such as high altitudes where corona discharge might be an
issue.
For most normal uses, I don't believe the loop has any lower noise
than a dipole. Noise is RF just like any other signal. If a certain
antenna receives less noise than another, it would also receive
a lower level from desired signals if they were from the same
direction and angle. For the most part, I think the claims of lower
noise reception from loops vs dipoles are pretty much hooey, and
not worth worrying about.

By "special event" antenna, I assume you mean one which can
be hauled and erected at most any location. IE: much the same
as a "field day" antenna..
It's up to you, and the amount of work you want to deal with.
Would I use a 3 el quad for a special events or field day array?
Nope.. Too much work and maintenance for my blood.
For a portable beam that can be planted about anywhere I use
a short tiltover-crankup tower with a A4S planted on it.
http://home.comcast.net/~nm5k/fd01-1.jpg
The tower can fit in the back of my trucks, but I now have a
motorcycle trailer that can haul it all.
http://home.comcast.net/~nm5k/fd2.jpg
And even that setup is a bit of work, and requires more than
one person to erect. But it can be slapped together and cranked
into the air fairly fast if I have a few extra hands standing around.
The performance while not earthshaking is pretty good.
They won 10m phone with it the first year I tried it. And 20
and 15 are good on it too, being as it's pretty much full size
on all bands. IE: the 20/15m reflector is 32 feet.. And 10m
has it's own reflector which is at a better spacing than if it
were using the larger reflector for all three bands.
BTW, my rig doesn't go to 50 feet. Only about 31 feet..
But that's usually plenty high enough for gov work on the
higher bands.