2m beam antenna with 45 degree coverage?
 

Folks

I may be spending a significant amount of time in a small village
about 30 miles away from the "big city". I'd like to be able to
participate in the 2m repeaters, I suspect almost all of the
repeaters would be in an arc in a 45 degree angle from that small
town. Thus I'm thinking a beam antenna with a 45 degree coverage
would work well for me. I could then put it in a fixed location
pointing to the big city. It also wouldn't have to be that high up.

Ideally this would also cover 70 cm as well. Do such exist?

Or would a 8' omni directional vertical antenna on the end of the peak
of the house also give me decent coverage for the 30 miles?

Part of this depends of course if the village is on the back side of
some hills which is quite possible.

Tony

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 18:24:41 GMT, Tony VE6MVP
wrote:

Or would a 8' omni directional vertical antenna on the end of the peak
of the house also give me decent coverage for the 30 miles?

Hi Tony,

If it doesn't, you have to consider that your choice for a beam (make
sure you align it vertical as most repeaters will be vertical) with
wide beamwidth and dual band capacity would probably describe a simple
log periodic. One thing to consider, if this "big" city is 30 miles
away, and spans 45 degrees, that is indeed a very "big" city.

Part of this depends of course if the village is on the back side of
some hills which is quite possible.

Do a survey in the neighborhood with a handheld and see how hard that
is. Then repeat the survey with a small ground plane connected to the
handheld and hike the antenna 5' up on a broom stick.

The real challenge is how high are the repeater antennas? I can hit
my buddy's repeater here in the basement with a half watt (I'm not
readable but I can trigger the courtesy tone), and I'm behind the brow
of a nearby hill.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:21:09 -0700, Richard Clark
wrote:

If it doesn't, you have to consider that your choice for a beam (make
sure you align it vertical as most repeaters will be vertical) with
wide beamwidth and dual band capacity would probably describe a simple
log periodic. One thing to consider, if this "big" city is 30 miles
away, and spans 45 degrees, that is indeed a very "big" city.

Well some of the repeaters are at either ends of the city. But it's
more like 30 degrees.

Part of this depends of course if the village is on the back side of
some hills which is quite possible.

Do a survey in the neighborhood with a handheld and see how hard that
is. Then repeat the survey with a small ground plane connected to the
handheld and hike the antenna 5' up on a broom stick.

Good suggestion. I'll do that the next time I'm in the area.. Wonder
what the folks in that village will think of me? Do you think I
should wear those big head phones too? smile

And when I think about it if I can make it to the repeaters with my
mobile antenna then a house vertical whip will be significantly
better. Yeah, the more I think about it I should do some more
testing before I posted.

Tony

"Tony VE6MVP" wrote in message
...
Folks

I may be spending a significant amount of time in a small village
about 30 miles away from the "big city". I'd like to be able to
participate in the 2m repeaters, I suspect almost all of the
repeaters would be in an arc in a 45 degree angle from that small
town. Thus I'm thinking a beam antenna with a 45 degree coverage
would work well for me. I could then put it in a fixed location
pointing to the big city. It also wouldn't have to be that high up.

Ideally this would also cover 70 cm as well. Do such exist?

Or would a 8' omni directional vertical antenna on the end of the peak
of the house also give me decent coverage for the 30 miles?

Part of this depends of course if the village is on the back side of
some hills which is quite possible.

Tony

30 miles ain't that far. I have no problem hitting repeaters from 40 miles
out (mobile), but our repeaters are on towers.
Put yourself a 5/8-wave mobile mag-mount on the car and drive out to the
village while the repeater is in use. Make note of 'quiet zones' (bad
reception areas). Avoid those areas when the time comes to set up there.
You should have a better idea after your day trip, about the gain you may
need to reach and hear the repeaters.
Usually, if you can hear a repeater, you can talk to it.

tony
to answer your question
any 3 to 5 element yagi would do what you wish beamwidth that is
cuchcraft makes a dual band 3 element and a 5element yagi neither one
costs to much
put either one on a 20ft pole and you should be able to hit anything you
wish
also a Comet GP9 dual band vertical at the same hieght would do you well too
but a little more costly
good luck

Tony VE6MVP wrote:
Folks

I may be spending a significant amount of time in a small village
about 30 miles away from the "big city". I'd like to be able to
participate in the 2m repeaters, I suspect almost all of the
repeaters would be in an arc in a 45 degree angle from that small
town. Thus I'm thinking a beam antenna with a 45 degree coverage
would work well for me. I could then put it in a fixed location
pointing to the big city. It also wouldn't have to be that high up.

Ideally this would also cover 70 cm as well. Do such exist?

Or would a 8' omni directional vertical antenna on the end of the peak
of the house also give me decent coverage for the 30 miles?

Part of this depends of course if the village is on the back side of
some hills which is quite possible.

Tony

He a look here you can find some usefull vhf antenna plans

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Antennas/VHF_UHF/


and here for some repeaters infos

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Operat...rs/index.shtml

73
Sim

Good suggestion. I'll do that the next time I'm in the area.. Wonder
what the folks in that village will think of me? Do you think I
should wear those big head phones too? smile


just tell then its an external cell phone antenna and they will go "oh OK"
and leave you alone.