On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 19:15:44 -0700, Roy Lewallen
wrote:

wrote:
"Roy Lewallen" wrote in message
...

wrote:

. . .
Now Roy I have a problem with what you are saying here
I spend hours modelling an array to lower the TOA or angle of max
radiation
which directly controls the main lobe dimension both in width and height.

And, as I've said quite a few times in one way or another, it's largely a
waste of time.


Why? A single word question
On what authority do you base that statement on?

Because "takeoff angle" as you use the term does not bear a direct
relationship to the ability to communicate.

Right on.

Let's look at it this way. If I have an antenna with a "pencil beam"
and it's pointing at 90 degree azimuth and the station I want to
communicate with is at 0 degrees, I don't know of anyone who would say
that this is an optimum situation.

Yet, many (okay, one) would say that an antenna with (pardon me) a
"take off angle" of 3 degrees is *always* superior to one with a TOA
of 20 degrees, notwithstanding the fact that the desired station's
signal is maximum at 20 degrees.

This is like saying that I have room for a rhombic pointed at Asia so
I'm going to work my ass off optimizing it when all of the stations I
want to work are in Europe.

Why is this so? I'm completely baffled.