. there is the old adage that you get what you pay for . . . why buy a poorly designed antenna that does not work very well
?
If you have a 5 element yagi that only produces 4 dbi you are not getting what you paid for . . . most 2 element yagis would out perform that statistic . . . a 5 element yagi should be at least 9 db + or 10 db dbd (dipole ) not isotropic . . . . there is something that is called MERCHANTABILITY . . .i.e., an IMPLIED WARRANTY that you are getting at least the minimum for your money . . . 4 dbi for an Arrow is way off base . . . so it is not just ; you can not afford a Cadillac but you are not even getting a Ford or Chevy . . i.e., the gain of a 5 element yagi on 435 mhz . . . that is the issue, not cost alone . . . . . . same comments apply to the ELK but I have attempted to make the point that there is a minimum performance for a certain number of elements that is pretty OBJECTIVE and when it is not met . . . . well that is my point . . . these two antennas have shown to some testers that they do not measure up to the minimum EXPECTATIONS . . .unfortunately that is acceptable to some . . . . then it becomes acceptable to many . . . and objectivity is abandoned . . .
Jim W9VNE
----- Original Message ----- From: "Trey Brown" palintheus@gmail.com To: "Jim Danehy" jdanehy@cinci.rr.com Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 6:39 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ELK or ARROW
Thanks for the comments. Realize, though, that not everyone wants or can afford to have the Cadillac.
On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 4:06 PM, Jim Danehy jdanehy@cinci.rr.com wrote:
the Arrow antenna has been critiqued by Kent Britain, WA5VJB
http://wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf
he says that some have measured the Arrow for gain on 435 mhz @ 4 dbi (isotropic) . . . . and that further analysis showed that for the element lengths used on 435 mhz that it peaks at 457 mhz and not 435 mhz . . . Kent is a well respected VHF/UHF antenna person who has plenty of credibility . . .
Kent opines that the Arrow, as built does not have its elements insulated from the boom. It uses dimensions for insulated elements . . . so much for the Arrow . . . .
Now for the ELK : a local friend of mine owns an Arrow and he uses it successfully. He bought an ELK and attempted to compare the Arrow and the ELK . . . . he could not make an across town QSO on 435 mhz from his second story window with the ELK , so he sent the ELK back for a refund .
I have worked and exchanged QSLs with several hundred satellite users . . .the majority of the folks that have worked and QSLed me (close to 250
- ) have been using either the Arrow or ELK based upon the information
on their cards. So they are popular. Are they optimum ? A lot of anecdotal information would seem to say NO . . .
Thirty-five years ago I worked Oscar 6 with a homebrew 2 mtr yagi that probably was worse than either the Arrow or Elk but I worked YV and KL7 from Indiana on CW with about 15 watts to the 3 elements which my XYL waved around at my directions . . . not any more . . .what do I use these days : a pair of circular polarity yagis on 10 foot booms manufactured by M Square . . . .
Folks ask what should they buy ? Maybe a Ford or maybe a Chevy . . . neither is a Cadillac . . . .
Jim W9VNE _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
-- Trey -- N5THX
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin