On Apr 20, 2010, at 6:59 PM, ErnestK wrote: > You can use a dual band antenna with a dipelxer and duplexers on each band > but there are trade-offs. When we first put up W6DHS, we were using a dual > band Comet 11dbi on 2 meters. We replaced the two meter side with a DB > Products dipole array 6dbd. We measured a 15db signal increase over most of > our coverage area.
A 15dB change in real-world performance means that the original antenna was little more than a matched dummy load. ;-) > There are differences in the quality of amateur products vs. commercial, not > only in accuracy of gain figures, but survivability as well. If you use a > dual band amateur antenna, know that it's probably a temporary solution to > buy time for some additional fundraising. > Ernie > W6KAP Budget double the cost of the repeater itself for a properly installed repeater system. The antennas, feedline, and filtering do the real work. The repeater's just a couple of radios in a box. :-) Or as my first Elmer used to say... "The antenna makes the radio." He proved that point over and over again with round-the-world QRP contacts on HF... of course, the solar cycle was a tad higher back then.... but.... you get the idea... :-) Nate WY0X
