I really appreciate all the comments. I do have a follow up question: An aluminum beam can be left up for years. I was reading one review of a particular hex beam and the poster said that after 4 years, the cords holding the beam together had become brittle and started to fail from UV exposure and the main support members had deteriorated for same reason.
These beams are not cheap, I don't want to be taking the beam down and replacing main structural components every 5 yrs. Can anyone with a hex beam comment on this? Thanks, Terry > On May 20, 2017, at 8:07 AM, Richard Fjeld <[email protected]> wrote: > > I had a TA33Jr back in the 70’s when the sun cycle was good. I had a Ten-Tec > Argonaut QRP rig and worked a lot of DX with it BUT conditions were very > good. Note is was only for three bands. > > I second what Vic is saying, though I am speaking about hex beams in general. > Hex beams are a good solution at times. I have talked to many who were using > them. Vic’s comment about ‘low profile’ can be important. I have heard > people say their neighbors were not aware it was a ham radio antenna. I have > also read they only need to be up about 20 feet high. They are said to be > good in the wind. (Maybe all this has been mentioned) > > Rich, n0ce > > From: Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP > Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 10:49 PM > To: [email protected]; Terry Brown > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Beam antenna question > > I used the K4KIO hexbeam on Field Day -- it was very easy to assemble > and the parts were high quality. It is also visually low-profile. I > would recommend it. I don't have any experience with the TA33 Jr. but my > guess is that there are a lot more things that can go wrong with all > those traps. > > The hexbeam will have gain on WARC bands as well as 10-15-20. My > experience is that with conditions as they are today, 17m is VERY > important (so is 30, for that matter) for DXing. > > I have a rotatable dipole and yes, it definitely does help a lot to > rotate it! But it isn't a beam. > > 73, > Victor, 4X6GP > Rehovot, Israel > Formerly K2VCO > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
