Got part of a used COM-PVS-2-A 160m array (COM-PVS-160-A) for 160m last year (Tnx Bob!) and only yesterday @ sunset did I finally finish it off in the pouring rain.
I had to make a controller for it. (I used lime green LED's and 3 toggle switches) Played in the Pre-Stew with it and am quite pleased with it. Today in the daylight I made these measurements using my AA-230pro as a signal source, but I was only about 150' away from the antenna, so I am very much in the near field, but they jive with what I saw on the air last night. Like my recent 20-40-80 4-square measurements I made, even though response was less than underwhelming I thought I would share my results so here they are. Got a slight break in the rain. So, with a signal source to the SW (only 150' from the antenna and very much in the near field) Freq 1.833MHz .radio IC-7410...antennas both wire inverted L's.oriented NE-SW...I used a Belden 75Ohm RG6 type coax, NOT the 50Ohm as recommended (It's what I had) The antennas are not similar at all, except they both resonate about 1.833MHz (1.5:1 SWR)..SWR did rise slightly on original antenna once antenna #2 was put into place. One inv L has a >km of radials under it and only rises 35-40' vertically (perhaps 55' of wire as it's sloped) The other Inv L rises sharply 45-50' with nearly 65' of wire "vertically" but only has 2 raised radials roughly 8-10AGL. They are not "symmetrical" to each other with respect to the horizontal portions of the wire. Measurements: Aimed at the source to the SW, the S meter is on S8 In SE/NW mode (Nearly Omni) the S-meter is on S7 Aimed away from signal to the NE the S-meter is on S4 I think I am really too close to say with certainty how much gain, F/B, F/S any of these arrays have, however........so I won't make any conclusions as to gain or F/B except to say it's moving the pattern as intended...using very compromised antennas. Wires in the trees ! Wouldn't it be nice to own a real antenna range a few thousand feet in diameter and trees 150' tall? For now, I am pleased. It's not quite as sharp as my 4 squares, but at 1.8MHz, I am nearly on top of it only 150' away. For the 20-40-80m arrays all antennas are close to being identical (except two of the 80m ones differ slightly) YMMV but if you only have a thin slice of North-South trees like me, I endorse this/these product(s) ! Best thing about them is reduced local noise. (especially nulling the e-fence noise to my NE, when I am aimed Stateside. I could actually hear more of the QRPers that called in last night. dit dit Mike VE9AA aka 4-square boy (one of the locals called me this after the 2nd or 3rd one went up a couple weeks ago...hi) Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
