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Small, portable, light weight Hexbeam
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Mark A. Smith
Group,
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I found a website that some of you are probably already aware of. This company manufactures a portable 2 element beam made of wire and fiberglass spreaders. I believe the weight was under 8 pounds, the gain was around 4-6db, and the turning radius less than 10 feet on 20M. They also have a 5 band beam. I haven't purchased one of these yet, but I've read more than a few good reports on them. It seems they are comparable to a trapped 3 elem./3 band yagi in performance, but with a much smaller footprint. The wire element lengths are full sized, and they're suppose to quiet like a quad. They also sell collapsible masts for portable op. If any of you have any experience with these I'd sure appreciate any comments you might have. Their website is Mark KB5KYX ----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Mc" <tjmc@...> To: <FT817@...> Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 1:45 PM Subject: [FT817] Mini antennas for HF... Hi Gang, I've seen / used small antennas before ( the HT-750 antennas for starters and the the PW-1 now )and have come to a conclusion; they work but not well! Don't take this the wrong way... they do work, ( yes I've worked DX on a 40inch whip), but poorly due to the physical/electrical size of them as compared to a regular HF antenna. If there is no choice then of course use a shortened antenna, but most of the time there is an option. Any light weight end feed wire of lenght(without coax)or light weight dipole (or V ) with coax/twinlead will outdo the small antenna easily ( and prob fit in a zip-lock bag). comments welcome best Tom aa2vk -- **** * Member of NORCAL, NJQRP, LIQRP, SGCI * * K2 #1213 * * LIQRP Web Page: www.erols.com/tjmc/liqrp * * Personal web page : www.erols.com/tjmc * **** To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: FT817-unsubscribe@... and for a great FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions ) see Please note that your messages and files sent to this group become public domain upon submission and may appear anywhere on the Internet or in print without notice or compensation. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to |
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Mark,
The Hexbeam is excellent and real. In short, it was the only antenna to hold up for Chuck at Bouvet Island. It is a bit pricey, but worth it. I have the 5-band one ready to put up soon. Friends that have it simply are very pleased with the Hexbeam. 72 de Barry - W4WB --- In FT817@y..., "Mark A. Smith" <kb5kyx@k...> wrote: Group,This company manufactures a portable 2 element beam made of wire andfiberglass spreaders. I believe the weight was under 8 pounds, the gain wasaround 4-6db, and the turning radius less than 10 feet on 20M.but I've read more than a few good reports on them. It seems they arecomparable to a trapped 3 elem./3 band yagi in performance, but with a much smallersuppose to quiet like a quad. They also sell collapsible masts for portable op.work but not well!on a 40inch whip), but poorly due to the physical/electrical size ofthem as compared to a regular HF antenna.most of the time there is an option.weight dipole (or V ) with coax/twinlead will outdo the small antennaeasily ( and prob fit in a zip-lock bag).public domain upon submission and may appear anywhere on the Internet orin print without notice or compensation. |
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--- In FT817@y..., Bill Walker <kd7jzb@m...> wrote:
Ok, looks interesting but how do they work? Theory I mean.know? Hi Bill, The design evolved from Mike Traffie back in 1992 as I recall. The basic design is pair of W elements facing each other. One is the driven element and the other is the reflector. The centers of each element are close together as are the ends of the elements proximate. Think of it as the letter M and the letter W on top of each other. The elements can be supported by three crossed arms that for a six-side configuration, hence hex. Modeling this antenna is difficult and can not properly be done using NEC3 because of limitations in the code. It is thought that NEC4 may be able to do it, but I am not aware of anyone attempting it yet. The approximate model indicates performance in the ballpark of that observed by various people. When I model it using NEC3, the upper lobes common with most antennas appear to be suppressed. This is an interesting and good performing 2-element (half-size) beam that works very well. I note that it is designed to work best about 40'. Raising the height lowers further the take-off angle. This help you? 72 de Barry - W4WB |
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--- In FT817@y..., Bryan Nehl - k0emt <k0emt@d...> wrote:
This antenna is extremely similar to an "X-Beam."other bands is included.Brian, I think "extremely similar" is an overstatement of fact. This comparison of the x-beam and Hexbeam has been put forth before, but is IMO inapropriate. The geometry of the x-beam is somewhat like the Hexbeam with its wings tucked in. Makes a big difference. Frankly, there are aspects of the Hexbeam design/fabrication that makes it just a bit tough for a homebrew. 72 de Barry - W4WB |
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Bill Walker
Excellent reply Barry. That answers my question very well.
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Tnx, 72 On Sunday 17 June 2001 04:21 am, you wrote:
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Bill Walker - KD7JZB |
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Glyph
Hex beams don't look very sexy, but they seem to perform very well. -- Bil
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----- Original Message -----
From: Mark A. Smith <kb5kyx@...> To: <FT817@...> Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 12:20 PM Subject: [FT817] Small, portable, light weight Hexbeam Group,I've read more than a few good reports on them. It seems they are comparable toa trapped 3 elem./3 band yagi in performance, but with a much smallerQuestions ) see Please note that your messages and files sent to this group become publicdomain upon submission and may appear anywhere on the Internet or in print without notice or compensation.
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Bill Walker
Ok, looks interesting but how do they work? Theory I mean.
It looks like a horizontal loop of some sort. Is it NVIS? Anyone know? At 14:20 6/16/01 -0500, you wrote: Group,Bill Walker - KD7JZB |
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Thomas C. Sefranek
"Mark A. Smith" wrote:
Group,I have tested/compared the 17 meter version with my 4 element 17 meter mono-bander. It worked remarkably well! It is a bit of a mystery how Mr. Traffie gets a 50 ohm match WITHOUT any matching sections. baluns, etc. We have used the 5 band version for field day and had excellent results too. (It's nice having Mr. Trafffie for a neighbor...) Yes, it is NOT a cheap antenna, BUT you Do get Quality components. Their website is-- * | __O Thomas C. Sefranek tcs@... |_-\<,_ Amateur Radio Operator: WA1RHP (*)/ (*) Bicycle mobile on 145.41, 448.625 MHz |
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