Hi Tedd,
I read your message with interest. I have a similar situation. I was given a
beautiful shiny UHF exposed dipole array with 8 dipoles... four on one side
of the mast and four more 180 degrees out... The problem is that the system
is cut for the low end of the UHF spectrum, in the 420 mhz range. It does
work as is with an acceptable reflected power, however the efficiency is real
poor. I am wondering if it is possible to shorten things somehow in order to
push the center freq into the FM portion of the UHF ham band? I suspect that
it is possible to do so, but would proceed with caution, as we may indeed get
the resonant freq moved up into the ham band by tweaking the physical length
of each element, but do not forget that the phasing harness is not going to
easily be adjusted. That would probably drag the efficiency of the re-tuned
dipoles down some, as well as produce uncontrollable effects on the radiation
pattern, gain, etc... I would be very pleased to hear what others think. Good
luck in your quest....
73, de Gary, W7NTF
