I recently noticed I was missing a few pages from my site, one included a great article I wrote on antenna stacking and baying. So I am going to try and reproduce it here.
Ah, my fellow radio enthusiasts, gather around the virtual campfire as we delve into the electrifying world of antennas. Picture this: a moonlit night, a cosy shack, and a cup of metaphorical cocoa. Let’s break down the antenna stacking and baying dance steps, shall we? 🌙🎙️
- Stacking vs. Baying: The Cosmic Dilemma:
- Imagine antennas as celestial dancers—one twirling above the other (stacking) and the other waltzing side by side (baying).
- Stacking: Antennas in a vertical embrace, like star-crossed lovers reaching for the sky.
- Baying: Antennas holding hands horizontally, a cosmic conga line across the rooftop.
- The Gain-Beamwidth Tango:
- When we stack or bay antennas, we’re after gain—the celestial spotlight that makes our signals shine brighter.
- But beware! The gain comes at a cost: beamwidth. Like adding too many sequins to a dress—it narrows our focus.
- Imagine stacking directors: more gain, but a beamwidth so tight, it could thread a needle in a hurricane!
- Real Estate Jitters:
- If you’ve got acres like a Texas rancher, stack away! But in a built-up area, an 8×8 array is like fitting a giraffe into a Mini Cooper.
- In the UK, we’re more practical—44 arrays on VHF and above are our jam. Urban chic, if you will.
- The Boxkite Intrigue:
- Box kites, those mysterious rebels, defy the norm. Their feeding secrets? A tale for another page—stay tuned!
- Spoiler alert: It involves secret handshakes and moonlit rendezvous.
- The dB Dilemma:
- Stacking promises 3 dB of gain (or so they say). But in the real world, it’s more like 2.5 to 2.7 dB.
- Connectors, coax lengths—they’re like dance partners stepping on each other’s toes. Gain wobbles.
- And those pesky sidelobes? They crashed our antenna party, uninvited.
- The S Point GAIN Mystery:
- Ah, the million-dollar question: What’s the benefit of an S-point gain? Is it a cosmic currency?
- Let’s just say it’s like finding an extra marshmallow in your cocoa—a sweet surprise.
So, my radio comrades, whether you stack, bay, or invent new antenna moves, remember: the dance is in the details. May your signals reach the stars! 🌟🎶
Sources of Inspiration:
UK Antenna Stacking Practices GM3SEK
DL6WU’s Antenna Formulas
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Hi I am Marcus, MM0ZIF, a licenced Radio Amateur, Doctor of Musicology, amateur weather enthusiast. I over the years have been a Amateur Radio Tutor, Examiner, and a Regional Manager for the Radio Society of Great Britain.
This site is dedicated more towards Amateur Radio and Weather, with an angle on Technology too. I also maintain https://havenswell.com/ which is my other blog which is more aimed at cooking, hobbies and life in general as well as businness and networking.
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