My attempts over the weekend to reach VK/ZL on 20m SSB were ultimately unsuccessful although my call was twice faintly heard but not strongly enough to complete a QSO.
I was using a dipole on a 6m mast which I thought would give the best performance with my 10W transmitted from a low hill. Of course finding a higher summit would probably have been better but was there a way I missed to improve the antenna?
I have two 6m poles with me and two dipoles, a 40/30/20 and a 20/17/15. The overlap at 20m is an accident but can I use what I have to make a Yagi? A search online suggests putting the poles 2.5m apart would give about the correct spacing. For 14.300MHz the spacing should be 2.56m but I doubt that accuracy can be achieved, especially if there is any wind blowing.
Stringing the two dipoles so the angle of the V is the same for each should create a Yagi type antenna with the feed going to the front dipole of course.
I seem to recall someone on here has done something similar with Delta loops but has anyone any experience doing it the way I am suggesting? If I can find a suitable opportunity I will give it a try but any feedback would be very helpful. For example, what impact does the Reflector dipole have on the SWR of the Radiator? Does the Radiator need to be shortened. In a purpose made Yagi the Radiator is shorter than the Director but if I can gain a dB or two it can only help.
73
John