built a 2m 4 element cubical quad... not sure if it's working correctly

[mr_fx]

I mean it is directional,

I guess what is confusing me is I can hit a repeater 35 miles away using my copper J pole, and my yaesu 2900r and I am 'readable but a little noisey' and the receive on my end is a little noisey

but trying to hit the same repeater with the 4 element cubical quad I just built and it barely holds the repeater open using the the 5 watts my HT does... however the signal I receive is crystal clear where it is not on the J pole

 

[wavrider]

Is the quad vertical polarization or horizontal?

 

[mr_fx]

Is the quad vertical polarization or horizontal?

side feed so vertical

 

[74IN]

Start with the most simple things.

Is the antenna pointed in the same direction as the rotor indicates?

Also test using the same transmitter. Variables should be eliminated for a valid test.

Please post the construction of the antenna. Guys on here way smarter than me could then maybe identify the problem.

 

[mr_fx]

wooden boom, pvc spreaders

followed this calculator, entered 146 mhz for frequency

The Ultimate Guide to 11 Meter CB Antennas

 

[wavrider]

many variables here.

IF the dimensions are correct, and the reflector is 5% larger and directors 5% smaller then you should have more gain in receive. Which I believe you said you do have.

The transmit should also be more gain.

If you are having trouble hitting the repeater it may be the coax, High loss, or a skewed pattern, no balun at feed point or no rf choke.

I am a believer in rf chokes or baluns.

Since you have no rf choke at the feed point you may try wrapping one if you have enough coax and see if your resonant freq changes.

You may have CMC and your coax has become part of your antenna.

I can not find the site that shows how many turns per freq for an ugly choke maybe someone will post a link to it.

Hope it helps.

 

[hookedon6]

side feed so vertical

is it mounted as a "square" or a "diamond"?

square side feed = vert

diamond side feed (corner) = horiz

 

[mr_fx]

REALLY? diamond side feed

 

[mr_fx]

then what about round side feed?

 

[mr_fx]

but I am fairly certain that round, diamond or square does not matter, side feed is always vertical and bottom or top is always horizontal

but I have been wrong once or twice before in my life...

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I mean it is directional,

I guess what is confusing me is I can hit a repeater 35 miles away using my copper J pole, and my yaesu 2900r and I am 'readable but a little noisey' and the receive on my end is a little noisey

but trying to hit the same repeater with the 4 element cubical quad I just built and it barely holds the repeater open using the the 5 watts my HT does... however the signal I receive is crystal clear where it is not on the J pole

It seems to be working if the receive is quieter but first you need to clarify something. You seem to be comparing apples to oranges. You say you first tested the distant repeater with the J-Pole and the FT-2900r and IIRC that radio is capable of 75 watts output. How much power were you using from it into the J-Pole versus the 5 watts from the HT you were using into the quad? If you were using anything above 35 watts or so from the 2900r then your ERP would be higher than that of the 5 watts into the quad. try the 2900 into the quad and you will see a BIG difference on your ability to hit and hold the repeater.

 

[mr_fx]

I have compared the quad and the HT with the J pole and HT, the J pole is about 25 foot higher than the Quad though

the results are the quad has better receive and can key the repeater just as well as the j pole... but the J pole can not hear as well

 

[hookedon6]

but I am fairly certain that round, diamond or square does not matter, side feed is always vertical and bottom or top is always horizontal

but I have been wrong once or twice before in my life...

Feeding and Configuration

The two most popular configurations are the Diamond, and Square. From a performance perspective there is no difference, in fact the element configuration may have many different shapes, Circular, Triangle (Delta Loop), or Rectangular. The key criteria is that the loop length must be nominally one wave length, and the elements have to be symmetrical about a line through the feed point and bisecting the structure. Polarity is determined by where the feed point is located; on the bottom it is Horizontal, and on the side (90deg away) it is Vertical.

 

[mr_fx]

Polarity is determined by where the feed point is located; on the bottom it is Horizontal, and on the side (90deg away) it is Vertical.

So I was right?

 

[W5LZ]

mr_fx,
You're right, but just keep in mind that polarity is always dependent on the 'shape' of the antenna and it's orientation. More a 'mechanical' thing that electrical (not really, but sort of).
- 'Doc