MOSLEY MODEL MB-11, Mini-beam

[Quiksilver]

Aloha!
Anyone running or ran a Mosley mini-beam. This would be perfect to run at my small lot. I live in a tight suburb neighborhood. I'm thinking (with the YL's approval) I could mount this off the eaves of the roof mounted with some uni-strut. Being that most (99%) of my RX comes up from the South / South-West, would I really need a rotor. I mean, a rotor would be nice, but for now, but could I run a beam without a rotor? Also a few questions about Yagi's. Do they produce less RF bleed-over (neighbors), and how much rejection will I have on the reflective side. Will I totally not hear any local transmissions through the back side of the antenna.
Thanks gang!

Mosley Electronics
Mosley MB-11

Back of house (facing South)

 

[Moleculo]

You don't need a rotor if you have no intentions of turning it from the shack. If you're primarily going to tx/rx in one direction, then you can get away with mounting it fixed. At some point you will probably want to turn it, and then you can install the rotor.

As far as the rejection from side and rear goes, it's hard to answer that question because Mosley doesn't have any specs listed. You will probably still be able to hear some from the rear, especially strong locals.

 

[Marconi]

Quicksilver, I would suggest you mount this beam on a pushup pole at the very least or a small tower would be best. Mosley calls it a mini and that may appeal to you, but believe me the antenna will still look big when you see it.

Remember when you attach anything to your house it can damage the house over time and that is very expensive to fix---if you have to pay to have it done. An antenna attached to your home can also present lightning problems.

From what I see of a nice house, I do not see adaquate facing surface (up and down) to do a good job securing this big beam antenna. You will also have to put it above the peak and for sure get it high enough so the antenna tips don't come close to the roof and detune the antenna. You are probably planning to set it up horizontal for DX and that makes it easier to clear the tip ends of the antnenna also.

As far as the rotor goes, you may be satified to start with, but it won't be long and you will want to turn the antenna. Don't expect the rejection to be like the difference in night and day. Your beam will probably knock the signal down on some of the nearby statations and not others, but don't expect it to eliminate any signals totally except maybe very weak signals.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Quiksilver]

Don't expect the rejection to be like the difference in night and day. Your beam will probably knock the signal down on some of the nearby statations and not others, but don't expect it to eliminate any signals totally except maybe very weak signals.

Good luck and keep us posted.

That's kinda what I'm hopping for. I still want to be able to talk to the locals. But from what I've been reading, if mounted horizontally, and most locals are Vertical, QSO's my be at a diminished quality. Basically, no DX, no contacts. Am I wrong to assume this?
Thanks!

 

[W5LZ]

For the gain figures, I think I'd take a look at other three element beams for some sort of comparison.
The pictures you see of radiation patterns shows only 'shape', has nothing to do with range. That 'shape isn't all that 'sharp' at all, lot's of 'fuzziness' to it. So, you would probably be able to hear some local stations and probably not others. Just depends on just how 'local' they are.
There can be quite a difference in what you can hear when thinking about polarity. The typical figure quoted is something like 20 - 25 dB difference. So selecting the polarity for what you want the most is the best idea, 'local' or 'DX'. Keeping your present antenna for local stuff isn't a bad idea.
Turning a directional antenna is a nice ability to have! Doesn't always take a rotor, sometimes a pipe wrench works a lot cheaper. You do loose a lot of convenience with one though. (Of course, a 'wench' on that wrench is nice too! But don't hold your breath.)
- 'Doc

(Which brings up an interesting thought. Notice how a wench and a wrench have sort of common spelling? Wonder it there's any reason for that? And that's as far as I'll take that one!)