There are many pitfalls in testing one antenna against another. I have performed several tests over the years comparing various antennae mainly verticals.
Firstly, I am not going to consider factors such as potentials for electrical ground because I don't think they are relevant to these tests, whether you have them or not.
My first point would be your coax, don't use crap coax, get some decent low loss coax which won't be effected as much by any outside influence.
When you do your tests, switch everything off in the house which could possibly effect it such as TV's, central heating or any other electrical interference. We don't want any variations in the operating conditions in and around the house.
Next, set your antenna up in a position where you can get it down and get another one up very quickly such as a wind down mast or a fold down or even a scaffold pole you can place in a socket in the ground and have down in minutes. It is no use at all if it takes you hours to get it down - atmospheric conditions may change so we need to get the antenna up and down in minutes.
There is no guarantee that conditions may change in a few minutes either but it helps to have speed on your side.
Find stations you can rely on 100% all of the time, not just shouting on the breaking channel for a copy. Make arrangements for the tests with them and keep away from busy channels such as breaking channels when you test.
Test over a number of channels and make sure you have a mean average of those several different channels. We all know how frequencies suit one antenna and not another. Test over SSB, FM and AM if you can and give yourself a good varied bandwidth of results.
Test a number of different set ups with choke baluns, isolating the antenna from the mast if you like to see if different antenna's react differently to this.
Don't be tempted to use two different masts, sets of coax etc with both antenna's up at the same time. THIS WILL NOT WORK believe me. All tests must be on the exact same level playing field.
Those are my tips for anyone testing one antenna against another.
Firstly, I am not going to consider factors such as potentials for electrical ground because I don't think they are relevant to these tests, whether you have them or not.
My first point would be your coax, don't use crap coax, get some decent low loss coax which won't be effected as much by any outside influence.
When you do your tests, switch everything off in the house which could possibly effect it such as TV's, central heating or any other electrical interference. We don't want any variations in the operating conditions in and around the house.
Next, set your antenna up in a position where you can get it down and get another one up very quickly such as a wind down mast or a fold down or even a scaffold pole you can place in a socket in the ground and have down in minutes. It is no use at all if it takes you hours to get it down - atmospheric conditions may change so we need to get the antenna up and down in minutes.
There is no guarantee that conditions may change in a few minutes either but it helps to have speed on your side.
Find stations you can rely on 100% all of the time, not just shouting on the breaking channel for a copy. Make arrangements for the tests with them and keep away from busy channels such as breaking channels when you test.
Test over a number of channels and make sure you have a mean average of those several different channels. We all know how frequencies suit one antenna and not another. Test over SSB, FM and AM if you can and give yourself a good varied bandwidth of results.
Test a number of different set ups with choke baluns, isolating the antenna from the mast if you like to see if different antenna's react differently to this.
Don't be tempted to use two different masts, sets of coax etc with both antenna's up at the same time. THIS WILL NOT WORK believe me. All tests must be on the exact same level playing field.
Those are my tips for anyone testing one antenna against another.
