I also had a quad for 20 meters back in the 1960's when I lived in Michigan,
and it was the best antenna I ever had for 20 meters. I loved it. The
problem was that I could not keep it up through the winter. Well, actually
it made it through the winter, but it needed some work, but before I could
get to work on it, a really bad March wind storm came through and blew it
down. It was all homebrew, and I just didn't rebuild it. I had a 14AVQ
vertical at the same time, and there were stations I could hear with the
quad that I could not copy with my 14AVQ vertical.
Ron, K8HSY
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Mike Duke, K5XU
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2015 5:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Quad Antennas
Phil is right that you do not hear many people using a quad these days.
>From 1972 until 1983, I ran a Hy-Gain 2 element tri-band quad that they
called the Hy-Quad.
The wire elements and plastic insulators finally broke to the point
that I had to look at rebuilding it. Since I had a Mosley TA33 JR in
storage, I opted to scrap the quad, and gave it to a missionary friend
who did rebuild it for only 15 meters.
While I worked the world with the Mosley, there was no comparison
between that antenna and the 2 element quad.
When using the quad, if the world didn't beat a path to my door, that
quad would go out and drag the world in off the street.
Mosley also made a 2 element quad at the time I ran the Hy-Gain. My
friend across town had their quad, but couldn't keep it operational for
more than a few months at a time.
I believe Cubex is still around, but I may be wrong about that. If they
are not, I don't know who makes a full size quad commercially for any
band or band combination.
Some of the best fun I ever had was during 2 field day operations where
the club I was with at the time ran a full size 2 element quad on 40 meters.
The bottom was about 10 feet off the ground, but that thing would
scream. When we had worked everything we could hear on the east coast,
four guys would pull up the anchor ropes, walk the antenna around to a
different direction, then drive the anchor pegs back into the ground.
Those were the days!
--
Mike Duke, K5XU
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