Question about comparing antennas

[lolbananalol2]

Hi everyone

I've been looking at some different antennas over the last few months because we're moving soon and I just have some questions. Can any of you tell me how a log periodic would compare to a discone for receiving purposes? The stuff I listen to is spread over a mix of VHF and UHF and I would rather have one antenna that can cover multiple bands instead of separate antennas for each band. Would the log periodic have better performance assuming I pointed in the direction of the current city that I'm living in, which is about 30 or 40 km away from where we're moving to. For reference, I currently have a diamond D130J which works well and I've been looking at the Create CLP5130-1N which seems to be a good model as far as log periodics go. I understand multi-band antennas are a bit of a compromise, but I'm prepared to live with that.


Thanks for any info you might have.

 

[merlin]

The log periodic is directional and has some gain. The discone is more or less omni directional and littele if any gain.
40 Km is not really that far pending terrain and buildings. I get usable 7/800 MHz signals with my discone at near double the distance.
AGL, it is about 50 feet.
A secret here is antenna height is your friend, higher is better.

 

[mmckenna]

Hi everyone

I've been looking at some different antennas over the last few months because we're moving soon and I just have some questions. Can any of you tell me how a log periodic would compare to a discone for receiving purposes? The stuff I listen to is spread over a mix of VHF and UHF and I would rather have one antenna that can cover multiple bands instead of separate antennas for each band. Would the log periodic have better performance assuming I pointed in the direction of the current city that I'm living in, which is about 30 or 40 km away from where we're moving to.

Yes, absolutely.

Discone antennas have zero gain. Their radiation patterns get wonky as the frequency goes up.

A log periodic has real gain and a known radiation pattern.

Hand down, a proper log periodic will far outperform a discone.

For reference, I currently have a diamond D130J which works well and I've been looking at the Create CLP5130-1N which seems to be a good model as far as log periodics go. I understand multi-band antennas are a bit of a compromise, but I'm prepared to live with that.


Thanks for any info you might have.

If the discone antenna works for you, and you are hearing everything you want to listen to, then there's probably little benefit in changing antennas.

If there is stuff you are missing, coming in really weak, or you just want to explore more of the bands, then the log periodic may be the way to go.

Keep in mind that the log periodic is directional and works best in the way it's pointed. You probably need to consider the possibility and costs of adding an antenna rotator to the cost of the log periodic antenna to make the best use of it.

I have a the Diamond D130 discone at home. It works for what I need since everything I need to listen/talk to is close by. They are not outstanding performers by any stretch of the imagination. There only real benefit is their wide bandwidth. Other than that, they are kind of sucky antennas. If VHF/UHF is all you need, then the log periodic antenna may be a better choice, or a purpose built VHF/UHF commercial band vertical antenna with some gain.

 

[lolbananalol2]

mmckenna:
Yes, absolutely.
Discone antennas have zero gain. Their radiation patterns get wonky as the frequency goes up.
A log periodic has real gain and a known radiation pattern.
Hand down, a proper log periodic will far outperform a discone.


If the discone antenna works for you, and you are hearing everything you want to listen to, then there's probably little benefit in changing antennas.
If there is stuff you are missing, coming in really weak, or you just want to explore more of the bands, then the log periodic may be the way to go.
Keep in mind that the log periodic is directional and works best in the way it's pointed. You probably need to consider the possibility and costs of adding an antenna rotator to the cost of the log periodic antenna to make the best use of it.
I have a the Diamond D130 discone at home. It works for what I need since everything I need to listen/talk to is close by. They are not outstanding performers by any stretch of the imagination. There only real benefit is their wide bandwidth. Other than that, they are kind of sucky antennas. If VHF/UHF is all you need, then the log periodic antenna may be a better choice, or a purpose built VHF/UHF commercial band vertical antenna with some gain.
Thanks . The reception seems a bit average out there. Plus I'm interested in trying to receive more distant signals across the bands. I realise log periodic antennas are directional and I could probably accommodate for that.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks . The reception seems a bit average out there. Plus I'm interested in trying to receive more distant signals across the bands. I realise log periodic antennas are directional and I could probably accommodate for that.

Sounds like the right antenna for you then. The antenna, a rotator, and good coax should make for a good system.

 

[lolbananalol2]

Sounds like the right antenna for you then. The antenna, a rotator, and good coax should make for a good system.

That's good to know thank you. I'm actually kind of excited to get one of these when we move now haha. Can you suggest a decent rotator to go with it?

 

[mmckenna]

Can you suggest a decent rotator to go with it?

Not really, haven't played with that stuff in a long time. I'm sure the stuff I knew is no longer made.