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| Homebase-6 50MHz halo prototype indoors ready for tests |
This afternoon I had a go at scaling my Homebase-10 (28MHz wire halo) down to work on 50MHz. I simply scaled the dimensions by 28.3/50.1 (the ratio of the centre frequencies) and performance was almost spot on with a low VSWR in the DX part of 6m. So far I have only tried it in the shack holding the antenna in the air by hand and keying the TX to measure SWR. Next stage of tests will be to erect it in the loft space before erecting a more permanent version within the 10m halo on the top of the mast at the back of the house at a decent height. Still, a promising start. In the end I may opt for a small 6m beam like a Moxon or HB9CV though.
UPDATE 1600z : I have now erected this horizontally in my loftspace although it is more triangular than square. Match is good so I'll see how it performs locally next.
UPDATE 2100z: I am surprised that I'm unable to copy the more distant UK 6m beacons such as GB3BUX and GB3RAL which use horizontally polarised antennas. I need to monitor for longer to see if they appear by MS or tropo.
