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Post by kingfish66 on Oct 9, 2009 23:00:44 GMT -5
Need some advice folks. I have possible access to a PDL II with about 40 ft. of tower. I can read all the db gain info. and size information but I have never owned a beam before and want some opinions on which would perform better. PDL II or a new Maco 3 elem. beam?  |
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Post by Marc on Oct 10, 2009 12:53:55 GMT -5
The PDLII is a very nice antenna. I have used one on and off over the years. For the size and number of elements, and the ability to switch from vertical to horizontal I cant think of a better antenna. It also seems quieter than a Yagi style antenna (Maco 3 element) when it comes to static. This is the one I have up now. It is at about 30 feet and I can get about 45 to 60 miles using a Tram D201 23 ch, putting out 4.3 watts. Marc  |
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Post by crazybob on Oct 10, 2009 19:32:51 GMT -5
I believe that the PDL II is a qubical quad. It uses a full wavelength of copper wire. The 3 element Maco uses 3 1/4 wave dipoles (yagi). I now have a 4 element yagi & I used to have a PDL II on the same tower. The PDL II wins.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss 
Posts: 6,250 
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Post by Sandbagger on Oct 10, 2009 22:42:03 GMT -5
I believe that the PDL II is a qubical quad. It uses a full wavelength of copper wire. The 3 element Maco uses 3 1/4 wave dipoles (yagi). I now have a 4 element yagi & I used to have a PDL II on the same tower. The PDL II wins. I've always wanted to do a side by side comparison between the PDL and a yagi. Back in the day, I knew people who had PDL's, at the same time I had an Astro Beam. I couldn't really compare forward gain, but as far as rejection was concerned, the Astro Beam won hands down. That thing had a very sharp (and deep) corner null. I could drop the guy 7 houses down from me from a +30 over to just over S9. I could never get those kind of results when I messed with my buddy's PDL. |
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Post by Marc on Oct 13, 2009 9:31:12 GMT -5
The boom length of the PDL is relay to short. I have been tempted to stretch it out to about 6 foot to see what it will relay do. That should give it more rejection on the corners.
Marc
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Post by cbrown on Oct 13, 2009 12:59:06 GMT -5
What about Signal Engineering's SuperHawk? Looks pretty close to a PDL II. Looks like it would be a nice small beam to get up on the air.
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Post by crazybob on Oct 14, 2009 9:31:43 GMT -5
My next beam will probably be a Gizmotchy. I've heard nothing but good reports about them. They are lighter in weight than the Maco's & certainly the Jo Gunn's. Affordable prices.
.. The Signal Engineering quads should yield the best performance. I heard that they are pricey & don't hold up too well in the north east weather?
Back around 1985, a guy called Earplugger, from Pleasantville, NJ, had a 5 or 6 element Gizmotchy beam. He had a Browning Mark III, & I think that he actually started the the Super Bowl on channel six with that beam! ..That was THE loudsest radio I ever heard!
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Post by Marc on Oct 14, 2009 11:00:13 GMT -5
As far as the Superhawk goes they are a good ant, but as Bob
mention they don't take the winds well.
Just an update yesterday
we had our first real winter type storm out here in California.
1.2 inches of rain, with winds up to 58mph many tree limbs on the ground. My PDL at 30+ feet took it very well. have seen a couple of ground plains a little off kilter very pore guying.
so if you are plaining to put up an ant don't skimp on guying.
As the old commercial states "You can pay me now or pay me latter"
Marc
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Post by cbrown on Oct 14, 2009 13:33:38 GMT -5
.. The Signal Engineering quads should yield the best performance. I heard that they are pricey & don't hold up too well in the north east weather? Thanks for the information, I wasn't aware that the Signal Engineering antennas wouldn't survive a NE winter. It's not unusual for me to have a high wind & ice condition at least once during the winter months. I had a Moonraker 4 that held up well for years. I'll look into the Gizmotchy line, maybe the Joe Gunn too. |
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Post by kingfish66 on Oct 14, 2009 14:59:47 GMT -5
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Post by Marc on Oct 14, 2009 15:16:59 GMT -5
I would say adding 1'2" could be effective. The PDL having gamma matches is the saving factor.
If the PDL responds like a standard quad( I have not tested this fact on the PDL yet) when you add distance between the reflector and driven element the input impedance goes up.
So if the PDL impedance goes up the gammas should be able to adjust to the increases and should see a improvement in performance.
From my understanding for the short boom was to provide a compact antenna smaller than a 3 element with comparable performance. I plan to try it latter this fall.
Marc
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