Mack, My actual on-the-air test and experience at my QTH in Arkansas has revealed the 8 vertical array systems outperform beverages. I wrote an article with graphs showing the signal performance difference over one low band season that I can direct you to if you are interested and also provide some additional info on my experience.
I still have nine Beverages operational but this will most likely be the last year I have them, retiring them in favor of the two vertical arrays that I run. Beverages are great low band RX antennas and I have been very successful with them, as well as learning a heck of a lot about them over the years, so do not take my response as being negative toward Bev's. At my QTH the vertical arrays are better performers. 73 Joel W5ZN > Friends, > > I need to really increase my country count on 160M so I've decided to > installed dedicated receiving antennas. My home is on a 6 acre rectangular > lot so I have room for a couple of 800 ft beverages at 90 degree angles or > an 8 element circular array. > > I've been carefully following the discussion about the merits of various 8 > element arrays and beverages. > > *I "believe" the consensus is that a set of bi-directional beverages will > generally perform better than any 8 element circular array. Am I correct? > I'm specifically speaking about working countries on 160M and 80M.* > > I also "believe" the bi-directional antenna choices come down to two > flavors. > > The DXEngineering ladder line version or the BevFlex-4 that uses RG-6. > *I'm > leaning toward the BevFlex-4.* > > I would REALLY appreciate your views on the recommended receive antenna > system if space and money are not big concerns. I'd like to do it > correctly > one time and the first time. > > Vy 73, > > Mack > W4AX > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > www.w5zn.org _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband