Have 2 6dbd antennas but which one should work better?

[andrew270681]

Hi,

I understand how dbd changes the way an antenna works, but how does the length of it change how it performs etc?

I have a mobile coliniar antenna (6dbd) which is 1600 tall and a colinear basestation antenna (6dbd) which is 2500 tall.


Its hard for me to get an accurate radio check off people on the radio as im new and the only guys that can are on a repeater and are all full of it and dont like "outsiders" talking on it..

Thanks guys.

[5B4AJB]

Probably best to arrange a sked with someone you trust to give you an accurate report, it may be worth repeating the test 2 or 3 times to get an average.

The radiation pattern will change causing the received signal to change, so, you may get better DX with the long one, but weaker local signals & vice-versa for the shorter one...

You could always look for a (I presume it's VHF) web-SDR and tune yourself in...

[M6AEI]

Its hard for me to get an accurate radio check off people on the radio as im new and the only guys that can are on a repeater and are all full of it and dont like "outsiders" talking on it..

That is bad etiquette and snobs like this have no place in ham.

Use the repeater (in the correct way) regardless of what they think, they will get over it.

What's your QTH? I am sure anyone here that can get you will happily give you a signal report if you want to arrange a freq and time.

[m0bov]

Use the output of the repeaters to measure performance. Tune around and note down the signal strength of every repeater you can hear, then do the same with the other antenna.