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#1
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
Assuming identical setups and a perfectly vertical antenna, what
percentage increase in range would be likely as a result of changing from a 3db to 6db VHF antenna? |
#2
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
Assuming they are both high enough to hit max range, then by definition,
the 6db would put 2x the power in the direction of the receiving station... Why do bigger boats use 9DB? they stay more horizontal... why sailboats use 3 DB? They lean to one side for long periods of time. BUT... VHF is line of site so if you can't "see" the horizon from the middle of the antenna, you won't be able get the extra distance... My experience... I have 1 9Db antennas on my sportfish... I can hit 50 miles from Bimini to Fort Lauderdale ONLY when communicating to the big guys. (USCG, SEATOW, etc)... Why? THey have very tall antennas and I am concentrating my 25 watts along a very narrow band along the water. I could never do that with my older 6 DB antennas. Sailman wrote: Assuming identical setups and a perfectly vertical antenna, what percentage increase in range would be likely as a result of changing from a 3db to 6db VHF antenna? |
#3
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
So how should I think about translating "2x the power" into a rough
estimate of increased distance? Ed wrote in message . .. Assuming they are both high enough to hit max range, then by definition, the 6db would put 2x the power in the direction of the receiving station... Why do bigger boats use 9DB? they stay more horizontal... why sailboats use 3 DB? They lean to one side for long periods of time. BUT... VHF is line of site so if you can't "see" the horizon from the middle of the antenna, you won't be able get the extra distance... My experience... I have 1 9Db antennas on my sportfish... I can hit 50 miles from Bimini to Fort Lauderdale ONLY when communicating to the big guys. (USCG, SEATOW, etc)... Why? THey have very tall antennas and I am concentrating my 25 watts along a very narrow band along the water. I could never do that with my older 6 DB antennas. Sailman wrote: Assuming identical setups and a perfectly vertical antenna, what percentage increase in range would be likely as a result of changing from a 3db to 6db VHF antenna? |
#4
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
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#5
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
"Bruce in Alaska" wrote Paths go Stoned Dead for a few days untill the thermal Inversion rebuilds. Path Studies that we did back then, showed that these things were good for 60 to 70 days out of the 90 day Salmon Season, and that justifdied using them, untill good phone service was established in the region. Now they are just a cheap backup for commercial communications. In really warm waters, the tropo-ducting is an annoyance that brings unwanted radio traffic from hundreds of miles away, and it does this most nights in the summertime. http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_xxx.html Find your ocean and see what the ducting forecast is. Jack |
#6
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
In really warm waters, the tropo-ducting is an annoyance that brings
unwanted radio traffic from hundreds of miles away, and it does this most nights in the summertime. Here in southern SC, at times we can hear Ft Mason, NC CG down to Ft Lauderdale and Miami to give those that have never experienced it an idea. Leanne s/v Fundy |
#7
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
A small (and often confused) point - a 6 dB increase is 4x the power - not
2x. The formulas a dB = 10 log10 (P1/Pref) = 20 log10(V1/Vref) where P1, Pref are power levels, V1, Vref are voltage (or current, or field strength) levels. If P1/Pref = 2 , then dB = 3. It all comes about because P = (V^2)/R. Derek "Ed" wrote in message ... Assuming they are both high enough to hit max range, then by definition, the 6db would put 2x the power in the direction of the receiving station... Why do bigger boats use 9DB? they stay more horizontal... why sailboats use 3 DB? They lean to one side for long periods of time. BUT... VHF is line of site so if you can't "see" the horizon from the middle of the antenna, you won't be able get the extra distance... My experience... I have 1 9Db antennas on my sportfish... I can hit 50 miles from Bimini to Fort Lauderdale ONLY when communicating to the big guys. (USCG, SEATOW, etc)... Why? THey have very tall antennas and I am concentrating my 25 watts along a very narrow band along the water. I could never do that with my older 6 DB antennas. Sailman wrote: Assuming identical setups and a perfectly vertical antenna, what percentage increase in range would be likely as a result of changing from a 3db to 6db VHF antenna? |
#8
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
True, a 6db gain is four times the power. But the question was comparing a
3db gain antenna to a 6db gain antenna. The difference is 3db, or two times the effective radiated power. Don't forget, RTFQ. Rusty O |
#9
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
In article fJdEc.125914$eu.79506@attbi_s02,
"Derek Rowell" wrote: A small (and often confused) point - a 6 dB increase is 4x the power - not 2x. The formulas a dB = 10 log10 (P1/Pref) = 20 log10(V1/Vref) where P1, Pref are power levels, V1, Vref are voltage (or current, or field strength) levels. If P1/Pref = 2 , then dB = 3. It all comes about because P = (V^2)/R. Derek Your are correct in your math, but 4x Power is illusionary when trying to compare the range difference between the two signals. 4x Power doesn't get you anything, but better signal to noise at the Radio Horizon, which is what the original poster asked....... me |
#10
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Expected range increase from 6db vs. 3db vhf antenna
What is this 3db,6db,9db etc.
Are the VHF antennas all the same? (excluding heght). What db stands for?? Pls give me an idea. tks AP "Sailman" wrote in message om... Assuming identical setups and a perfectly vertical antenna, what percentage increase in range would be likely as a result of changing from a 3db to 6db VHF antenna? |
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