[HamWAN PSDR] Improved radiation pattern software and new antennas on the way

[Bart Kus]

Hello,

I've taken some time tonight to improve the radiation pattern 
measurement software.  The algorithm for auto-centering the rotation of 
the pattern won't be fooled now by the presence of a non-centered peak 
lobe.  Full description of the software function and the software itself 
have both been published to the Antenna Analysis 
<https://www.hamwan.org/t/tiki-index.php?page=Antenna+Analysis&structure=HamWAN> 
labs page.  The radiation pattern for the Laid sector 
<https://www.hamwan.org/t/tiki-index.php?page=Laird+SAH58-120-16-WB&structure=HamWAN> 
has been updated and you can see the wonky alignment is now gone!

Since neither of these antennas are thrilling performers in the HamWAN 
Labs tests, a couple more candidates have been added to the Sector 
Antenna - 120deg 
<https://www.hamwan.org/t/tiki-index.php?page=Sector+Antenna+-+120deg&structure=HamWAN> 
component engineering page.  A HamWAN community member who wishes to 
remain anonymous has generously purchased sample antennas of the 
Teletronics and RF Elements brands for lab testing.  They should arrive 
some time next week.

In the meantime, I've had a thought about how to improve F/B ratios in 
these sector antennas.  Using a sheet of aluminum and my sheet metal 
brake <http://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-bending-brake-67240.html>, I 
should be able to manufacture traditional RF shields, like this:

VARIA 14-19dBi variable sector antenna 45-120°, 2.4-2.5GHz

but without fancy holes or adjustable features.  It might be enough to 
keep that nasty high power adjacent RF out.

--Bart

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