KIO Technology
Is the hex beam directional?
Yes, broadly. The main radiation lobe is about 90 degrees wide when the signal strength of the lobe is down by 3 dB. This means that, sort of like a flashlight beam, it is a broad beam that lights up the target about 45 degrees each side as shown here.
So in the east/central U.S. you can aim the beam at northern Europe and get Norway, Britain, Germany, Spain and even N. Africa without having to tweak the rotator. If you want China and India, you will aim over the N. Pole. You should download an Azimuthal Map for your location and print it out so you can see the compass heading for your location. You will be surprised to see that the airline direction is different than what you might think.
So what is the aiming direction of my hex beam?
Mentally, pretend you are up above the hex beam and looking down on the hexbeam from overhead. Visualize the wires. The wires run around the perimeter of the hexbeam except in the front of the structure where each end of each band turns back into the center post and is connected to its terminal on the center post. So this section look like a “V” from above. The main radiation lobe is outward from the vertices as shown in the sketch.
When you are standing on the ground looking up at your hexbeam, Look at the cords and you will see one that connects the two arms that form this “V”. In that “V” is also a shorter cord that is about half way up each of these two arms of the “V.” This is the way you can tell the aim of the hex beam. The cords are not shown in the sketch; only the spreader arms and the wire for one band, for clarity.
