2 meter range

[ki4itv]

I made one of those "tape measure Yagi" beams, and it worked surprisingly well. Wonderful for direction finding/foxhunting stuff because the elements will self correct if you're being careless and clumsy.
Be sure to honor the preferred polarization of the group (vert/horizontal). It would be a shame to make that investment in antenna just to take a big db loss from not thinking about the proper way to implement it.

[KC2UGV]

I would generally agree to "make the beam, it'll only help"; but seeing as you're in a hollow, I'm not sure how much it would help when trying to hit those that have a mountain between you and them. Maybe with some fancy aiming, taking advantage of the fresnel effect, maybe. It'll definitely help hitting those with clear space between you and them, however.

[n2ize]

Does anyone think its worth it to invest in a beam antenna to extend the range of 2 meter simplex.The reason I ask is there's a group wanting to start a simplex group for emergency relay communications on 2 meters.So far I haven't been able to contact anyone in the area of the core group yet.

Definitely !!

[KG4NEL]

I've kind of thought about going to a pair of beams for 2m/440 myself...weighing some options for when I upgrade the antennas later this year. 90% of the repeaters I'd want to reach are within the beamwidth of a fixed 3 element Yagi, but I'd hate to get some up and realize it's the lack of height that I'm hearing :(

[HUGH]

Yes, height is king. You didn't suggest the size of the mountain you'd need to fire through but nil desperandum I can work through an 800ft hill OK to maintain contact 35 miles away with just 2.5W into a Hentenna with reflector. Let's say equivalent to a 3-element Yagi or Quad.

[kk4fpx]

Talking about height,i had to lower my jpole 2 meter to be able to hear two of my triends accross the hill.