Mounting Horizontal loops for 6m and 2m

[KQ6Q]

I'm considering horizontal loops for 6m and 2m, with a phased pair for 2m. I see some photos where the 6m loop is mounted between the two 2m loops which are about 4 feet apart.  This gets both bands as high on the mast as practical. Have any of you done this, and are there any disadvantages that you can tell ?
On the phased 2m loops - since the patterns of most are not totally circular, how about having the two loops at the right distance apart vertically, but not directly above each other, to smooth out the pattern ? A good idea ? has anyone tried it?
Would it be better to have the 6m loop on the opposite side of the mast from the 2m loops ?
Opinions and comments based on experience both welcome!

Fred, KQ6Q

[G8YMW]

I presume you are talking about halos (Or is it "Halii"?). I dont know but I would think you might be losing gain by offsetting the 2 two metre ones. Have you considered the "Big Wheel" aka "Cloverleaf" for 2 metres? (Phase-able).
Wimo came to the Donnington Park radio rally in about 2004 and showed their range including 2 metre and 6 metre Big Wheels.
The 6 metre one is a biggie but the 2 metre one at about 1 metre diameter is certainly practical.

http://www.qsl.net/vk3bjm/mobile.htm

http://www.wimo.de/cgi-bin/verteiler.pl?url=big-wheel-antennas_e.html

[KB1GMX]

I'm not a fan of putting the 6M loop between the two 2M loops.  They overlap
the 6M loop too close.  Use a ten foot pipe and put the 2M loops higher by about
four to five feet over the 6M loop.  there will be less interaction and the 2M loops
will perform better.  The small difference in height is insignificant unless really
close to the ground and you'd like to have all of them at least 20ft up.


Allison