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Post by BladeRunner now OLD FLASH!!!!! on Sept 4, 2008 21:34:44 GMT -5
just an FYI. I recently put a MACO 3 element beam up about 40 feet. not close to but well protected from high winds by a lot of big trees. I'm in Little Rock and by the time Gustav got there we were getting some 50 MPH gusts (per the local NWS). This antenna is advertised to be ablr to withstand 90 mile per hour winds. like I said this antenna has trees almost all the way around it and most are 90 to 100 ft tall. It got enough wind to bend the front /top element over 1 or 2 degrees.I'll get up this weekend and streighten it up. It may be fine like it is. If it is , it may stay like that. LOL . I'm an old timer CBer and they don't make them like they use to. This is the softest aluminimum I've ever delt with on an antenna, but as it ages it may harden and get stronger or brittle. At least that's what the instructions state. Uless you put rope inside the elements. Don't get me wrong. I like the antenna and would buy it again. i want a 4 element beam now....then a 5 ...and 6 .... OK... I'm a radio hobbiiest....LOL to the core. I still for the may put the rope in the elements, but i need to call the company and find out what kind of rope to use unless somone here knows. It's supposed to keep the wind from making it brittle (if I read it correctly) . I personally think it's to keep it from falling apart and hitting me on the head...LOL... Just kidding. i just tough maco knew the kind of luck I have with antennas and was trying to protect me. ...Oh ok.....If you need a beam MaCo is the way to go. This advertisement was approved and paid for by General Hospital Emergency Room.....G'night
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Post by BionicChicken on Sept 5, 2008 7:42:27 GMT -5
The rope will keep the elements from "singing" when the wind blows. It will add some stability also. If you do put rope in the elements use poly (ski rope) or something similar that will not absorb water and only seal the top element to attach the rope, not the bottom to where if any water does get in the element it has a place to go...out the bottom. I let about 1" hang out the top of the element and then JBWeld the rope and end of the element shut. After drying trim the welded end smooth and cut the excess rope off the bottom end. The next time the wind blows hard turn the beam the opposite direction and let the wind straighten the element for you. It will find it's way back to where it is supposed to be or at least all mine usually did.
I'll get back with you on the Maco 200 in a day or so. Been busy getting things back together at home and work after Gustav. No major damage, loss of power for about 23 hours but all in all real lucky.
BC
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Post by Afterburner(OT-749) on Sept 5, 2008 8:12:31 GMT -5
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Post by BionicChicken on Sept 5, 2008 13:06:38 GMT -5
In the '70's we used the manila rope but once it got wet it would take forever to dry out. The poly rope did not retain the moisture as much. I guess it would be six of one, half dozen of the other. The only antenna I remember recommending using rope was Wilson who was later bought out by Maco.....there may have been others. Back then most of the beams bought in this part of the country were PDL's, Moonrakers, Wilson, Mosely, HyGain, and a few Gizmotchy's. The 12 element Lasers and Moonraker 6's were the baddest ones of the day. Very few folks shelled out the money for the Super Laser 16 element.
BC
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Post by Sniper..Unit 305 on Sept 5, 2008 14:17:26 GMT -5
Hello BladeRunner, I'm no wiz on antennas but I must say that if your element bent at 50mph wind speeds, then it must be too doggone soft of material. I have a Penetrator that I bought new in the mid 70's and it is still straight as an arrow after all these years and its seen some tough weather. I would tend to believe that you would want to reinforce the upper elements to strengthen them and let the boom take the beating and not to worry so much on their getting brittle from the wind. I sure as heck dont know if this would work, but it may be worth some kicking around ? Did you ever think of putting spray foam (the type used for insulating) into the upper elements to strengthen them without much added weight at all, plus it should keep any water from getting into them too. Like I said...and I have to laugh to myself when writing this...I'm no antenna wiz and sure as heck dont know what this would actually do, but it just MIGHT work !! Sniper
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Post by dgtr43 on Sept 5, 2008 17:58:19 GMT -5
Can someone tell me if the Thunderpole worth the purchase? Does the Avanti Astroplane still exist?
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Post by marconi390 on Sept 6, 2008 5:41:44 GMT -5
Can someone tell me if the Thunderpole worth the purchase? Does the Avanti Astroplane still exist? You can find the AstroPlane antenna for sale at around $50 on Coopers Electronics, HYelectronics, and other Websites. You may also find it referred to as the Top One. They are knockoffs of the original, but if you replace the hardware with Stainless they are pretty good antennas. They are pretty durable when installed, require no tuning, and have a small footprint compared to most other 11 meter vertical ground planes. They are noted by many users to be very effective at working DX and work very well installed at low and modest heights and work very well when raised higher. Even though light weight, the AP can present a little problem installing---due to being a bit top heavy when assembled ready to install. The antenna is sensitive to surroundings, adjacent and below the bottom loop. Extreme care must be taken when installing anywhere near electric service lines. |
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Post by dgtr43 on Sept 8, 2008 3:40:29 GMT -5
Ok, macroni390, have you heard of an antenna called the Thunderpole 8 or GP .64 Wave made by Wolfradio. I think Wolfradio is out of Florida??
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Post by dgtr43 on Sept 8, 2008 3:42:59 GMT -5
Also, does this AP carries alot of white noise or tvi, after it's installed?
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Post by marconi390 on Sept 8, 2008 5:16:58 GMT -5
Never heard of the Thunderpole 8. I own a .64 wave Wolf. It compares well with the I-10K in performance, but is no where near as strudy. Could it be the Signal Engineering Thunder 8 you are talking about?
dgtr43, I would consider the AP a very quite antenna as you note. They respond very well to horizontal signals at my location and maybe do so because of the following characteristic.
Some years ago I met a new friend on the radio that had an A99 over his horizontal 4 element Maco. We were comparing signals as I had a 4 element horizontal and a Starduster up about 60' at the time. He had just installed a new AP on a 40' tower and when he switched to it with me on my beam I was amazed at the signal I got. When comparing his signals on my Starduster with his A99 and the AP the signals were about the same on my end, but he saw a little better signal from me on his A99 and he was disappointed with his new antenna. We repeated these comparisons over time and other have chimed in that gave similar reports. He finally was made happy when he found the AP to work DX extremely well.
If this is observed widely, then maybe this is why the AP is often commented on as being a better DX antenna than a local vertical antenna. My comparision results of this particular characteristic were remarkable and can be tested easily by others if you have a reliable radio bud who has a vertical and a horizontal in the air. I have also noted this same characteristic when using my Wolf .64, but maybe not as dramatic.
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Post by BladeRunner now OLD FLASH!!!!! on Sept 12, 2008 22:21:24 GMT -5
I thought it was kind of funny how maCo made sure to point out that the aluminium they use is stronger than most just to prevent what has happened to me. I pulled the antenna over last weekend, reached up and steightened it with one hand right a where it attaches to the boom. I;m ont going to worry about it too much,
Also about that vertical antenna over the horizontal beam. Unless two antenna are 30 or 40 feet apart they can and will electronically couple with each other and affect the way both antennas pweform. What effects the coupling will have will be different being determined by what and how the two antennas are placed. The effects are unprpredictable.
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Post by mark4 on Sept 13, 2008 12:43:27 GMT -5
I wouldn't waste my money on the knock off Astro Plane.
Far better antenna would be a Maco 5/8
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