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Post by zman on Mar 28, 2010 0:49:18 GMT -5
It never fails....... It seems iv'e tried all kinds of beam antennas and I always go back to the good ol' Moonraker 4. I just took down my Astrobeam, (which BTW, is for sale in the classified on this website) and replaced it with the MR-4. I know there are guys out there that swear the Astrobeam is great, but i just like the dual polarity of the moonraker. I also have noticed the rejection as well as the F/B seems sharper on the MR-4 as well, but thats just me. I guess im biased, but for now, the MR-4 is tops in my book!!!!
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Post by cbrown on Mar 29, 2010 8:40:07 GMT -5
I always liked the Moonraker series. I started out with a MR4 for my first beam, and loved it. Used a Radio Shack TV antenna rotor because I was young & dumb (and broke from buying the Moonraker). I had a huge 150 mile radius map on the wall with contact pins and beam positions. Those were great days. ;D
Good luck with yours!
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Post by zman on Mar 29, 2010 21:05:57 GMT -5
This is my second MR-4. The first one i had was back about 1995 to 2001 or so. I took it down and sold it. Now i got this one that used to sit on top of my uncles tower at his farm. I got it for a song plus another MR-4 for parts. I must have put the one i have now together right as it has twice the F/B and gain as the old one i had up.
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Post by cbrown on Mar 30, 2010 9:31:36 GMT -5
The hubs were always the weak part of the Moonraker design. Jay in the Mojave used to make replacement hubs out of billet aluminum, but I don't know if he still does. My MR4 died a glorious death during a hurricane here in the late 1970's. I replaced it with the MR6, but I had to get a Hy-gain rotor - that RadioShack rotor just wasn't up to the job. Besides, the Hy-gain was a much better rotor anyway.
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Post by zman on Mar 31, 2010 15:39:30 GMT -5
I have a hy gain CD=44 but i cant find the bottom mast bracket.
Im using a cheap CDE rotator made for a TV antenna but it works. I have a thrust bearing just above the rotator.
I have about 10 to 15 spare hubs stashed in the garage for parts.
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Post by zman on Mar 31, 2010 15:43:37 GMT -5
Id love to have a MR-6! I used to know a guy that lived to my north that ran a MR-6, kenwood ts 440s, and a Dentron MLA 2500 amp. He could make his own skip with that setup. Back in 1991, a tornado tore up the town he lived in and damaged the roof on his house, as well as took out his beam. He hasnt been on the air since, and as far as i know, he still has the rig and amp.
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Post by Marc on Mar 31, 2010 17:39:05 GMT -5
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Post by cbrown on Apr 1, 2010 10:17:00 GMT -5
I have a hy gain CD=44 but i cant find the bottom mast bracket. Im using a cheap CDE rotator made for a TV antenna but it works. I have a thrust bearing just above the rotator. I have about 10 to 15 spare hubs stashed in the garage for parts. There are places on the web that sell Hy-gain parts, you might be able to find a bracket there. The thrust bearing will help prolong the life of the rotor, good call. Smart move having the extra hubs!  |
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Post by zman on Apr 7, 2010 1:01:00 GMT -5
Yeah i have enough parts to make another MR-4. I keep the stuff around also in case someone needs some spare parts. Im probably the last person around here in my area that keeps spare moonraker parts.
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Post by cbrown on Apr 7, 2010 9:05:35 GMT -5
Maybe one day if you get bored you can co-phase a pair! ;D  |
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