jo-gun smoking gun 2 Beam

[whitetail]

I have a chance to get a jo gun smoking gun 2 beam antenna, It comes with all the setup & user instructions. The guy selling because he moved and cant put up an antenna now at his current place. I am assuming these were good antennas, does any of you guys have any knowlege on this type of beam? have no experience with beam antennas nor did I ever use one. It would be no problem to put this up on my tower. I have a Imax 2000 on the tower right now and talked to the west coast and all around the states so far when conditions are right! Would this be worth installing or what?

Just to share with you I currently talk to a station 55 miles away (straight line) We are both up on a mountain, and he comes in with the static, I can still make him out but its not great, and there are mornings when I wont get him at all. If I were to get this beam will it make a difference in this situation? Just seeing my options here, I do have a rotor control box that came with my tower, but the rotor was shot.



What do you think about this beam for $100 bucks?

[Sandbagger]

Jan 30, 2017 18:57:58 GMT -5 whitetail said:

I have a chance to get a jo gun smoking gun 2 beam antenna, It comes with all the setup & user instructions. The guy selling because he moved and cant put up an antenna now at his current place. I am assuming these were good antennas, does any of you guys have any knowlege on this type of beam? have no experience with beam antennas nor did I ever use one. It would be no problem to put this up on my tower. I have a Imax 2000 on the tower right now and talked to the west coast and all around the states so far when conditions are right! Would this be worth installing or what?

Just to share with you I currently talk to a station 55 miles away (straight line) We are both up on a mountain, and he comes in with the static, I can still make him out but its not great, and there are mornings when I wont get him at all. If I were to get this beam will it make a difference in this situation? Just seeing my options here, I do have a rotor control box that came with my tower, but the rotor was shot.



What do you think about this beam for $100 bucks?

I have mixed feelings about Jo-Gunn Antennas. On the positive note, they are made very well, and will likely survive for many years. On the other hand, I find their specs to be greatly exaggerated, and their real world performance doesn't live up to their claims. That being said, that's probably a good deal for one in reasonably new condition. The ability to go "flat side" will be a benefit when the skip is running, and it may help during direct shots if you happen to QSO with another station that has that capability. Being that it's only 2 elements, though, don't expect huge jumps in signal over the Imax, although you should see some level of improvement.

Having a beam is both a blessing and a curse. If you can keep both antennas up, that's the best situation. But if you end up running only the beam you'll do better in the direction you're pointed, but much worse at the sides and back. For me, that's usually ok, as most of my locals are in approximately the same direction. But occasionally I'll have to swing it around to talk to someone on the other side of me, and then some of the other locals fall out of my receive. Times like that I wish I had an omni, but I can't have 2 large antennas where I am. Hopefully it won't be a problem for you either.

[whitetail]

Jan 30, 2017 22:07:40 GMT -5 Sandbagger said:

Jan 30, 2017 18:57:58 GMT -5 whitetail said:

I have a chance to get a jo gun smoking gun 2 beam antenna, It comes with all the setup & user instructions. The guy selling because he moved and cant put up an antenna now at his current place. I am assuming these were good antennas, does any of you guys have any knowlege on this type of beam? have no experience with beam antennas nor did I ever use one. It would be no problem to put this up on my tower. I have a Imax 2000 on the tower right now and talked to the west coast and all around the states so far when conditions are right! Would this be worth installing or what?

Just to share with you I currently talk to a station 55 miles away (straight line) We are both up on a mountain, and he comes in with the static, I can still make him out but its not great, and there are mornings when I wont get him at all. If I were to get this beam will it make a difference in this situation? Just seeing my options here, I do have a rotor control box that came with my tower, but the rotor was shot.



What do you think about this beam for $100 bucks?

I have mixed feelings about Jo-Gunn Antennas. On the positive note, they are made very well, and will likely survive for many years. On the other hand, I find their specs to be greatly exaggerated, and their real world performance doesn't live up to their claims. That being said, that's probably a good deal for one in reasonably new condition. The ability to go "flat side" will be a benefit when the skip is running, and it may help during direct shots if you happen to QSO with another station that has that capability. Being that it's only 2 elements, though, don't expect huge jumps in signal over the Imax, although you should see some level of improvement.

Having a beam is both a blessing and a curse. If you can keep both antennas up, that's the best situation. But if you end up running only the beam you'll do better in the direction you're pointed, but much worse at the sides and back. For me, that's usually ok, as most of my locals are in approximately the same direction. But occasionally I'll have to swing it around to talk to someone on the other side of me, and then some of the other locals fall out of my receive. Times like that I wish I had an omni, but I can't have 2 large antennas where I am. Hopefully it won't be a problem for you either.

I believe I would be able to keep both antennas up on this tower, Running flatside would be great when the skip is rolling.  I was thinking using my Imax to get contacts then dial them in with the beam. (would come in handy for CRR)  The only disadvantage would be talking local, with a few I talk to to the north on mobile units, and the rest down south on bases.  Maybe I should just try it out for 100 bills.  I Wouldnt install a rotor I would run my mast down low enough that I can reach it to turn it by  hand and then lock it in place.  I know this will get old in and out of the house, and in 0*temps.  Beams are a different world for a person who never had any experience with beams.  I was looking at the maco 3 element beam but dont want to spend all the money if Iam not going to like it. I would rather possible get this one and see how I like it?

[Sandbagger]

Jan 31, 2017 7:59:32 GMT -5 whitetail said:

Jan 30, 2017 22:07:40 GMT -5 Sandbagger said:

I have mixed feelings about Jo-Gunn Antennas. On the positive note, they are made very well, and will likely survive for many years. On the other hand, I find their specs to be greatly exaggerated, and their real world performance doesn't live up to their claims. That being said, that's probably a good deal for one in reasonably new condition. The ability to go "flat side" will be a benefit when the skip is running, and it may help during direct shots if you happen to QSO with another station that has that capability. Being that it's only 2 elements, though, don't expect huge jumps in signal over the Imax, although you should see some level of improvement.

Having a beam is both a blessing and a curse. If you can keep both antennas up, that's the best situation. But if you end up running only the beam you'll do better in the direction you're pointed, but much worse at the sides and back. For me, that's usually ok, as most of my locals are in approximately the same direction. But occasionally I'll have to swing it around to talk to someone on the other side of me, and then some of the other locals fall out of my receive. Times like that I wish I had an omni, but I can't have 2 large antennas where I am. Hopefully it won't be a problem for you either.

I believe I would be able to keep both antennas up on this tower, Running flatside would be great when the skip is rolling.  I was thinking using my Imax to get contacts then dial them in with the beam. (would come in handy for CRR)  The only disadvantage would be talking local, with a few I talk to to the north on mobile units, and the rest down south on bases.  Maybe I should just try it out for 100 bills.  I Wouldnt install a rotor I would run my mast down low enough that I can reach it to turn it by  hand and then lock it in place.  I know this will get old in and out of the house, and in 0*temps.  Beams are a different world for a person who never had any experience with beams.  I was looking at the maco 3 element beam but dont want to spend all the money if Iam not going to like it. I would rather possible get this one and see how I like it?

Well, if you frequently talk to farther out weaker stations that you want to hear better, a beam is the best thing you can do to help that situation. But IMHO, if you are going to do a beam, don't just get a small one, go for at least a 4 element. That way the difference in gain will be noticeable. But the bigger the beam, the narrower the beamwidth, and the more touchy you have to be when you point it. A rotor would be a must. A dual polarity version like a Moonraker 4 (or modern equivalent) would be ideal for you.