| Author |
Message |
    
Colt
| | Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 11:24 pm: | 
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Hey dudes!
I was assembling my Maco 5/8 ground plane tonight when I saw in the directions that the vertical elements, and perhaps the radials, are supposed to have slots in one end. Is this true, or has the design changed? Mine don't have slots.
73
Colt |
Tech833
| | Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 11:54 pm: |
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They failed to cut the slots then. The slots are essential to keep the aluminum tubing from slipping or moving. They help to clamp the tubing together. Either cut slots yourself or ask someone to do it for you before you put the antenna up. |
Marconi
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 2:55 am: |
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Colt, some of the tubing should have slots as 833 notes. There are no tubing pieces that have slots?
Is it possible they have gone to fixing the lengths by using sheetmetal screws instead of hose clamps? Did you get any hose clamps? Are there pre-drilled holes in the aluminum tubing?
Not sure about the truth of it, but I have heard that Maco does not dress the cut tubing any more, you get it with burrs and cut shavings, inside and out of the tubing. That is not good.
I would be very interested to know what Maco and/or the seller has to say about that.
Marconi |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 6:02 am: |
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An effort to hold down costs no doubt,has any one thought about anodizing their aluminum antennas,if you can get an anodizer to do it have it bronzed it will last for ever,could end up being a family heirloom,leave the slotted ends bare as the coating is electricaly non-conductive. |
Colt
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 7:26 pm: |
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Thanks for your input, gentlemen. I called Maco today. They told me they no longer cut slots in them. I suppose it's not really essential if it's a good close fit to start with. Won't take much
"squash" to make the joints tight. So, on with the assemblage!!
73 |
CM 3885
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 9:39 pm: |
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just get a hacksaw and cut them into the sections.. |
Marconi
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 12:48 am: |
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Colt, did Maco eliminate the hose clamps also? I would compare the parts that are similar and see if they are all the same length. I have found that to be a problem for some time.
Do you think a close fit will really keep the joints tight with a little squash from a clamp without a slot? I have also noted that the tubing they use now is not as good or as heavy as it once was and the variations in the fit, from piece to piece, are also obvious.
I would slot the tubing if I got one and use all SS parts. In the Gulf Coast areas of the country, it is almost a must if you ever want to adjust or take the beam apart after some time up in the air.
Marconi |
Colt
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 11:12 am: |
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Thanks Marconi , I understand where you're coming from. I weighed up the situation and came to two conclusions. One, I totally despise having to "work on" something I just bought brand new. Two, is it really that critical? I already bought the SS hdwe a couple weeks ago and decided to go for it. I really put the gorilla on the screws, plus I used Loc-Tite. They're strong. I can't budge 'em in the least. The joints aren't quite as pretty as they would be if the slots were there since the larger section is bowed out a bit at the joint, but, what the heck, it ain'ta gonna show from 40 feet in the air anyhow. If I were a bettin' man, I put a hunnerd on 'em stayin' tight for years, tornados excepted.
3s |
XLAXX
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 - 9:32 pm: |
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Hey Colt-
When you put that thing up,... MAKE SURE you measure from the very bottom of the antenna to the top. Don't measure from the small, black plastic ring to the top. This is very confusing to some (namely ME,..hehehehe) My antenna was too long,... off by 10"!!! TOTAL length=240"!!! I thought the antenna started at the base piece which you install on to your push-up pole. The directions are a little tricky. Good Luck and great antenna choice, no doubt! 73's
XLAXX |
CM 3885
| | Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 12:43 pm: |
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Too bad they dont make them like the old avanti version that i have up in the attick. They pretty much fell together with the added dimples for the sections but you know the stuff today is nothing like the stuff made 25 years ago quality wsie..... |
gtr86@aol.com
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 3:11 pm: |
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Anyone have a old Avanti for sale Sigma?......GTR86@aol.com |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 7:54 pm: |
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They have to stay competitive price wise,they could make them like they did 25 years ago,but who would buy them?They would be 3 to 5 times the cost,FOR A GROUND PLANE? gimme a break!imo. |
the hobo
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - 1:00 pm: |
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say hey youall, the hobo here!! im in the process of putting up a maco flat 4 with the imax 2000 on top!! as stated in your previous comments, maco dose not slot the ends, and they still use the funny clamps, which do hold!! and also, all of the tubing is not the same lenth.. i cut all the tubing to the leanth of the shortest piece and went from there.. deburred all, and assembled it, its a almost flat match from 264500, to 277500??
below this it stays under 1.5 to 1 all the way to
about 255000, above it goes the same till you get to 279500, then doesnt like it abit in the 10 meter band.. of course i dont use it there.(wink)
its still on my 12 foot checkout pole, but i talked to 999 and his freinds in boston, with only 20 watts lsb on ch,38.. of course condition have alot to do with it, but they said it was doing a solid swing to about 10 over.. thought that was a good sign, being as that was my first dx with it?? lol, ok, nickle says im a rambling!!
the hobo
274150 am |
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