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Message |
    
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1718
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2011 - 8:22 pm: | 
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was listening to my ham locals on 2 meter
via my scanner.1 is a very good friend of mine
anyway these guys were talking about these two
and had alot of good stuff to say about both of them and how they performed.my local friend had a
astroplane but was destroyed by a storm.was replaced by a maco5/8 but said he would still be using the ap if wasnt for the storm. anyone else use these 2 classic antennas.i wasnt on radio in the 70 -80 when these is what just about everyone had.and some still used them in the early 90s when i got my first base antenna.of course my first was a a-99 i thought i had better cause mine was bigger/longer but now im not so sure.anyone else use these 2 or compare these too.
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Press_man
Intermediate Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 213
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Friday, June 17, 2011 - 1:20 pm: |
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Dale;
There's such a varied opinion about antennas I can only share my experiences. I've used the Astro Plane/Top One if you will for years. Several friends had the Stardusters and swore by them. 833 wrote a nice comparison about the different antennas.
The Astro has a different takeoff angle than other GP antennas and was actually a work of genius. Some consider it a discone and others say it's a folded dipole. It works well at almost any height. A friend had his Starduster at 100ft in a pine, I had an Astro at 54ft and could hear all that he could and talk as far. Even if he ran his 500w I could still hit the same contacts with 125w.
I've even used an Astro Beam (3 element)and was happier than with a PDL-2. I have an Astro Plane/Top One under the bed that will go up as soon as we decide where we are going to live. We're looking for that one right house. Don't really want to stay here. The lot is a postage stamp
Pressman/KC4ZWM
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Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1719
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2011 - 8:42 am: |
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thanks pess man. ive been looking at both
realizing it be alot easier to raise up
one these top one / starduster antennas
and much lighter.so from your post if i undersdtand ya there both about even maybe the top one with a slight advantage.plus i was wondering how the astroplane worked when mounted high seems this antenna always discussed at low heights.but being only 12 feet in lenth one could eaisly put it up pretty high as yours was 54 feet.
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Press_man
Intermediate Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 216
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2011 - 8:35 pm: |
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Dale;
The 54ft isn't that high. If you mount one on a 40ft tower let's say, then add 4 ft to the bottom of the hoop(recommended by manufacturer)from the three intersecting points of the tower plus the antenna at 12ft that puts the top at 56ft. You're still under the legal height of 60ft. As far as mounting at a low altitude with the Astroplane, I hit Australia with 8w on 10m at just 4ft above the ground. But you know how DX is, if it's good it's good. The Astro is one of those antennas that works at low or high altitude. I have been told though that much over 60ft and the Astro starts to degrade in performance. Check out 833's tests of antennas.
Pressman/KC4ZWM
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Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1720
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - 7:03 pm: |
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thanks press man. im unable to get my 5/8
up high enough to take full advantage of it.
but the lil a/p i could get it up easily.they say height is might ..so i figure i should do
a tad better as my 5/8 is only 30 ft to tip
ive also read tech 833 review manty years ago
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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