| Author |
Message |
    
Wildchild
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 4:22 pm: | 
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Ok call me a newbe or what ever but I have been out of radios for 15 years. What antenna would be should I get to hook my station back up. It will be mounted no higher than 40 feet. |
Tech808
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 6:19 pm: |
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Wildchild,
Scroll down in the Forum here to the area titled Subscriber (Preview) Section.
Click on it then go to the area titled "Articles" and click on it.
Read Tech833's Article: How to choose a Ground Plane Antenna.
This should help you to decide on what type of Antenna to put up.
Lon
Tech808 |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 7:17 pm: |
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You came to the right place. If you are just talking on cb and don't mind groundplane radials, the Maco 5/8 wave groundplane sold by Copper is the best according to all I've read. There is one antenna out there about $250 which is supposed to be the very best groundplane. More on that if you want to spend that much money. Lots of good antennas here. The I-max 2000 is another good groundplane that gets high marks on this site.
mikefrommms
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mikefromms
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 6:06 pm: |
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Wildchild, what are you going to chose for an antenna?
mikefromms |
Wildchild
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 12:54 am: |
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Ok guys I have narrowed it down to two antennas The Top One, The Antron 99. I know the Maco is one great antenna but its just a bit big for me to use here. But my thinking now is going with the top one I ran a astro plane and it couldnt be beat. But Im going to do some more research and I will let yall know.
The good thing about is I only live about a little over 2 hours drive from Copper Eletronics. The bad thing is Jan. 3 2000 is when I lost my antennas. |
Crazyfrenchmen
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 2:58 am: |
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ive have had some realy good luck with that A-99 antenna.Dan |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 7:09 am: |
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Wildchild the A99 is 1/2 wave and the Top One is 5/8's wave. I won't say the Top One can't be beat but it would be hard to beat for ease of installment, windload and it does perform. But do read around and be ready to change out some of the cheap hardware that comes with the antenna if you get it. Any of the 5/8's will outperform the A99, even though it is a good antenna--no doubt.
mikefromms |
Wildchild
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 10:17 pm: |
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One thing for sure the antenna I get is going to have to be broadband.
Does anyone remember a antenna made be Signal Engineering called a Goldenrod Mod. 180 S. That was the antenna I used to do all my DX talking on. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 10:26 pm: |
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When you say broadbanded your answer is IMAX 2000. Lot's of post on this antenna. Just scoll up and down right here.
mikefromms |
Tech808
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 10:40 pm: |
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Wildchild,
Yes, but I don't have to remember as they are still being made, GoldenRod 180-S 5KW 4.5 DBi
And they have the GoldenRod-50 Mobile 5KW 3.5 DBi
Lon
Tech808 |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 2:27 am: |
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Tech808
DBi?? Dee Bee Eye?? I can't believe you would post DBi specs!!
LOL. How many beer cans are sitting around your desk at 10:40 PM? Be honest now.
Jeff. |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 3:35 am: |
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Wildchild
I hope you read about the A-99 in the Subscriber (Preview) Section.
If not, click on the Subscriber (Preview) Section on the forums main menue and then click on Product Review. Read the articles titled "A-99 Exposed" and then the "I-Max Exposed".
Since your looking for an antenna that has a wide bandpass, the I-Max 2000 is the only antenna on the market today that has a near 3Mhz bandpass. It's a 5/8 wave, 24 feet in length and has a lot more strength than most people give it credit for.
Be sure to read the write-ups on them before you buy anything. These reviews were written by a professional broadcast engineer with over 20 years experience in the design, maintenance, and construction of broadcast transmitter and studio facilities. He is just one of the highly respected Techs here on this forum. We are very fortunate to have him with us.
Any antenna questions you have for this Antenna Master can be directed to Tech833. I don't believe there is anyone here on the forum that hasn't learned something from him.
If you're new to the forum, your going to love it here. We have some good Techs and many good members. Tech808 and a few of us others just loves it here and have so much fun that we quit watching cartoons and "I Love Lucy" reruns.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Tech808
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 9:33 am: |
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Kc0gxz,
Jeff, sorry but the DBi Specs are all that I had at this time to post on them from the SE site.
I do not have the DB or DBd or the DBc specs on these yet.
There was a Review on the 45 in CB Radio back in April 1996 that mentioned 4.5DB
http://www.firecommunications.com/gr45.pdf
Beer Can's = 0
Ice Tea = Lot's
Lon
Tech808 |
Tech833
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 6:44 pm: |
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Just subtract 2.1 from the dBi figure to get dBd. |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 10:10 pm: |
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Tech833
I forgot all about that. Hmmmmmmmm. Now what did I do with my calculator.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 11:21 pm: |
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Get the I Maxx 2000, dude! easy to put up, worry free, and great bandwidth!! I had one once and it was awesome!!!!!!!! |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 11:46 am: |
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I'm wondering about the ease of putting up an I-max. This thing must be very light. Would it be as easy as putting up an Astroplane?--One man job?
mikefromms |
Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 6:23 pm: |
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mikefromms
Yes it is. A 12 year old could easily figure it out.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 10:40 pm: |
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Yeah, but could he balance the antenna and a pole?
mikefromms |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 12:45 am: |
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Mike, the main problem I enounter is because of it's flexibility, it takes some getting used to when putting up. It's not as stiff as the others by any means. Sometimes this works to your advantage, other times it works against you. It helps survive wind storms, but it may cause you some headaches if putting it up yourself (being I dropped mine several times this last attempt). Yes I was alone and careless, but the antenna survived well. My pride is still questionable  .
As far as tuning, the rings are just like many fiberglass sticks, and the instructions are clear.
Lightweight? Well, not exactly, but not heavy either. At 24 1/2 ft, it does have some leverage that seems to increase due to it's flexibilty, but it's not bad. Put it together (if you get one) in your yard, pick it up and you'll see what I mean.
It's worth the hassle, if you consider it one.
Alsworld |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 2:24 am: |
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ive balanced a 15' pole with a astroplane on the top by myself!!!!! LOL Not too smart but i did it!! |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2003 - 8:45 pm: |
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I did that myself just a week or so ago. It's not too bad. If there was wind I guess it would be tough. How would an I-max 2000 fair on that 15 ft pole if you go real slow?
mikefromms |
Wildchild
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:21 am: |
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Well guys I have made up my mind Im going to get the I-Max 2000 and the I-Max ground plane kit from what I have read this kit may help stop TVI but I always heavy 8ga copper wire from any antenna to a grounding rod sunk about 5 feet in the ground and I run 10ga wire from all my equipment to an earth ground so I should be safe there.
Thanks guys for all your input I have been away from the radio scene for so long I didnt know there was so many new products out there. Yall have been a big help thanks again.
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Kc0gxz
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 4:43 am: |
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Wildchild
The I-Max is capacitance grounded. It never sees a ground the way true ground plane antennas do. If you drive a rod into the earth and tie it to the base of a capacitance grounded antenna, the only thing that you are grounding is the mast that the antenna is mounted to. The I-max was designed to operate WITHOUT a groung plane.
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mikefromms
In your above July 21 post and from some statements in a few of your other posts, I've noticed that you have the misconception of thinking that the I-Max and A-99 "NEED" a ground plane. They don't. The 99 was on the market long before a ground plane for it was ever thought of.
The optional GPK that you are thinking of is in no way ever "electrically" connected to the I-Max. Or the A-99 for that matter.
However, the kit WILL help (as it was intended) reduce TVI and can also enhance receive in some installations. And if they are mounted high as they were meant to be, then TVI is rarely a problem with or without a GPK.
This GPK also has the tendency to change the antenna's transmitted wave pattern but that's about as far as it goes on the transmit side of it.
If a base station operator is not experiencing TVI, then why waste your money on the UNNEEDED GPK? Use the money instead to buy some better shielded coax that Copper sells. Poorly shielded coax is THEE number one cause of TVI.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Wildchild
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 3:51 pm: |
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Thats my next thing is finding the type of coax to use. I always have used RG-8U going from the antenna into the house then I use jumpers made with RG-8X mini.
Now there is types of coax I have never heard of. What type of coax should I use ? I was looking at the RG-8UW 95% Foam 95% sheilded or the RG-213 POLYETHYLE LG 95% shielded
I was going from experience about grounding the antenna where it mounts to the mast. Another station in my neighborhood had a Shakespeare Super Big Stick and they were having TVI problems, after grounding all the equipment didnt get rid of it we lowered the antenna and connected a ground wire from where the antenna mounted to the mast to a solid copper rod driven into the ground 5 feet and the TVI problem went away.
I dont know if it was the ground wire or not but his TVI problem was gone after we ran that wire. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 11:31 am: |
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Wildchild, how are you liking the I-max 2000? I know you're glad to be back on the air.
mikefromms |
Wildchild
| | Posted on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 6:01 pm: |
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Havent got back on the air yet. I hope to be back on the air in the next couple of weeks. Im going to get myself a new radio and then I will get the I-Max 2000 but for now a friend gave me an antenna just to get me up and going for now.
Right now I have to wait for college to start so I can move out of this room into the back bedroom.(its a bit bigger) |
