| Author |
Message |
    
mikefromms
| | Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 10:55 am: | 
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I own the thunder 8 and have owned the super scanner. I like both antennas very much. Especially because of the fact you don't have to turn the antenna to get some beam affect.
I was just wondering which of the two do you think is the better overall antenna. To me this is a tough question. What is your experience?
mikefromms |
Keithinatlanta
| | Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2003 - 4:42 pm: |
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Hey Mike.I just posted in another section for guidance on my super scanner. I paid a fortune for this one, as I had had a super scanner in 70's and loved it. I will be curious about how you rate your new antenna versus the super scanner.
Keith in Atlanta |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Friday, November 28, 2003 - 9:20 pm: |
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Well, Keith, I was just stirring some conversation and hoping to get a lot of people to chime in. Probably not many people who have owned both antennas as I have. The answer to this question might be different depending on which day of the week you ask me. They are that close. I suppose if I had my pick of the two lying on the ground put together and about to put up the one I chose, I think I'd choose the old Super Scanner. It's not so much that is so much better but that it has 3 directions you can select to point your beam in 120 degree areas while the Thunder 8xb is bi-directional and has only two selectable beam positions. But honestly, (and some of you know this about me by now) I might go the other direction tomorrow. They are both great. If you have a new Super Scanner count your blessings and by all means get that thing up and on the air.
mikefromms |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 12:07 pm: |
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It's another day, I'd choose the Thunder 8xb. Wow, what a great antenna!
mikefromms |
Tech833
| | Posted on Friday, January 02, 2004 - 2:44 pm: |
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Mike,
What bandwidth are you getting from your T8? How low and how high can you go before it gets to 2:1 SWR? |
steve
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 2:39 pm: |
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I BEEN READING UP ON THE WHITE LIGHTNING I GOING TO GET IT I LIKE THE DB GAIN ON IT I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT LIGHT WEIGHT AND POWERFUL IT HAS A FULL WAVE OVER ANY OTHER BEAM |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 6:29 pm: |
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Tech833, bandwidth is terrible! I get like 1.3 on one end of the 40 channels and a 2.2 on the other end or thereabouts. Funny thing, when swr is higher using the beam-using it as a groundplane it is much lower and vice-versa. The antenna works super but is narrowbanded.
mikefromms |
Gonzo
New member
Username: Gonzo
Post Number: 4
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 12:09 pm: |
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Super Scanner.........what is the purpose of a bi-directional antenna?? |
Ca346
Senior Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 1000
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 8:13 pm: |
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Better yet, What IS a BI-directional anetnna? Are you talking about DUAL POLARITY? |
Snowfire
Member
Username: Snowfire
Post Number: 67
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 1:56 pm: |
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I got a super scanner ant. given to me but it need's some repair work. It went through the ice storm in 2000 and some of the arm's and elements got bent and need to be replaced. Any help on where i can get parts for it would be much apreachaed(?).
If any body know's you can send me a email to kennith_kerr@yahoo.com
Thank ya'll for the help,
Cef 294 Snowfire |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 243
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 8:39 pm: |
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Get the dimensions and and cut your own. Shouldn't be hard to fix. Copper might have some parts.
mikefromms |
Keithinatlanta
Intermediate Member
Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 407
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 15, 2004 - 7:29 am: |
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Hey Mike and Snowfire: Mike, which way do feel now about those two antennas?
Snowfire, did you get the parts you needed to fix your antenna?
Keith |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 306
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 08, 2004 - 10:16 am: |
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Just ran across this post and wanted to respond. Well, let's see, I like the idea of using only two coaxs and not having to plug into an electrical switchbox. I don't like the wires. When tuned and mounted properly the Thunder 8XB is quite a performer. I still think it costs way too much. Bottomline, if you don't want to fool with a rotortype beam try the Thunder 8xb but don't put it in a tree where there is far too much swaying and the possiblity for limbs to get into your wires. If you can find a super scanner get it. If I had my choice today, I'd choose the super scanner.
Hey, I wonder if anyone has thought about using three coaxs and getting rid of the electronic box on the super scanner. It wouldn't be so bad with three mini 8X coaxs (shorter run). Maybe that would make a good project, just wire each coax into each element like you would a dipole and run the coaxs down the pole neatly. Hook the three coaxs into a switchbox and whoa-laa, you have superthunderscanner.
mikefromms |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 742
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 11:37 am: |
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Today is August 30th, 2005, and I perfer the SuperScanner over the Thunder 8. You get 3 directions plus groundplane and it is more sturdy. Too bad they don't make them anymore. And that's my final answer.
mikefromms |
Troublemaker
Intermediate Member
Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 182
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 2:01 pm: |
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Me too,I wish I could find a super scanner in good condition,I'd be a very happy camper! |
Dave1
Junior Member
Username: Dave1
Post Number: 33
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 3:38 pm: |
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I have 2 Super scanners and wont part with them lol might have a few parts I might part with but not the boxes there hard to come by
Dave |
Slowhand
Member
Username: Slowhand
Post Number: 74
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 4:18 am: |
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I had a super scanner, when you go omni there is a matching network involved. If you plan on running 500+, stay off omni. OR do as I have done, replace all the silver mica caps with 1000 volt rated ones. Then solder a solid strand copper wire onto the RF traces. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 765
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 11:59 am: |
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Maybe some of the companies could consider a short run of a superscanner type antenna and this time with 4 directions! I know it can be done because it can be done with slanted dipoles.
mikefromms |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3119
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 7:06 am: |
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I built one for 6 meter FM back in the late 70's and like the CB one it worked VERY well. |
Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob
Post Number: 2213
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 7:36 pm: |
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My dad-in-law has one of the last ones made,it uses mini-8 from the antenna top control box and matching stub is mini-8,man it was hard cramming all that coax into the booms,it's rated at 1000 watts pep,a real performer it gets out better than my pdl-2.Bigbob |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 767
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 9:36 pm: |
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I'd love to have another one.
mikefromms |
Tech833
Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 68
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 7:54 pm: |
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"Hey, I wonder if anyone has thought about using three coaxs and getting rid of the electronic box on the super scanner. It wouldn't be so bad with three mini 8X coaxs (shorter run). Maybe that would make a good project, just wire each coax into each element like you would a dipole and run the coaxs down the pole neatly. Hook the three coaxs into a switchbox and whoa-laa, you have superthunderscanner."
Hi Mike.
I never saw that post before now, but I feel I should comment in case someone tries this.
First of all, this is not all that is required to set up a Super Scanner. In DA mode, the unused elements must be connected to each other and shunted at the center insulator. If you did this with 3 coax cables, the lengths of coax to each element better be less than 4 feet. Otherwise, RF will go down the unused coaxes and bounce back to the antenna out of phase.
You could do the shorting right at the antenna, and in the process, open the unused coaxes (float them). Of course, that would require a 4th. wire for voltage and control purposes, for a total of 4 cables to the antenna. That would work, but for all that trouble, you would be better off using just one coax and the switching arrangement. |
Dave1
Junior Member
Username: Dave1
Post Number: 47
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:46 pm: |
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Tech833
what you want to connect all 3 to run at one time or 1 at a time and switch them to go in a dirrection I have the parts to try this and plenty of time to do it just need to figure how you ment and should I use 3 gamma rods I have a few (2 with boxes and I think 3 without) super scanners and a few 4 element beams I can take the match rods off the beams and set them to the super scanner Like I say I am willing to try this but will need a little help on how to build it most it will do is kill time if it dont work
Dave1 |
Tech833
Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 77
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 6:36 pm: |
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Dave,
Using gamma fed elements, since the unfed elements are completely grounded anyway, the switching between directions could easily be done with 3 different coaxes. However, Omni mode would be impossible to match or even predict. In others words, if you never planned to run omni, 3 coaxes would work great. If you need the omni capability, it won't work. |
Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 1053
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 9:46 pm: |
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I still perfer super scanner over thunder8. More study and three directions. But they are history. |
Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta
Post Number: 887
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2010 - 2:04 pm: |
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Hey Mike. No they are not history. I still have mine in the box and have never opened it. Shame shame is my name I guess. One of these days, I guess I will just sell it and be done with it.
Keith in Atlanta
CEF 150 |
