| Author |
Message |
    
Santa
| | Posted on Monday, May 28, 2001 - 10:00 pm: | 
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307 I understand you like Maco antennas. Do you know anything about the LW101 Astroplane? Or the AM400 Starduster? Such as the lenght of each and do you feel this is a good antenna. I will be putting one of these on a 30' telescopic mast. Thanks -73s |
307 (307)
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 6:04 am: |
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No , I am not , shed some light please! |
Santa
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 6:58 am: |
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307 I'am sorry but in one of the other posts I was under the impression you know something about these antennas? I looked back but could not find it. Do you or anyone else know about these. |
Santa
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 7:38 am: |
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Could someone shed some light on one of these antennas? The LW101 Astroplane or AM400Starduster. Both by Maco. |
307 (307)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 7:54 am: |
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Ok , Ok , I know which ones they are now , I was loosing it when the letters where placed in front of the numbers. The original Starduster was designed by Antenna Specialists and was originally the M400 , as with the Astroplane it was just as it is called now. The problem with the Starduster is the "HUB" that all of the radials and the radiator screw into. The amount of material used is not enough the withstand abuse for long times. The Starduster had 3 ground radials in about a 45 degree angle from the HUB down and a radiator from the HUB straight up. It was a superb antenna in its time. The Astroplane was a weird looking antenna that had a giant ring that was inverted and held by the lower radials. I never liked it because of the looks. If you want a real antenna , use the MACO V5/8 , it is untouchable. |
Santa
| | Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2001 - 4:02 am: |
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Thanks much for the infor 307 Santa |
flash
| | Posted on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 5:28 am: |
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307 do you know where a person might buy a astroplane antenna. i have friends that have them and i counldn't believe the diffrence, over the antron. better ears and louder. if you know of anybody that has one for sale please post it. thanks flash |
307 (307)
| | Posted on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 6:16 am: |
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http://www.ebay.com
Keep your eyes open , they come through eBay quite a bit. |
HAM CBer
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 4:10 am: |
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The Astro Plane Radiator and the Starduster are being made again by Retrocom. Although I have never dealt with Retrocom myself, I hear good things from those who have.
The web page with the antennas on it is: http://www.retrocom.com/retroantennas.htm
The Stardsuter is really just a simple coaxial dipole with the counterpoise (ground planes) bent out at an odd angle which provides a slightly better horizontal pattern.
The Astro Plane Radiator was best described as a top loaded J-pole. It really doesn't fit any other category.
I can tell you that if you remove the 4 horizontal top loading elements and replace them with a single vertical aluminum element (appropriate length is the same as the combined length of all 4 horizontal elements added together), the Astro Plane will outperform ANYTHING you can buy today for local comms. If skip is your deal, leave the horizontal top loading elements on and it will talk almost as good as a 3 element beam on the flat side.
Biggest trick with an Astro Plane is to get it up in the air. You don't ever want to mount an Astro Plane less than 1/2 wavelength up (about 20 feet AGL) unless you want to waste signal to the worms and the stars. |
knowhereman
| | Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 5:03 pm: |
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307 i have a maco m104c that i had bought from this guy and it is apart and i need the element lenghts.and how far down the boom they go so i can put them up and talk thank you in advance |
Greyhound
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 6:23 am: |
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I have a copy of them all , "MaCo" antennas !
E me & I'll send you a copy.... or go to their site and down load it yourself !
You'll need Acrobat reader to read it ... it's in a pdf format !
Or I can just send it to ya !!!
Greyhound |
Marconi
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 8:25 am: |
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Hey Santa, you can email me and I will give you a source for both the Starduster and the Astroplane. Click on my handle in the lefthand box on this screen.
I have written a piece about my test results on both antennas and if I can find it, I will send it along. It may be a little long to post on the forum with the adjustable but normally truncated text field.
I agree with HamCber regarding most of what he says about both antennas except the thing about the angle of the SD's radials improving the horizontal pattern. I talk about this factor in the piece noted above.
I have never heard of the change he notes about the making the AP radaitor straight but he could be right. Makes sense to me. I would also agree that this mod may make the AP stronger for local work but likely at the expense of DX.
My experience with the AP suggests that the top hat on the AP probably helps the antenna to work DX. I am not sure if this affects the take-off angle or if it just improves the horizontal pattern due to the significant amount of horizontal radiator at the top of this antenna.
Check out any source I give to your own satisfaction. I have heard some negative reports about some of the knock off antennas for Europe.
Good luck
Marconi |
Hightrack
| | Posted on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 8:31 pm: |
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Hello everyone. I finaly made it and am new at this.
I have the alpha 5/8 and the CTE astroplane. I liked the alpha better for local talking. The CTE astroplane, in my opinion is poorly desighned with the plastic parts between the elements.I could not get a decent and steady S.W.R reading until I removed the plastic parts and bolted everything together solid.It worked better then.
I run the alpha 5/8 now and am VERY pleased. Will probably put the CTE back up someday, but much higher than it was before. |
Tech833
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 11:30 am: |
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The only reason you should ever have SWR trouble with the Top One is if your connections are not making good electrical contact.
I have experimented with a Top One myself, and I did polish the parts where they fit together prior to assembly. I also used Penetrox on all connections. The CTE Top One at my shop performs flawlessly and has extremely wide bandwidth.
I agree with your comments about the plastic parts. They are of inferior quality and can 'squish' when hardware is tightened. A good way to upgrade the strength of the Top One would be to mold fiberglass parts and replace the plastic.
Keep an eye out for something to happen with the Top One soon. |
Amightygator
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 2:02 pm: |
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need overall mearsurements of pdl-ll. Bought one and in apart status canyou help? Also need to know which end is front and which connection is for the flat side Thank you the gator.... |
Tech808
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 3:30 pm: |
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Amightygator,
The PDL-2 is the Antenna Specialists AV-122 PDL-2 Beam.
For overall measurements maybe someone out there who still has the assembly instructions can help you.
They have been discontinued by Antenna Specialists.
Lon
Tech808 |
Amightygator
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 7:30 pm: |
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didnt know PDL-2 WAS OUT datedwould the maco company still have these measurements? |
Dx431
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 10:31 pm: |
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Amightygator, contact Antenna Specialists at (440) 349-8400, they still may have the Owners manual for the PDLII If they don't, drop me an e-mail.
431 |
Crafter
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 1:31 pm: |
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Check your e-mail. For parts such as elements use the moonraker parts there the same except the boom. |
Fishandstitch
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 7:30 pm: |
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i was thinking about buying a maco v quad beam. Are they any good and would there be much of difference from an antron 99. Also how do they hold up in the wind. Thanks
Fishandstitch |
Crafter
| | Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 2:38 am: |
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You know its all about were you want to be, I've had 2-4-6 element beams but all and all I prefer 4 element beams. The 6's catch to much wind always having to work on them, 2's seemed low on gain, so have stayed with 4 elements. V quads good proven antennas and you can stack them. I like my antron too though, I must have a good one cause i dont tear the neighbors up either. So pick your price and give us some choices to pick from, I'll do my best for the money. |
