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Message |
    
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 7094
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 10:11 pm: | 
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This Topic has been moved here from the Open Area of the Copper Forum.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN |
Sinker
Junior Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 10:38 pm: |
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Mikefromms in another thread you posted the following: - WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OMNI ANTENNA?...
From my own experience, I had my best performance from a Top One copy Astroplane (the one they sell here) low to the ground 10'. The old Starduster performed from good for me about 20' off the ground. The Shakespeare super big stick performed fanstatic from 70' in the top of a pine tree. I've owned a few other base g/p's but the one I'm most impressed with (after difference placements and experimenting) is the Top One Astroplane. I'm telling you from experience and lots of money spent, if you can't get an antenna up very high, the astroplane will more than compensate for loss of height if it is just placed 10' to the ring of the antenna above bare earth. It's simply amazing. I might just go and offer to buy back my A/P from the guy I sold it too a few weeks ago. That's how impressed I am with this antenna. Now, when I first got it, I made some mistakes in placement of this antenna and coax. Having corrected these problems, I can say nothing but good things about the performance of this antenna. And that's the truth.
mikefromms
Would you be so kind as to share the mistakes you made so that I do not do the same. I would certainly appreciate it.
Thank You,
Tim |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 804
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 12:44 am: |
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The 10ft thing doesn't hold up here
where i live in PA with the mountains
and other houses around me. I tested
different heights here with the Top One.
The Top One started working really good
after i got it 5ft above my peak. 31ft to
hoop. Living in different areas it probably
reacts different then it does here. Some people live in flatlands, on hilltops ect.ect.ect. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 749
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 9:51 am: |
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Well, everyone has different surrounding that affect antennas in different ways. Mine worked much better 10ft to the hoop on a pole pushed down into the grass in my front yard. It was a temporary set-up as I could not leave it there for looks sake. I suppose the antenna was near perfect distance from the earth and the signal just bounced up just right. It was incredible. Since then, I have bought an Imax 2000 with gdp/kit and it's my new favorite of all time as far as groundplanes go.
The mistakes I made were these: Cheap coax. Having learned a hard lesson, I now suggest that you spend more for coax than on the antenna (in the case of omnis not hard to do). Go for the gold. I favor LMR-400 coax. Also, my Astroplane just didn't cut it on my shingled roof. I'm guessing the shingles interacted with the antenna. Now, someone will likely say there's is fine under the same conditions, but this is what I experienced. Get that antenna out in the open with lots of earth beneath it. Try it at different heights, but don't be surprised if it blows smoke just 10 ft off the ground over open earth.
mikefromms |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 750
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 9:53 am: |
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I'm not sure my first post got posted. To sum up: Use only the best coax like LMR-400 and get the antenna over earth and not over a shingled roof. Good coax and open earth beneath it, even if it's just 10 ft off the ground, will ensure incredible performance from the AP.
mikefromms |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 807
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 11:09 pm: |
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I know what your going through Sinker. Took
me awhile of tinkering and using different antennas to finally decide what i wanted to
use. Sometimes i feel it's hard to recommend
antennas to people as antennas seem to work different from place to place. That's why you will get different opinions on different antennas.
I'm just telling you my experiences with antennas where i live. They may react different where you live. Try not to get discouraged... Things will come together for you....
JIM/CEF 375
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 811
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 11:01 pm: |
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SINKER::: When you say you can only
put your antenna up 30 ft or less, is that to
the bottom or top of antenna??? Thank You!
JIM/ Central Pa
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