| Author |
Message |
    
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 31
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 09, 2006 - 11:33 pm: | 
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--Hi, all. I am putting together my new Maco V58 vertical and have a question. I noticed that the vertical part of the antenna and also the radials are not slotted (or whatever it's called). Maco supplied clamps, but no matter how tight I tighten the screw, it will just not tighten to the tubing (i.e. 5/8" to 3/4" tubing). I am thinking of taking a hacksaw and cutting down the center and then tightening down the screws. Has anyone else had problems with tightening the clamps? I own a Cushcraft AR-6 6 meter vertical that looks similar the this Maco, and it is slotted, and has not given me any problems, so hopefully, this will work.
--Kudos to Copper to their fast shipping of this antenna, and also to Suzanne in customer service. I will continue to use Copper for my radio needs! |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1154
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 10:26 am: |
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I've got the Maco v58 and had no problem with asembley. I didn't have to slot the tubes either. Clamps tighten down fine for me.
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 588
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 12:34 pm: |
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Problem with squeezing down to tighten is that it warps the tubing. Figure it out. A hack saw blade may be too think unless you can find a real thin one plus they are not known for cutting straight.
Worst thing they ever did was to stop slotting. |
Vdub61
New member
Username: Vdub61
Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 3:08 pm: |
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I got my new Maco v58 up on the tower 3 weeks ago. I did not have any issues getting the supplied clamps to tighten the vertical or ground plane elements. The instructions had a sticker on it saying elements are no longer slotted because it's not necessary. I did de-burr the elements and then used 320 grit sandpaper to remove any oxidation before I began the assembly process. I guess not slotting the tubing is another cost cutting measure. I have talked to people who just used hose clamps instead of the ones the antenna comes with. Good luck and take your time putting it together. |
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 32
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 8:42 pm: |
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--Well, I guess I was just not tightening down with enough force. My screwdriver was starting to not work too good (messing up the head of the screw), so I just used a pair of pliers to keep tightening down the screw to the tubing. Finally, it was secure! I've tried it on two fittings thus far, and it has been quite secure. I agree with Marconi about slotting, though. As long as it is working for me now, though, I won't give it anymore thought.
--I have another question, though. For the radials, it reads to put the tubing 4 inches into the larger tubing and that the exact length is not critical. Is this really true, though? I want to use it for 28.5 Megahertz, but say I want to go to 27.000 Megahertz into the Citizen's Band? Will I really not have to adjust the length of the radials? It just seems that while I would have to adjust the vertical length of the antenna to go lower in frequency, I would need to adjust the radials for the 1.5 Mhz frequency shift. Thanks for the help. |
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 33
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 2:22 pm: |
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--Hi, all. Disregard the above question. I assembled the antenna today and right now, it's just sitting on the ground. Just for the heck of it, I checked the SWR, and it's just fine, even though it is sitting on the ground. Now, that may change once I get it up off of the ground 25 feet in the air, but I will deal with that later I suppose. With the antenna in that position, I have gotten a 1.5 Mhz bandwidth when the SWR is 1.5:1 or less. I also got a 2.0 Mhz bandwidth when the SWR is 2.0:1 or less. Great antenna. I will post more about it when it is on the pole hopefully later tonight. It's pretty cold and windy today, haha. |
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 34
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 5:49 pm: |
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--Ok, the antenna is now on the pole. Wow, this thing is big. For some reason, I now have more bandwidth with this antenna (I guess because it is not sitting on the ground, haha). Now, for 2.0:1 or less SWR, my bandwidth is now 2.535 Mhz instead of the former 2.000 Mhz. For 1.5:1 or less SWR, my bandwidth is now 1.715 Mhz, instead of the former 1.5 Mhz. Not bad at all. None of the "locals" are on 28.360 USB right now, so I will wait tonight and plug the coax into my CB and get a signal report.
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 361
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 7:00 pm: |
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Good deal Mayor
TECH291
CEF#291
KC8ZPJ |
Wally38
Member
Username: Wally38
Post Number: 76
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 8:40 am: |
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I know what you mean about big. When I got my shooting star beam from Copper and assembled it on our huge deck in the back yard, I thought, "Oh my god, how am I going to get this monster on top the tower?" 
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Kmt36264
Junior Member
Username: Kmt36264
Post Number: 15
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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Anyone know a good place to buy a Maco v58, not on back order? |
Kmt36264
Junior Member
Username: Kmt36264
Post Number: 19
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 8:56 pm: |
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Thanks Rob!
I had to go see my local radio doctor today, and to my surprize, he had a v58 and a couple of v5000's. I got the v58 for $90 tax and all! |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 700
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
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not to bad, I got mine from copper.
was copper out of them?
AP |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 602
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 3:54 pm: |
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Hey 513, did you notice the center frequency of your antenna go up or down after raising it? |
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 35
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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--Hi, Marconi. I believe it went up just slightly. I only have the antenna up 20-25 feet right now, and since I moved to a new location, I had to use a barrel connector to add 25 more feet of coax to reach my shack, but once I get in my new antenna mast (a 50 footer) and get rid of the excess coax, my rx/tx signal should be a bit better. |
Pogo12
Junior Member
Username: Pogo12
Post Number: 40
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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I got rid of my clamps and used what I call waterpipe bands |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 810
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 1:33 pm: |
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What is a water pipe band? can you submit a pic for me?
AP |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 522
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 10:12 am: |
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mayor out of curiousty did ya tune it for 28mhz or 27mhz or inbetween.thinking about this antenna also.maybe retire my imax |
Mayor513
Intermediate Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 111
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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--Hi, Dale. I tuned it for 27. |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 529
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
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hello so if i remeber right thats about 240inches or20ft |
Pogo12
Junior Member
Username: Pogo12
Post Number: 48
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 2:47 pm: |
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What im calling water pipe bands is the type of band called W10P on the maco5/8 instructions.Its a stainless steel clamp and the maco people give you just one for the bottom of the 5/8 antenna.I just used them all the way up.I replaced the wire that hooks to the so239 connector with RG213 of the same lenght and it works fine. |
Revpo
Junior Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 - 11:03 pm: |
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I used the clamps supplied , but the water pipe clamps is a good sub, I get a flat SWR with my unit and its up i suppose 35 feet, on a tripod on the roof, yep it is biggg, hope it holds in the wind/storms but it is light weight so it should hold
revpo |
