| Author |
Message |
    
Scoobydoo
Member
Username: Scoobydoo
Post Number: 98
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 9:49 pm: | 
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Hi everyone, got my Maco V5/8 assembled yesterday and adjusted the SWR's today. First off, this antenna rocks! The receive is amazing! All my local contacts went up 2-4 s units on receive. On transmit most contacts copied me at 2-3 s units higher than before, one guy told me I went from an s-3 to an S-9! WOW! Now the weird part, before I installed the antenna I adjusted it on a pipe 7 feet from the ground like the instructions said I could. I adjusted for 241.5 inches which I figured would be close for 27.205. I was wrong, I ended up make it more like 250-255 inches long? Did I do something wrong? I dont know what the exact length of the antenna is now but the mark I placed on the first piece of tubing that slides into the base is sticking about 3 inches above the base, in other words there is only about 3 inches of tubing in the base. I almost want to take it down and measure it just so I know but im sure its at least 250 inches. The instructions say you usually end up shorter so I cant figure it out. SWR's are 1.3 on 40 ,1.4 on 1. Pretty good to me. Just cant figure out why I had to make it so much longer than normal. Any ideas? |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1321
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 10:18 pm: |
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did you also adjust the tuning ring for lowest SWR?
as i understand it; you get it close with the vertical length, and then fine tune it with the ring, by moving the wire clip around it.
ive never owned one, but thats the way i understand it.
try doing a search on this forum for "maco 5/8 wave antenna".
i bet you'll find the info you want.
matt |
Scoobydoo
Member
Username: Scoobydoo
Post Number: 99
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 11:32 pm: |
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ok, did search, but didnt really find any positve answer. Im hoping Tech 833 or Marconi will chime in. Thanks for the help Kid. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1276
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:07 am: |
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No problem, Scoob. You are still doing just fine! Disregard the suggested length in the instructions. Obviously your performance is as it should be, so that confirms it. |
Scoobydoo
Intermediate Member
Username: Scoobydoo
Post Number: 100
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:30 am: |
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well now im not too sure about my swr meter, I hooked the coax directly into my Omega Force and the built in SWR meter says 1.9 on 1 and 1.2 on 40. Now I failed to mention when I tuned it on the ground at 7 feet I was right next to my house which has metal siding and next to my garage which is wood siding. I was also in between two trees. So now it looks like I need to shorten it a little. Also forgot to mention it is now on the house 26 feet from the ground. I was using a Midland SWR meter from the 70's that I picked up NIB for 10 bucks. Maybe I should believe the radio SWR meter instead of it? I dont want to put it at 50 feet in the air then have a problem with it. Thanks everyone for your help. |
Scoobydoo
Intermediate Member
Username: Scoobydoo
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:33 am: |
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Sorry, got that backwards. Radio meter says higher on 40 than 1. Midland meter does too, just smaller amount. Maybe I should save up and buy a MFJ-259. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1284
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 5:37 pm: |
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One of those meters is wrong or both could
be wrong. Invest in or borrow a good meter.
I e-mailed you info on how to set your Maco 5/8.
I recieved an e-mail back from you, that you
recieved it. Hope the info helps: Good Luck! |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1327
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 10:16 pm: |
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scoobydoo,
just go to rad shak and pick up their SWR/wattmeter.
its about $40.
its accurate for SWR, and reasonably accurate for the wattmeter. at least on the low end of the scale.
anymore than about 200 watts, and it gets pretty wild.
you can use the meter built into the omega force. it may not be completely accurate, but getting the lowest reading is getting the lowest reading.
good luck,
matt |
Scoobydoo
Intermediate Member
Username: Scoobydoo
Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:21 am: |
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Yeah, I too think its time for a new SWR meter, I have been using the same one for nearly 8 years!! Its an old Para Dynamics PDC 600, SWR meter has been giving me fits for over a year now. What is a good triple meter set? For now I'll go with the Radio Shack model to get my SWR's set but I have always liked having a triple meter set in line all the time so I can monitor everything. Thanks Kid and everyone else for the help.  |
Mayor513
Junior Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 49
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:47 am: |
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--Hi, there. You really can't beat a good ole 5/8 wave antenna. The Maco V5/8 antenna was easy to put together and has excellent bandwidth. You won't find an antenna that performs much better! Have fun. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1288
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:57 pm: |
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I had a old PDC 600 meter which a few months back
bit the dust. Bought it in the early 80's.
SWR section went crazy, along with the
wattage out-put section. Served me well for
years and years though.
I haven't replaced it yet as i am not sure
what brand of SWR meters are good these days? |
Mayor513
Member
Username: Mayor513
Post Number: 53
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 1:20 am: |
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I've heard the Autek WM1 is an extremely accurate SWR and watt meter...rivaling the accuracy of a Bird watt meter. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1290
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:17 pm: |
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I'll check into that type of meter.
Thanks Mayor 513. |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 732
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 7:10 am: |
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I think Lon has one of the Autek WM1 meters and likes it.
AP |
Revpo
Junior Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 16
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 - 11:17 pm: |
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I put up my Maco a few days ago, what a difference when the skip died down an easy contact at forty miles. I show a swr of 1 to 1 if the meter reads right but no big deal it works.
I have it on a tripod on the roof rocking in the wind, but since its light weight I hope no problems in a storm, it did last one storm a few days ago at 60 mph, so I hope it guards the radio waves.
revpo |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 856
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 - 7:42 am: |
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You will like it alot, I do like mine and for the price I think it cant be beat, just my thoughts.
I may be wrong but mine seemed to get better with time, I did use nolox(dont remember how it is spelled) so I dont know if the aluminum antennas still settle in even with that stuff on all the joints.
If I had the money I would get a I-10K, I know a few people that have them and get out real good on DX but there prob. is not a whole lot of difference in them except price.
AP |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1819
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 08, 2006 - 1:48 pm: |
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Roger, Dx wise your Maco will do just as
good as my I-10K.
It's just a height issue with yours.
7ft off ground is not allowing it to reach
its full potential. |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 858
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 - 7:06 am: |
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Yea, your right. I just gotto get in gear. Got coax, tower,ground rods,ground wire but just need to get the physical labor part done....LOL.
AP |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1825
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Roger,my I-10k is 45ft to feedpoint. I think
with these surrounding mountains and hills in PA, the higher the better. |
