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Message |
    
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 164
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 7:09 pm: | 
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I had my doubts about this antenna.
Put together in an hour.
Took my time and got measurements dialed within a 1/32nds.
Put on rotor, tipped up on 10 foot pole.
Set gamma match at the 4 inch mark as per instructions.
Checked SWR and was a little high so I slid the element in about an 1/2 inch.
BAMMO! Got a 1.2:1 on ch 40 and 1.5:1 on channel 1 with my meter before going into amp.
On my radio, Meter shows flat 1:1 on channel 40 and 1.4:1 on channel 1.
Double checked with another meter everywhere and same readings.
Adjusted gamma thinking I could get lower and made worse so I set it where it was at when I was getting the decent readings as noted above. (I marked the decent settings with a felt tip pen on gamma element to save time and glad I did!)
The instructions say that if you get 1.7 then keep it there, raise antenna and SWR will get lower. This would be awesome if this is true which I belive it is.
I was curious and slammed a 10 mile radio check at 10 feet up, going through trees, houses and other stuctures in town! Person told me I was loud and clear and cutting through trash with no problem!
I totally impressed with this beam and very satisfied at the price and ease of assembly.
I bought this antenna from Copper and highly recommend a Maco M-103 to everyone!
Thanks Copper!
Now I do have a question for the beam experts.
I am putting my A-99 on top of Maco M-103.
I am using a 30 foot channel master push up mast but only pushing it up 20 feet or so.
Most of the top section will remain inside the two lower section. Plan on guying it of course.
Is this going to cause too much stress on my mast or snap my rotor at the base where the flange that holds the M-103?
It is a cast aluminum rotor with metal gears.
Thanks |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1171
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 8:21 pm: |
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Are you running the m103 flat or verticle?
What type of rotor are you using? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 9788
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 8:47 pm: |
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Crackshot,
As long as you are operating/useing the M103 on the FLAT/ HORIZONTAL side you shold have no problem's mounting the A-99 above it.
If you are running the M-103 on the VERTICLE side then "NO" do not mount it above the M-103 at it will cause interference if it is between the Verticle element's of the M-103.
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 165
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 9:13 pm: |
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Thanks. I will mount that bad boy A-99 tomorrow!  |
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 166
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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Sorry Dx431, Mounting it on the flat side.
Rotor is called a "colorotor". Some import I suppose.
Built real good though. No plastic inside and real solid unit. |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1172
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 12:48 pm: |
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Think you'll like that setup. It worked well for me. |
Sniper_62881
Member
Username: Sniper_62881
Post Number: 67
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 3:47 pm: |
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wow after hearing that, it makes me want to get one. what i dont get though is how a person could put a A-99 on top of that?
marc/cef613 |
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 167
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 9:54 pm: |
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Sniper_62881 - I put a 2 foot section of mast on my rotor. Maco on bottom and A-99 on top. Really easy and pretty nice setup.
Put the A-99 on today.
Got new coax strung, tested rotor.
Works fantastic. The A-99 looks to have no problems. Still on 10 foot mast.
I need to double check SWR on both antennas then she is going up!
I am going to use 650 cord for guying.
My kids are going to be guy wire helpers!
Will keep you posted. |
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 169
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11:09 pm: |
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Ok got mast up, rotor wire and new coax going to maco. SWR was off the meter! I had to bring the darn thing down to find out wat was going on which was no big deal because the telescopic mast is awesome. I switched coax from verticle antenna and got a good SWR with maco. Hmmmm.
Same type of coax on both antennas too.
Getting frustrated so I called it quits for the night. |
Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 170
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Found our what the problem was.
My connectors that I had were the cheap nylon insulated type.
Put on teflon high heat, quality type and SWR dropped below 1.5:1 before fine tuning.
I threw the rest of the junk ones away! |
Gator44
Junior Member
Username: Gator44
Post Number: 44
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 4:36 am: |
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DX431, i left you a blog on the pics sect. but i'll redo here. i've been thinking on doing the same thing on my set-up here and was just wondering how that was working for you? did it make your beams more directional when tx-ing local? never ran beams horizontal and don't want to climb my tower to decide if i like it or not. rather hear some feedback first. i've had my imax @ 72' to feed and loved it but...i really like my 3's up there now....what's the advantage? thanks |
Train_man
Junior Member
Username: Train_man
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - 2:11 pm: |
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A beam is directional, no matter if it's vert or hor. The advantage of running a beam hor is for
talking DX. (You can still use a hor beam for local talking.)I used the omni mostly for talking local and locating distant stations then rotate and switch to the beam. I had this setup on a 50' tower and made many DX contacts running barefoot rigs.
Move along. Nothing to see here.........
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