Well said.
My first commercial antenna was the Gap Titan DX. It worked best on 40 and
80. Made many contacts including some good DX when propagation was helping.
Did not realize there was a power limitation on 80 so when I finally got an
amp, I managed to blow the top cap using about 1KW on 80. Gap was quick to
send me a replacement cap and it was replaced quite easily.
I now have a tower with Yagi antennas. They have rendered the Titan
useless, so I sold it to a friend who has limited space for antennas. He
will use it primarily on 40 and 80.
Regarding "experts" and REAL EQUIPMENT, I have heard from many that claim to
be omniscient. If you listen to them and follow their advice, then you are
doomed to become one of them (no fun at all). I currently have Yaesu, Icom,
Kenwood and Ten-Tec HF rigs. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
I use and love them all.
73, Keith NM5G
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of D. Scott MacKenzie
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 11:45 PM
To: Merlin-7 KI4ILB; TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] hf vertical
I have one - and it works. I like the antenna. It works; is low
maintenance; and I do not have any TVI/RFI issues. It also hides behind the
house and I do not any complaints about people seeing the antenna from the
street. My soil is essentially non-existent, being mostly rock, so I can't
run a REAL vertical, with 120 minimum radials. I recently worked an XU7 on
20M running 600 Watts in a pile-up from the east coast.
My completely marginal station:
(1)Icom 756 Pro - which some feel it is one of the worst rigs on the market
ever; (2)AL-80A amplifier (It is not an Alpha - so I probably should keep it
off until I get a REAL amplifier); (3)No perfect beverage antennas as I live
in on a small suburban lot;
(4) RG-213 Coax (7/8" hardline should be the minimum that anyone should
tolerate); and
(5) my Gap Titan (previously stated to be little better than a piece of
aluminum foil on a wooden stick).
It may not be the best antenna - in fact several think it is the worst. The
best band is 40M. I have worked lots of DX on 40-10M. 80M is not the best.
It is power limited on that band to 400 watts. It is a compromise antenna.
It is sensitive to coax length - although at the end of the pigtail the SWR
is as flat as advertised (but then so is a dummy load). Does it work as
well as my TH6 on a 50ft tower when I had plenty of space? - NO. Does it
work as well as stacked monobanders on a 100 foot tower - NO. Does it
satisfy a realistic need for a low maintenance multi-band antenna over poor
soil - when I can not run radials - YES.
I am keeping my antenna, even though, according to the "experts", I should
throw my crappy antenna, rig and amplifier in the trash and get REAL
EQUIPMENT, or else get another hobby.....
Hope this helps.
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Merlin-7 KI4ILB
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 7:51 PM
To: TOWERTALK@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] hf vertical
I am looking for a multi-band vertical
What do you all think of the TITAN DX?
any ideas of the best one?
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|