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Re: [TowerTalk] More from the M2 antennas quality control file

To: Lizeth Norman <normanlizeth@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] More from the M2 antennas quality control file
From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:30:06 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Sorry for the bonehead comment. I was not thinking small antenna as I am working a LARGE antenna project. My fault. Yeah, 1/16 is a fair error in that size domain.

Odd that the supplier won't make it right for one customer and goes the second mile for another. A quick way to lose future sales is to mistreat a TT poster.

If I was "stuck" with something like this I'd write it up and post to eHAM and wherever else I could and then put my spool gun onto the end of the lead from my Hobart MIG and add a little length to the missing places. A pain that shouldn't have to be but I think the effort to correct is not such a big deal as to be a bad choice. Of course if you don't weld aluminum or have a friend who does then that may be too expensive to hire done.

I hope an acceptable resolution is found.

Patrick   N5G

On 4/13/2015 7:39 AM, Lizeth Norman wrote:
Hey Pat!
How do you assemble an antenna when the elements are not the size
listed on the diagram?? 42 pieces of utter confusion.
Read before commenting, please!!
Norm n3ykf

On Mon, Apr 13, 2015 at 8:37 AM, Patrick Greenlee
<patrick_g@windstream.net> wrote:
I'm not a Yagi guru or an EZNEC modeler. Can someone tell me what 1/16 of an
inch in element length means in performance parameters in the example below?
I have done mostly wire antennas and 1/16 or 1/8 didn't seem to make much
difference.

Patrick  NJ5G


On 4/13/2015 7:10 AM, Lizeth Norman wrote:
Bought a 432CP42UG from M2. Would you believe that of 21 pair of
elements, 14 PAIR were the wrong size? 13 pair were 1/16" off. 1 pair
was 1/8"

Never, never again. 700$ waste.

It took me 2 hours of puzzlement to discern the problem.

The bad news is that they have NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER!!! YOU BUY IT
IT'S YOUR BABY!!!!

See here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/16913167247/

Looking at the photos, the elements are lying on paper that shows that
the correct measurement as well as what should be the actual
measurement. The elements are all represented.

The assembly diagram shows that 9 pair are 1/16" different from each
other.

This screw up makes the wrong element the right size, as well as the
converse.

Good news is that it's a match at 50 Ohms. What sort of pattern and
G/T is anyone's guess.

BTW: There is another problem. Whoever designed the antenna is a liar.
He/she defines the antenna as rated for 100 MPH. The antenna boom is
secured to the cross boom (this is an antenna designed for an az/el
array) by a pair of #8 screws. When the hurricane comes (I live in
FL), common sense says the antenna is history. I will be happy to snap
pics of it streaming downwind of the tower. Who needs an engineering
degree to see this?

FYI: Mike no longer works there. My experience with M2 customer
service has been abysmal. I have owned 4 of their antennas (18 year
time span). Still own 3. Have the receipts if some parasite of a
lawyer wants to see them.

Ask me and I'll tell you the story about how Mike's wife was screaming
obscenities at me AND Mike at the same time, then she hung up. Was
something about the package being 1/3 of the weight I was billed for.
Rip off artist.

Norman J McSweyn n3ykf
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