As a previous KT owner, I can also say there is a lot of wisdom in this
message on so many topics!
73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com
On 09-Jan-19 8:54 PM, Tony Brock-Fisher via TowerTalk wrote:
When working, the KT36-XA is a great antenna. I believe that compared
other tribanders on a 32' boom, they are the highest performing
antenna you can find. Unlike interlaced tribanders, the XA uses all of
the boom length on all bands, and forward gain is related to boom
length, not the number of elements.
The trouble with the KT antennas is that they are not reliable.
Despite the tremendous mechanical improvements from the M2 revision,
water still gets into the capacitors, resulting in skyrocketing SWR or
arcing at high power.
I've owned, loved, rebuilt, and hated the KT antennas for over 30
years. I've made several experimental modifications. I started a user
group for them, KTantennas@yahoo.com. I have been successful in
keeping the bugs and debris out of the tubing, but the antenna still
fails from moisture getting in. And once the capacitors get wet, they
do not dry out by themselves, and the antenna must be taken down and
rebuilt.
My last experiment was an attempt to hermetically seal the antenna. I
posted a detailed description of this experiment to the KTantennas
group. This worked for 3 years, but recently failed with typical high
SWR and high power issues. This is the second time that the XA has
failed during a contest season, forcing me to use my 2-element quad
'multiplier' antenna as the main (and only) antenna on the high bands.
So after 30+ years of trying to make this great design reliable for
many years of service, I am forced to face the conclusion that finding
a way to give it environmental longevity is beyond my technical ability.
Therefore I too will be replacing a KT36-XA with a Skyhawk next spring
when antenna weather returns. I know I am giving up a db or two in
forward gain, but hopefully the Skyhawk, with no traps, will be able
to give me long term service. The reviews all seem to support this
vision.
A 'good' antenna that works is far better than the 'best' antenna
that doesn't.
-Tony, K1KP
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