Looking for some advice/comments/suggestions on upgrading my antenna
system.
My current antenna system consists of a Cushcraft A3 with the 40
meter add-on kit (essentially a rotatable dipole) mounted on a 56
foot medium duty tower and a W9INN 40-80-160 meter half-sloper
(approximately 70 feet in length), tower fed at about 50 feet. The
sloper runs from the tower down to a pine tree in my front yard with
the end of the sloper about 15 feet above ground.
I am contemplating the replacement of the A3 with a Force 12 antenna.
Models I am considering are the C3 and the C4S. The factors that
limit my antenna set-up are:
1. The medium duty tower is only rated for 6 sq feet of antenna
windload (C3 is 5.6 and the C4S is 5.7, unfortunately the C4
is 6.4) guying the tower to increase wind load capacity is
out of the question.
2. My lot is so small that an effective radial system for 40 -
160 is basically out of the question, (this is already
effecting the half-sloper 160 meter performance).
Other factors/considerations:
1. With my current set-up the A3 add-on output performs the
sloper on 40 meters, that is why I am considering the C4S as
I know it will most likely outperform the sloper om 40 as
well.
2. The sloper, as it is set-up currently, is pretty stealthy, the
XYL and the neighbors like that.
Questions:
1. Should I replace the A3 (with add-on) with the C4S, using the
current sloper exclusively for 80/160 or possibly replacing it
with something better also?
2. Should I buy a C3 and and look into acquiring a better 40-160
antenna taking into consideration that I do not have room for
anything elaborate or large including radials and that I
would like the sloper replacement to be another 40-160
antenna if I purchase a C3? Note: I am satified with the
W9INN sloper performance on 160 (even though I can't
hear much DX, I never expected to), it leaves alot to be
desired on 80 in my opinion but local noise is also a
problem for me on that band so the antenna is not entirely
to blame for my poor performance on 80. I do not use the
half-sloper on 40 meters as the A3 out performs it (didn't
know that would happen when I ordered the sloper
otherwise would have looked at a 80-160 meter antenna)
3. Will I notice a significant performance difference between
a C4S and an A3 with the 40 meter add-on?
4. Is there a significant performance difference on 10-15-20
between the C4S and the C3? I've read the spec sheets, they
indicate a .1 or .2 db (when measure at 74 feet) degradation
by going with the C4S, doesn't sound like much of a
difference to me. (The reduction in 10 meter bandwidth is
not a concern as I generally do not participate in phone
contests, the antenna would be tuned to the low end of the
band.) Does this difference justify using a C3 for 20-10
and something that may sacrifice performance on 40 versus
using the C4S for 40 meters?
5. Should I leave the system as is, (i.e. no significant
performance difference is acheivable)?
I am particularly interested in hearing from those of you who have
switched from the traditional trapped tri-bander to a Force 12 C3 or
C4S, those who have discovered a good 40-160 or 80-160 antenna that
can fit on a small city lot and anyone else who can offer some advice.
I am currently leaning towards purchasing the C4S but would like to
be convince that I am actually gaining something by replacing the A3
with add-on. I know what Force 12 claims wrt their improvement over
trapped antennas such as the A3, and I believe these claims make
sense, just looking for some third party confirmation. What to do
with the sloper? well I'm really undecided at this point.
Any advice that can help me make an intelligent decision in this
regard is greatly appreciated. To save bandwidth you can e-mail me
direct at HLYF37A@prodigy.com
73 de Bob (VE6KRR)
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