John Watson wrote:
>Hi Frank;
> I don't know where you got the idea that the Force 12 antennas
>are so outrageously priced. If you compare their cost of the C-3 that I
>own to the cost of a Moseley Classic 33, (I owned a 33), the price is
>equal or slightly less than the 33.
> As to weight, I can only talk to the differences in the 2
>antennas I mentioned above, and the C-3 weighs less than the 33 by at
>least 15 pounds. This alone is a vast difference. AND the difference in
>wind load is considerably less also.
> Like you, when they first came out, I was leery as to the no
>trap idea, and the weight factor. However, after having the chance to
>see one up at 40 feet (C-3), and how well it performed, I was sold on
>the antenna. I purchased a C-3 and put it up at 40 feet, the then top of
>my tower, and it was a BIG difference from the 33 I had replaced. I was
>actually able to hear people that were just too weak to work before.
> Another consideration, the Force 12 facility is out west, where
>materials and other related manufacturing costs are higher than, say in
>the south, or the economically depressed northeast. And nobody has said
>that this "hobby" is or was cheap when it comes to equipment.
> My C-3 has been up over a year in some winds over 90mph, and it
>still performs like it came out of the box, no if's. ands, or but's.
> I suggest that if you don't like the cost of a new Force 12
>antenna, you look for a used one, maybe it might be cheaper than a new
>one.
> Don't be so pessimistic, and look for excuses, or try to
>reinvent the wheel.
> Remember, you get what you pay for. There are a lot of antenna
>manufacturers out there, and they price their products fairly close to
>their competitors. The choice is yours.
>
> John Watson/KC4TBH
John,
I'm learning a lot from the responses to my "price complaint" - thanks for
contributing. I won't go into the points I covered in my followup on the
fact that Force 12 is more and more of a bargain as the tower height increases.
I should have mentioned the specific Force 12 models that I felt were
overpriced. Here, I have selected a simple 40m 3 element monobander from a
mfr well known for solid construction ("like a tank"). Both antennas are on
the same boom length and advertise similar gain - the only significant
difference is the M2 contains a lot more material by weight.
The M2 40ML3 three element 40m yagi specs are:
5.6 dbd gain
30ft boom
9.5 sq ft wind load
90 pounds
$799
The Force 12 Magnum 340 three element 40m yagi specs are:
5.2 dbd gain (over a dipole at 74 ft above avg ground)
30ft boom
7.5 sq ft wind load
58 pounds
$929
I just found it curious that Force 12 was asking $130 more for 32 pounds
less material. I realize that material alone does not determine the cost,
but in a bare-bones monobander, there aren't too many tricks to design - so
I don't think the extra cost came from modeling. Of course, now I realize
that the cost comes from the design and production of the manufacturing
process that so minimizes the antenna weight without (apparently)
sacrificing strength. The low weight advantage is, unfortunately, not
nearly as beneficial to users with tower heights of 70ft and less.
Bottom line - the more you increase either tower height or wind load, the
more value you get from Force 12.
I'm sorry my query sounded pessimistic, but I honestly was only trying to
spur some debate to help me intelligently make this very important
tower-rotator-antenna system decision.
73 and thanks again John
Frank - W0ECS
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