> RE The Bencher Skyhawk Triband Beam........as seen at the Hamvention.
>
> I do not know why I am so surprised that an antenna which was the
> collaboration of an antenna guru, a multi-multi contest station owner and
a
> world class DXer is so neat.......put WA3FET, K3LR & W9KNI together and
the
> result.....well...read on!
>
> I have had a request for details on what I saw at the Hamvention......it
> was a yagi builders dream........I AM IN NO WAY BENEFITING FROM THIS - I
> simply saw a well built antenna which it appears has all of those things
I
> see talked about on towertalk, etc put into one antenna. Like a
culmination
> of all those ideas. Since I am an appliance operator I cannot give you
the
> electrical details....but, mechanically I can tell you this is done
> right...I may not know nothin' bout how the sleeves feed or
> whatever.....but as far as the metal, it rules, dude!
>
> The is one fed element and there are full sized parasitic elements for
each
> of the bands......no traps to go bad........total of 10 elements, 4 on
10,
> and three on 15 and 20. Elements are riveted with stainless rivets, and
it
> even has a wind compensator on it!
>
> details probably can be found at:
>
> HTTP://WWW.BENCHER.COM
>
>
> What really tickled my fancy, and I plan stealing for my own use on home
> brew yagis, is an idea which is so damn obvious I cannot believe someone
> hadn't thought of it 'til now......Force 12 had a handle on it with their
> hanging pin to ease your mounting the boom to the mast but this goes it
one
> further.........read on:
>
>
> YOU KNOW THOSE OLD DOOR LOCKS THAT USE A SKELETON KEY?
>
> Imagine one boom to mast plate which you attach to the mast and it has
two
> bolts which are tapped into it that are not tightened all the way down -
> but backed off from the plate by oh mebbe a little over a quarter inch.
>
> Now, imagine another boom to mast plate which is attached to the boom of
> the antenna and on it (in alignment with those two bolts on the other
> plate) are two key hole slots which at their base are the size of the
head
> of the bolt, and they "keyhole" down to the smaller diameter of the bolts
> shank (looked like 1/4" bolts.)
>
>
> So......you have this plate QRV for the other plate which has the slots
in
> it - all you have to do is get the bolts through the big holes and once
the
> two bolts are through the plate, you lower.......VOILA.......the antenna
is
> secured, you are able to let go and grab a wrench and put the bolts which
> pin the two plates together in.....it is secured by its own
weight.....and
> it is level!
>
> A quote form their literature says it in a nutshell:
>
> "A new design of boom to mast bracket makes installation easiest ever,
your
> tower climber will bless you." <------- they are right!
>
> W9KNI climbed up on a chair and demonstrated how it works......I was so
> ecstatic I found W1CW and drug him over to their booth so he could see
it.
>
> Siskel and Ebert would rate this one two thumbs up!
>
> Now when we all see the published results of K7LXC and N0AXes antenna
> comparison tests, well......Bencher says they should start shipping in
> June......I suspect they will have a nice order file!
>
> Way to go.......how about you guys getting into the rotor business? Dave
> Leason said that they can make a washing machine for less than 500
> bucks....can you build us a rotor that is as fine business as this beam
> Bencher?
>
> 73,
>
> Jim, K4OJ
>
> Florida Contest Group - visit our website at:
>
> http://www.4w.com/deemer/fcg.htm
>
>
> The Florida Contest Group sponsors the Florida QSO Party, check out the
FQP
> website@:
>
> http://home1.gte.net/wd4ahz/fcg/ssqp.htm
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