Mike,
I would look at the SteppIR 3ele or 4ele.
They are fantastic antennas! If you like 12 and 17 you will love the
SteppIRs. Nice to have a real tuned beam on those bands.
You can buy the 3ele and upgrade down the road to the 4.
Check out our last two years scores in sweepstakes on 20m for an indication
of just how well they work. W0MU (2004) NA7XX (2005). We are using a
single 4 ele SteppIR at about 60ft. Compared to many of the big big guns
with stacks we do quite well.
I love the ability to switch 180 degrees in just a few seconds or even run
bi directional.
Mike W0MU
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of ersmar@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 9:19 PM
To: Michael Mark; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] BEST MEDIUM SIZED TRIBANDER BEAM FOR CONTESTING?
Mike:
My favorite (and only) tribander is a Bencher Skyhawk. Specs say 8.5
sqft, but don't say how this number is computed. Caveat Amateur.
Other than that one question, I have no problems with the Skyhawk,
either assembling it or in its operation. It's FLAT (below 2:1 SWR) in the
20M and 15M bands, and FLAT from 28-29 MHz. Gain is sufficient (the antenna
is actually three single-band Yagis with 3 els on 20 and 15 and 4 els on 10)
but F/B is such that I can still work stations off the back. (What do you
expect from a relatively short boom?)
IF you decide to buy one, make you it comes with (or buy as an option)
the DE clamps. This will keep the DE spacing relatively uniform during high
winds. Otherwise, some Hams have reported their amps tripping off due to
high SWR as the DEs whip around in high winds.
Web page: http://www.bencher.com/sky_hawk1.html .
Usual disclaimer: I am not an employee of Bencher, just a satisfied
customer.
73 de
Gene Smar AD3F
> WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED TRIBANDER FOR CONTESTING? NO GREATER THAN 9
> SQUARE FEET OF WINDLOAD.
>
> TNX,
>
> MIKE, VE4MM
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
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http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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