In a message dated 1/29/02 12:23:31 PM Pacific Standard Time, RLVZ writes:
> I would be interested in the new Triband Report including a SOMMER antenna.
Several people have asked but I doubt that we'll test one - it's just
another big tribander. Personally I think it's overly complex mechanically
but don't know if that's a significant problem (except during assembly - hi).
Here's the deal as far as my impression with antennas in general and the
Sommer in particular: If it was a high performance antenna, contestors would
be using it and they're not. Contest stations are interested in maximum
performance and they only use those antennas that provide it.
While there are station owners who like the Sommer's performance, they
usually don't have anything to compare it to so of course it works FB. Or
they may be suffering from Mosley Syndrome where "I paid lots of money for it
therefore it must work great".
>
> Was going to install a Force 19 but after seeing how flimsy the elements
> were decided it was too light duty for a coastal area. (though it's rated
at
> 100 mph)
See, there you go making decisions without all the facts. All Force 12
antennas are put through K7NV's Yagi Stress and they WILL make the survival
claims dispite your personal conclusion. F12 antenna failures have been in
the element and element clamp rivets - not element failure. Each of these
failure modes is easy to correct during assembly. They also seem to take some
ice loading without damage.
>
> I'd love to see you continue the Tribander comparison reports!
We have left out the smaller and newer antennas and that's what we'd like
to do for the third edition.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
Tower Tech
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