[TenTec] Force 12 vertical dipoles used with my TT Scout

[NJ0IP]

It's all relative, Barry.

If you put up a tower and a beam and rotator, you pay much more than that
per band.  If you do that just for 40, you pay a heck of a lot more.  

I guess the problem with home-brewing is finding the right parts and then
the time it would take to experiment with the thing.  Some people have lots
of time, but for most of us, "time is money", so the Force12 is probably OK
for the price.

I see it like this:

- It works almost as good as a full size vertical, yet remains within our
zoning laws (as size goes).
- It doesn't require a yard full of radials.
- It's quick and simple to put up and get on the air - and it works "as is".
- It's available immediately.

Whether or not that's worth $500 is something each person must decide for
his (or her) self.

I have contemplated converting my Titanex to a home-brew 40m, but I know if
I begin that now, I'll be lucky to have it finished in time for contesting
season next year.  I can have the Force12 up and running by contesting
season this year.

I have a third option.  The Swedish company has promised to build a 40m
short vertical dipole using linear loading.  The height will probably be
about 12m (2x 6m).  I prefer linear loading to the loading coils used in the
Force12, but the Force12 is here today and the other is still vaporware.

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Barry Gross
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 5:03 AM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Force 12 vertical dipoles used with my TT Scout

If I recall, they charge over $500 for that 40M vertical.  Yikes!

We need a homebrew version.  How difficult/expensive could it be to
fashion something similar?

73,
Barry N1EU

On 7/12/05, Fred Handscombe <fredch at homeshack.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> They have a very good web page
> 
> http://force12inc.com/sigma40info-003.htm
> 
> 73 FRed
> G4BWP
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "NJ0IP" <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
> To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 8:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Force 12 vertical dipoles used with my TT Scout
> 
> 
> > Thanks for the description Stuart.
> > Actually I'm only looking for a 40m monobander.
> > I believe they build those too.
> > I really don't want to run a control wire to the darn thing because it
> > will
> > be located quite some ways away from the house.  The feedline will be
> > going
> > thru a remote coax switch and the control for the switch runs over the
> > feedline, so I can't run antenna control through the coax.  It would
have
> > to
> > be an extra cable.
> >
> > I guess I'll write Force12 directly and ask them to describe their 40m
> > version in more detail.
> >
> > Tnx agn.
> > Rick
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
> > On Behalf Of Stuart Rohre
> > Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 4:27 PM
> > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Force 12 vertical dipoles used with my TT Scout
> >
> > We have several of the center fed Force 12 verticals of the Sigma V
class
> > for a project at work.
> >
> > They were also used for a ham operating event on the bands 20m and up.
> >
> > They work great, are very easy to use and can be put up very fast.
> > Assembly
> > is speeded by the use of wing nuts.
> >
> > Our models did condense salt water overnight at the beachside test site.
> >
> > That is easily removed from the "radome' covering the loading coils,
> > relays
> > and centerfeed point by drilling a weep hole in the bottom of the cover
> > housing.  In sustained salt water atmosphere you would have to rinse out
> > the
> > housing with fresh water, but this is commonly done with other
commercial
> > antennas in seaborne service.
> >
> > They are very good shortened dipoles, using a combination of center
> > loading
> > coils and horizontal rod capacity hats to resonate the 12 foot length as
a
> > 20m dipole.  The furnished control cable to the relay switch box is 50
> > feet,
> > so you might have to add some for other installations.
> >
> > The coax feeder has ferrite beads over it at the feedpoint end to remove
> > any
> > chance of RF on the outer shield back at the rig.
> >
> > -Stuart
> > K5KVH
> >
> >
> >
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