[TenTec] Ashing for advise please!

[d.e.warnick at comcast.net]

Paul,
I have used the GAP Eagle and 2 Titans. Yes, they do work. I now have a Titan on a tiny city lot with restrictions.

No, it is not my old Moseley Pro 67 on a tower, but that is not possible here. 

We have all read about the problem with SWR on GAP antennas. I offer my explanation. When I got my first one ( a used Eagle) I had it up that day. In a hurry to get on the air without good coax, I made a 5-minute stop at RS for a 50- ft piece of RG-58 with connectors. Should work, right?
Well, the SWR was all over the place and the thing was unusable. My heart sank, but I got out the reel of RG-213 and 2 good PL259 silver (Amphenol) and made up the cable as I should have done in the first place.

When I hooked it up and tested with my Palstar ZM-30, all was as it should be. I was on the air. I really suspect that many of the problems we read about with GAP antennas are with lousy coax or just not following directions. I have mounted them a foot above the ground, 10 feet above a metal roof, etc and they always work.

The tilt mount is quite nice, though you can do the same thing for a lot less money without being terribly mechanically gifted. It is nice, however, to open a box and have a good product that works.

Again, don't expect stellar performance, especially with 'ol sol refusing us any spots as he gets into a new cycle.

I've been happy with GAP antennas and I think you would be also. Note, also that they do become available on the used market for half price or less.

Dave
WA3MKB

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Paul K." <hglent at frii.com> 

> I have just complected a move to eastern Tennessee from my mountain top 
> on the raged edge of paradise in Colorado. In preparation for the move 
> I went off the air a bit more than 3 years ago. 
> 
> Upon arrival in Tennessee I quickly figured out the slick real estate 
> agents and their push to sell property with restrictions. I found a 
> place with no restrictions, but then had to do the remodeling routine. 
> (Ya all know how that goes with the misses!) So now I am ready to get 
> back on the air with the TT gear. (Omni 6+, Orion, etc.) 
> 
> I have plenty of room for the tower and wires, but also have a couple 
> other projects before I get to the heavy tower stuff. I have been 
> looking through QST and on the web at vertical antennas. Because of not 
> wanting to put out ground radials, and the NEED to get back on the air I 
> have been looking at the GAP, HiGain and MFJ verticals. I am open to 
> considering anything else that may be out there. 
> 
> So! The question: What advise or recommendation do you have for me on 
> the selection of a no counterpoise vertical I should buy? 
> 
> TNX es 73s 
> de 
> WA0BAG 
> Paul K. 
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