Topband: GAP VERTICAL QUESTION

[Gary Smith]

Your question is about the Gap antennae and I have no experience with 
them. After reading some of the replies you got back I thought I'd 
mention my antennae system which is both OK & some what of a joke.

I have a long coax leading to a good location for radials and I have 
a 5 position remote coax box which leads to a 130' inv-l, an 80M 
(mostly) vertical, a 40 & 30 vert and a beater of a butternut I use 
only for 20M. All the outer braid from the coax coming from the the 
coax box are grounded to the same radial plate. The 160 inv-L can be 
used on 160, 15, 12 and 10M with excellent results. The 80M works 
wonderful on 17M. The 40 also does 15 OK but I hear and get out 
better with the 160M antenna on 15M. nothing beats the 30M for 30 and 
the butternut is the only thing that loads up nicely for 20M.

All my antennae and radials are 8 wire CAT cable I got off fleabay 
for around $100 for about a mile of wire. The Ameritron coax switch 
I've had for many years but it's probably $150. The coax is something 
you're going to get anyway. But the beauty is I don't need a tuner as 
the worst SWR is 2:1 and the K3 has an internal tuner for the 
barefoot times with a SS rig and the amplifier doesn't seem to mind a 
2:1 SWR so the amp is no problem. 

With this el cheapo antenna system I was able to confirm ZL9HR on 17, 
30, 40, 80 and 160 (small brag; one of the 185 total 160M QSOs they 
made!). All that to say, If you can get a few radials down, and some 
wire in the air (especially the 160 inv-L, you might could save some 
money over a commercial antenna and do surprisingly well. It won't 
beat the big dogs but it'll do just fine.

Gary
KA1J



> With the prospect of downsizing and moving into senior housing in the
> future I am starting to look at vertical antennas that will allow me
> to continue this wonderful hobby.  I have heard "some" good things
> about the GAP series of antennas but the company says they do not need
> radials on most of them and that worries me.  Over the years I have
> become very skeptical about claims and the other BS put out by most
> companies ( maybe it is a function of age I dunno) so I wonder if
> these antennas really work.  The two antennas that I am interested
> are the Voyager DX for 160/80/40  and the Eagle DX for the rest of
> the bands. 
> 
> 
> 
> So my question is.... does anyone have actual experience with these
> antennas (especially the voyager) as compared to other antennas for a
> specific frequency.  Now guys .. I know you cant really compare a 6
> element beam to a vertical of this kind but I am talking about a
> comparison that is realistic.. like how does it hear, tune, match &
> get out compared to something like another vertical or a dipole up
> some reasonable distance. 
> 
> 
> 
> I sure hope this has not opend another can of worms.. some how I seem
> to do that .. private emails are ok..especially it the topic gets out
> of hand and we get a large volume of comments (Tree please dont shoot
> me before Christmas my wife will miss me.) 
> 
> 
> 
> Jim WA3MEJ 
> 
> 
> Long Live Seal Team VI 
> 
> http://www.qsl.net/wa3mej/index.htm 
> _______________________________________________
> Topband reflector - topband at contesting.com