[TowerTalk] Gladiator TL-80M, part 1 (long)

[Robert C. Boyd]

During the past 4 or 5 years I've been an avid reader of the postings on
Towertalk;  I gain knowledge from each day's postings.  For example,
last September, as a result of the what others had done to reduce their
exposure to lightning, I installed PolyPhaser devices on an entrance
panel as to protect all incoming antenna, rotor, and telephone lines.
My employment keeps me away from home for some months at a time; it's
great to be somewhat relaxed during lightning seasons - I feel that I've
done what I can.

Now let me begin to offer a small payback; some on here asked about my
experience with the GLADIATOR TL-80M, which is a 38 foot tall top-hat
loaded 80 meter vertical antenna,  which my xyl and I put up during the
last weekend in August.

First let me give the reason for choosing that antenna.  I've been a ham
since 1952 and every antenna that I've been able to put up on 80 meters
wherever we lived was a very poor performer.  This was due in large part
because we have always lived on residential lots and did not have the
luxury of being able to put up tall supports for long wires (or for a
4-square).  I've had good results on other bands here with verticals
because the backyard is almost always wet, so I thought about trying one
for 80 meters, and the GLADIATOR TL-80 seemed a good choice.  (See the
web site: http://www.primenet.com/~bmyers/ for all the technical specs.)

The antenna is available in two versions; center-loaded with length of
33 feet or top-hat loaded with a length of 38 feet, and it may be
ground-mounted or elevated.  Ground-mounting here was out of the
questions since the yard is also used by the xyl, grandchildren, and
deer!  I chose to mount the antenna atop a ten foot length of 1-1/2"
conduit which is hinged by a bolt thru two pieces of pressure-treated
2x4's driven into the ground.  The conduit is grounded to an 8' ground
rod (about half of which is into the water table).

I ordered the antenna in early August while on a work-contract in
Florida, and asked that it be shipped about three weeks later to
coincide with my arriving home in Maine.  This was done as requested and
the (large) box arrived safely by ground UPS.  In the meantime I had
installed the base and had trimmed many trees.

This is a large antenna (38 feet IS more than I had visualized) but it
IS very well engineered.  The antenna comes with mid-point eyebolts for
guying (for "severe weather situations").  Probably it can be mounted
without guys, but a set of light-weight lines certainly help keep it
vertical.  Quite frankly I do not think that it is possible to put up
and keep up this antenna in a vertical position without guys (I'd even
suggest that it be guyed at two points instead of one) but that is only
my opinion.

The antenna can be easily erected by two people providing the guy ropes
and top-hat wires have been carefully laid out on the ground.  I was
able to walk it up while the xyl maintained a tension on one of the
guys.  It is VERY limber and one must be careful that the antenna will
NOT catch on tree limbs during the haul-up process!  Once up begins the
slow procedure of straightening the vertical and then the tuning of the
top-hat.  The procedure provided in the assembly instructions is very
complete; an antenna meter such as the MFJ-259 is an absolute
requirement in my opinion, as it is for the tuning of any fixed or
mobile antenna.

The downside of this tuning procedure is that you are going to find it
necessary to erect the antenna, tighten the guys, radials, and top-hat
wires; lower the antenna and alter the length of the top-hat wires; and
probably repeat this process more than once!  Do NOT take short cuts;
resign yourself that it is necessary, and that it is going to take some
time.  It is only too easy to cut too much off the top-hat wires and
wind up higher in the band than you wanted to be!  I know this for a
fact!

Once the tuning was completed, I ran the coax to the shack, installed a
PolyPhaser suppressor on the entrance panel, and was ready to use the
antenna.  The antenna is a decided improvement over what had been
available earlier, but other time limitations at this point have
precluded any comparisons.  Since my primary interest is RTTY Dxing and
contesting, and I am determined to make some noise on 80 meters,  a
comparison WILL be made and posted here after the RTTY contest in late
September!

Thanks to you all for sharing your knowledge!  You are a great group of
guys (and I presume  gals also).  I look forward each morning to reading
the Towertalk postings while having my morning coffee.  The rest of the
day never gets any any better than that!

Very 73,  Bob Boyd - W1VXV  - Kennebunkport, Maine (about a mile from
the ocean)



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