[TowerTalk] GAP Titan
Joe L Blackwell
aa4nn@juno.com
Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:44:41 -0400
Dear OM Phil, K5PC
Sorry you are so misinformed. The GAP verttical is not a vertical per
se,
it is a vertical dipole! Adding radials to a GAP is the worse thing you
can
do. The recommended wires are a counterpoise for the lower bands, like
40, 80 and 160. These counterpoise wires are not radials ! Get it !
Having said that, I tried a GAP, hoping to optimize it for 80 meters and
the
entire setup stunk. Nuff said. GAP has its place, but it is not a
vertical that
requires radials. Get that through all your heads when you complain
about
the GAP.
Okay, Phil, so your friend (K2RM) said things kept falling off the GAP.
My oh
My, there aren't too many things that can fall off a GAP, a coupla
resonant
arms which are fastened to the basic vertical via plastic connectors.
Maybe
your friend, K2RM, could enlighten us with a more first hand experience.
No?
Putting comments like yours on the reflector, when you do not have first
hand
knowledge just leads to speculation and bias as regards particular
antennas.
73, de Joe AA4NN
aa4nn@juno.com
On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 10:49:36 -0500 "Phil Clements" <philk5pc@tyler.net>
writes:
>
> > I haven't owned a GAP, but a good friend, K2RM, had one for a
> couple of
> > years. Rarely two months went by when some physical part didn't
> fall off
> > into his back yard...literally! He tried everything including
> lightly
> > guying the antenna with nylon cord. (He is NOT in a windy area
> and the
> > antenna was protected by a stockade fence around the back yard.)
> I think
> > GAP replaced parts until the warranty period ran out.
> >
> > I was with him when he talked with the owner of GAP at Dayton, two
> separate
> > years. The guy basically told him, "That's too bad." He didn't
> offer to
> > replace his obviously bad antenna or extend the warranty or
> provide
> > additional replacement parts, nor did he even express regrets for
> the
> > on-going problems.
> >
> > Bob finally replaced the GAP with another vertical...an R5, I
> think. On
> > our weekly schedule, his 40M signal from Ft. Worth, TX to me in
> Ruidoso, NM
> > increased quite dramatically. He hasn't had a single problem with
> the new
> > antenna.
> >
> > Based on Bob's experiences, and equally on the attitude I saw from
> the GAP
> > guy, I wouldn't have one as a gift.
> >
> > Ed, W5EJ
> >
> > >Rod - I'm not sure "exactly" why this group "hates" the GAP
> Titan. I have
> > one
> > >an I am very pleased with it.
>
> Maybe it could be their trying to re-invent the way vertical
> antennas work
> and their deceptive ads(that prey upon unknowing new hams) that we
> don't
> like.
>
> If the instruction book on any vertical antenna does not say "put
> down as many
> radials as you can, as long as you can; chances are you are dealing
> with more
> "snake oil," "magic," and witchcraft than you are antenna theory.
>
> All vertical antennas require an extensive ground system to prevent
> RF energy
> from warming worms instead of being reflected up and away.
>
> I know, I know...do not bother telling how you worked 333 countries
> with no
> radials. I have worked several countries in my distant past with
> door bell
> wire clipped to a rain gutter. We are talking efficiency here; or,
> for those
> of you in Rio Linda, "more bang for the buck."
>
> (((73)))
> Phil, K5PC
>
>
>
>
>
> --
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>
Vy 73, de Joe AA4NN
Eastern Top Band ARC, Carolina DX Assn, Carolina CW Ops,
Fairfield County Contesters, Ten-Tec only, CW only.
eeetet ee
--
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