Re[2]: [TowerTalk] KLM-KT34XA Vs. ?? Recommendations
Tyler Stewart
k3mm@ex-pressnet.com
Tue, 29 Aug 2000 04:33:27 +0100
Well, I saw the numbers they came up with on 15 and they were ridiculously
poor, especially the F/B. It doesnt take a test range to figure out that
something was amiss.
While the 34's are tough to assemble correctly, I've now built (actually
rebuilt since all of them were bought used) 3 of them and have had not real
trouble from any of them...and they worked just fine the first time out with
no adjustments necessary. While I did a lot of new things to my latest XA,
even my earliest attempt is still working just fine.
As with any complex/intricate project, you must pay absolute attention to
detail to obtain success.
73, TY K3MM
----- Original Message -----
From: "Guy Olinger, K2AV" <k2av@contesting.com>
To: "Tyler Stewart" <k3mm@ex-pressnet.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>;
"Dave Hachadorian" <k6ll@juno.com>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 11:15 PM
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [TowerTalk] KLM-KT34XA Vs. ?? Recommendations
>
> >However, the Champion review obviously had a bad example of a KT34XA.
>
> Hmmm,
>
> What's so obvious about it. About the cheapest cop-out a manufacturer
> could have after a head-to-head where they lose out, is to say the
> testers had a bad model. Have heard that so many times (certainly not
> just ham antenna's) it isn't funny.
>
> After watching N4AF slave over his KT34XA to get it to work right, and
> having used it myself, I'd have to say it was a decent antenna when it
> 's working.
>
> I wouldn't suppose any large difference between a new C31XR and a KT34XA
> that was cleaned up and in good repair. BUT, an antenna with that many
> little pieces is a breakdown waiting to happen.
>
> What the C31XR has going for it in these comparisons is slightly better
> numbers (not hugely better) all around, but MOST of all, from a
> mechanical standpoint, it is SIMPLE. No traps, no caps, almost no
> doodads.
>
> The KT34XA was a huge improvement over the Mosley, etc, all-trap design.
> And a real step forward in the days before all the computer modeling
> came into its own. The scuttlebutt on the 34 around PVRC was that it
> really worked "If you could assemble the elements." I would add, "...and
> maintain them."
>
> The N4AF multi operation in '00 WPX CW will probably look pretty good in
> the standings, using a KT34XA, mostly, but not always, on ten meters,
> along with 15 and 20 monobanders. But if I was the one required to get
> the XA right, we never would have made it. Good thing Howie is
> retired... He had it on and off the tower five or six times before it
> worked.
>
> Certainly if you have one working well up on a tower, leave it there. Or
> if you don't have a tribander, or have a really scuzzy one, and a friend
> (getting a C31?) offers you the 34 for a bargain price or as a token of
> friendship, you certainly could do a LOT worse than the 34. Get your
> spare parts from M2 and go to work...
>
> - - . . . . . . - - . . . . - - . . - . .
>
> 73, Guy
> k2av@contesting.com
> Apex, NC, USA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tyler Stewart <k3mm@ex-pressnet.com>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>; Dave Hachadorian <k6ll@juno.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 10:45 PM
> Subject: Re: Re[2]: [TowerTalk] KLM-KT34XA Vs. ?? Recommendations
>
>
> >
> > Amen to that, Dave.
> >
> > Yeah, they aint the greatest thing out there at this moment...they
> were
> > designed without modern computer models. However, the Champion review
> > obviously had a bad example of a KT34XA. Yes, it's 15 meter F/B is
> not the
> > best, but it certainly isnt anywhere near as bad as they claim.
> >
> > It's still a very efficient antenna, but I'm hoping that M2 is going
> to
> > improve the situation for those of us with the investment in KLM
> tribanders
> > by introducing a significant update kit that will bring it up to speed
> with
> > the multi-monobander counterparts.
> >
> > 73, Ty K3MM
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dave Hachadorian" <k6ll@juno.com>
> > To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 2:57 AM
> > Subject: Re: Re[2]: [TowerTalk] KLM-KT34XA Vs. ?? Recommendations
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sun, 27 Aug 2000 22:25:55 -0400 "R. Otto" <N8NGA@one.net> writes:
> > >
> > > > Regarding the KT34XA.....interesting question and response. I
> just
> > > > got the report from Champion Radio Products that compares the
> > > > leading
> > > > tribanders in an independent test. I was very interested in the
> > > > reports finding as I was considering purchasing the CushCraft X-9,
> > > > and
> > > > I wanted a comparison of actual data instead of having to rely on
> > > > the
> > > > marketing propaganda that the beam manufacturers put out. The
> report
> > > > shows that in DB gain, the C31XR, X-9, and Skyhawk outperform the
> > > > KT34XA (in the order shown). In Front to back, the C31XR, X-9, and
> > > > Skyhawk again beat the KT34XA (in the same order). In bandwidth,
> the
> > > > KT34XA was about half what the others were on 20 and 15M, and
> equal
> > > > on
> > > > 10M.
> > >
> > > Keep in mind that, in their final days, KLM put out some defective
> > > KT-34XA's. Fortunately, the bad ones are easy to detect from their
> > > lousy swr curves. The one evaluated in the Tribander Comparison
> Report
> > > was obviously one of the bad ones.
> > >
> > > Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
> > > Big Bear, CA
> > > K6LL@juno.com
> > >
> > > --
> > > FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> > > Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> > > Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > > Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> > Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> > Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com