[Towertalk] Force 12 EF-180C

[JBaumgarte@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/2/02 8:27:21 PM Central Standard Time, 
eugenej@optonline.net writes:

<< Anyone using this Antenna, Force 12 EF-180C 75/80 meter rotatable dipole
 and at what height are you running it at. Local F12 Dealer put one up a
 couple of years ago and had a real unpleasant experience with it. Could
 not get the operating bandwidth of more than 25khz before VSWR went out
 of Spec. Since he lost so much time tuning it, he wants no part in
 selling me one. He has done a lot of work for me and what he has sold me
 worked real well. Gene K2QWD   
 
  >>
Gene,

I've been using one for a couple of years and it's been a tremendous antenna. 
 Mine is at 117', about 6-7' above a C31XR and parallel to the boom.    I had 
a little trouble getting it tuned--ended up narrowing the spread of the 
linear loading/truss lines to about 4 inches apart and then it was 
great--gives me a range with the very touchy Alpha 87A of "no problem 
operating" from 3500 to 3565 and 3750 to 3825--then I have a two position 
switch, so I can "add 40-50 khz" to these, also.  Please note this is at 
1.5:1--not 2:1 which would be a larger segment.  

However, it was a mechanical nightmare at first in that I got one of the 
first ones with only 2 saddle clamps to grab the mast--couldn't grip my 
chromolly mast tight enough and it slipped every time the wind blew over 40 
MPH.  Eventually, F12 gave me a new mast plate and 4 saddle clamps.  This was 
a tricky switch in the air (standing on a mast step), but I did it, and it's 
perfect now!   

>From northern Minnesota I worked Zones 17 (several), 18, 19, 22, and 23 and 
many 15/16 LP EU this past season with no receiving antenna assistance.   
It's amazingly quiet compared to my sloper.  

Make no mistake about it, however--it's a beast!

John, N0IJ
Duluth, MN