[Towertalk] Force 12 EF-180C

[gary stilwell]

I've had one now for a couple of years and am quite pleased.  With the
switch box, you can extend the the bandwidth.  Of course, the higher, the
better, but I have used it with results with the tower down at about 40' and
also up at 80' or anywhere inbetween.

KI6T

----- Original Message -----
From: <JBaumgarte@aol.com>
To: <eugenej@optonline.net>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Force 12 EF-180C


> 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
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