[TowerTalk] Force12 420/240 or Cushcraft 40

[Bill]

Bill,

Look no further. I have had both antennas up.  The EF420 is a fragile
antenna, prone to mechanical failure. It is hard to tune, I never got mine
to work right. After three efforts at repair with a 115 foot crane I gave up
and junked it.

The Cushcraft XM420 is an excellent antenna. I have had it up in the same
basic configuration as the old EF420. It is well constructed and works like
a bomb. It is of course a little heavier that the EF420. Force 12 has
another version of the 2 ele 40 with longer elements. This antenna may be
fine but I haven't seen one.

There is absolutely no comparison between these two antennas.

With these negative comments you might think I'm one of those Force12
bashers. I am not. For the size and money I think the C3E is the best buy
going. I have had two and they are superior antennas.

One proviso: If you are going to stack the XM420 near a tribander, expect
interaction. I have the C3E and the XM420 13' apart and they interacted so
much that I had to turn them at right angles to correct the problem.

One man's opinion,
Bill, W5VX

  


>Looking for recommendations. Considering the interlaced 4 ele 20 and 2 ele
>40 from Force 12, or a monoband 20 and the Cushcraft 2 ele 40. Price of the
>Force 12 is just over $1000 and I have a mono 20 but no 40 beam. The
>Cushcraft 40 is just over $700. Thoughts?
>
>73 Bill
>_______________________________________________