[TowerTalk] Shorty 40

[Bill Parry]

Howdy Barry,

I was using the EF version not the Magnum version of the F12 antenna.
Possibly the Magnum has the problems fixed. I know that it is a larger
antenna and costs quite a bit more.

According to the F12 website the Magnum 2 element 40 is:

Magnum 240N $1,189.00
2ele Yagi, 24' boom, 58' ele >5KW and weighs 85 lbs.

According to my manual:

Cush craft XM240 apex $700
2ele Yagi, 22' boom, 43.75' ele  >2KW and weighs 55 lbs.


I had a great deal of trouble with the phasing lines breaking on the F12
antenna, as well as those little stand-off connectors out on the elements. I
got a call from the company admitting that these stand off connectors were
faulty, and they replaced them. Small consolation since the antenna was
stacked above another antenna at 100 feet. The phasing lines broke on three
separate occasions!

The XM240 has several modifications that were made after the original
40-2CD. I believe that some of the moods were the ones recommended in an
article in QST. The band width of my XM240 is about 240 KHz which is far
more than necessary for my needs. I did have difficulties with interaction
between both of these antennas and my other antennas. If I remember
correctly, when F12 came out with the Magnum version of the 40 M antenna,
one of the advantages it was supposed to have is that it didn't interfere
with other nearby antennas. That would certainly be a plus for the antenna. 

Glad your antenna works well,

Bill, W5VX

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry [mailto:w2up3 at verizon.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:02 AM
To: Bill Parry
Cc: 'Greg Clark'; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Shorty 40

I"ve had a F12 Magnum 240 up a few months now, replacing a Cushcraft 
40-2CD that damaged by lightning.  I think the F12 is a significantly 
better performer and has a bit wider bandwidth, as well.
Barry W2UP

Bill Parry wrote:
> The XM240 is a fine antenna. I had the F12 40 and it is NOT a fine antenna
> (physically). I don't know about the other two.
>
> Bill, W5VX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Greg Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 7:30 AM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Shorty 40
>
> Folks,
>  
> I'm in the process of rebuilding my station and am in need of a 2 ele 40m
> yagi.  In the past I had an old 40-2CD by Cushcraft on the tower.
>  
> In shopping around I have looked at:
>  
> XM240
> Force 12 (new and old linear loading designs)
> Hy-Gain
> M2
>  
> The Optibeam looks nice but is out of my budget.
>  
> -The XM240's are kinda hard to find - all on backorder at most of the
major
> shops in the US as of the end of last week.  Not sure if this has anything
> to do with the company recently being purchased??
>  
> -Force 12 has a 4-6 week lead time (even with that quote it's "iffy" as to
> when it will arrive).  
>  
> -M2 - I couldn't find a direct link on their site for a 2 ele version any
> longer, so I don't even know if they are still available as I have not
> called the factory yet.  Anyone know if they still make a 2 ele 40m yagi?

>  
> -As for Hy-Gain - well - I just don't see many of these yagis - are they
> that poor of a performer?  We had one at the WM5G multi years ago - I
don't
> remember much about it.  I can get one of these in a reasonable amount of
> time but don't want to be wasting my money and time.
>
> Greg
> K9IG
>
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-- 

Barry Kutner, W2UP             Newtown, PA