[TowerTalk] C3 value?

[Bill Parry]

I would basically agree with Phil on this.  I have had two C3s up.  One was
a regular C3 and the other is a C3E - up currently. With a number of years
of experience with the C3 I would highly recommend it. But...my 80 Meter
sloper runs rings around it on the WARC bands. Don't count on it for the
WARC bands.  The C3 is a two element antenna for 15-20 and three elements on
10; the E version has another 10 meter element. It is very light and easy to
rotate. The LPDA is going to be much bigger and heavier but does work the
some of the WARC bands.

It depends on what you want. The last I looked, the Force 12 C3 was selling
for around $700, maybe more now. You might get $300 from a generous soul if
you were to sell it.

Bill W5VX

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Phil Snyder
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:21 AM
Cc: jim Jarvis; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] C3 value?

Very true for the LPDA, but if you read the specs on the C3 line of 
antennas, I believe they are a series of interlaced 2 element beams. 
That's why the C3 has a total of 6 elements for three bands. They claim 
it performs on 12 and 17 but from my experience with it at a couple of 
different stations ( C3, C3S and a C3SS) is that it is marginal at best. 
I had a C3SS here in the shed and was getting ready to put it up when a 
deal came along on a T-6. I sold the C3SS and put up the T-6. SWR on 20 
meters hasn't fallen in line with what some others claim as a 12 foot 
boom is on the short end for a LPDA on 20. I would guess that the T-8 
might come out a little better on that point.

Phil
N9LAH

Gene Smar wrote:
> Jim:
>
>      FWIW - A LPDA is at best a two element radiator.  The gain will
likely be less than that of a three element Yagi.  The LPDA provides a wider
bandwidth than the Yagi, hence its popularity with military, embassy, etc.
installations.  
>
>
> 73 de 
> Gene Smar  AD3F
>
>
> From: jim Jarvis <jimjarvis at optonline.net>
> Date: 2008/07/14 Mon PM 01:41:10 EDT
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] C3 value?
>
> TT:
>
> I just picked up a 12 year old Force 12 C3, in an estate/takedown  
> situation.
> At the same time, I had two guys approach me, to buy it from me.
>
> At the moment, I'm undecided whether to put this up, or to put up my  
> T8 lpda,
> for general purpose use, and light-duty contesting.
>
> Other than rusted uBolts which hold the elements on, the antenna is  
> clean and
> in good shape.    This is the 3 element version, which I take to be  
> the original C3.
> It uses F12's single feedline, direct connected for 20m, and  
> capacitively coupled for 10 and 15m.
> I guestimated a 16' boom length.   We were all too tired to measure  
> it, after the
> takedown.
>
> So, I have a couple of questions:
>
> 1)  What's a fair market value for the antenna?
>
> 2)  Does anyone have first hand experience with it, on 12 and 17m?    
> F12 says it works there.
>
> 3)  Does anyone have first hand experience of performance vs. an lpda?
>
> I have some thoughts on item 3.   That is, the Tennadyne logs  
> outperform trapped 3 el. tribanders,
> due to their efficiency.   The F12 antenna, however, is three  
> monobanders on a common boom.
> No traps.   So, I would expect the C3 to slighty outperform the log,  
> on three bands, stipulating that f/b, gain,
> and vswr curves may not align to actually produce the hoped for best- 
> cast performance.
>
> Your thoughts?
>
> n2ea
>
>
>
>
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