[TowerTalk] antenna choices

Mon Apr 13 08:26:21 EDT 2015

Brian,

See: http://www.optibeam.info/index.php?article_id=100&clang=1

Weight:   15 kg
Windload: 3.2 ft^2
Price:    1279 EUR (includes 19% VAT) - Array Solutions price will vary

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-04-13 7:36 AM, Bry Carling AF4K wrote:
> Thank you Benedeikt,
>
> Wow, their oPTIBEAM OBW 10-5 MOXON wire beam looks wonderful. I wonder what the
> wind load and price is. I am looking at this on the Array Solutions web site but can't seem to
> find out much there.
>
> I will keep searching ON THE WEB for details.
>
> Brian, AF4K
>
> On 12 Apr 2015 at 13:05, Benedikt Sveinsson wrote:
>
>> I have some comparison
>>
>> I had a new model of the TH7DX on a 43ft tower for 4 years - bougth the antenna new from Dxengineering
>>
>> In Feb I got a Optibeam OB9-5
>>
>> I really hated putting the TH7DX togeather - and then picking it up after each storm, the build quality was bad, tapering was not done properly so the clamps did not hold the elements properly, so I had to put a screw into every joint.  Trap caps would not stay on, QRO op in rain was troublesome (live close to the sea). The Optibeam was just properly designed and withstood one of the worst storms we had here in decades (gusting over 45m/s) it was so easy to put to gether and no room for error. Just read the rewies on eham.
>>
>> On the air, the OB9-5 performs so much better than the TH7DX - that is my feeling albeit bit subjective - It seems to have  much lower angle of radiation. I was sceptical as the OB9-5 only has 2 elements on each band, wheras the TH7DX has 3 or more. But on all bands the OB has outperformed the old design by far. It's very flat over each band in SWR.  So I'm never going back to trapped yagis.  I now have the feeling If I can hear the station, I can work it - and I always get the DX in few calls ;)
>>
>>
>> 73, Benni TF3CY
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kelly Taylor
>> Sent: 10. apríl 2015 18:48
>> To: Bry Carling; jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
>> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] antenna choices
>>
>> Again, bad example.
>>
>> Cushcraft designs date back decades, in some cases to the 1950s and 60s. The development costs are all paid for.
>>
>> As we have seen, and as much as some people choose to disagree, modern antenna designs outperform 50-year-old trap designs. Enough people are willing to help pay for the development costs to get better antennas.
>>
>> Any business can only ever sell at a price the market will support. Enough people are buying F12, Optibeam, JK and other brands' antennas the businesses don't need to cut their prices. Those who don't buy their products aren't in enough quantity to force a lowering of price.
>>
>> If enough people voted with their feet, these makers would either have to cut their price or go out of business.
>>
>> Brian, if enough people are willing to pay you $10 for a crystal, and if you determine that a price cut is NOT going to alter demand for crystals, you're leaving the price at $10, yes?
>>
>> 73, kelly
>> ve4xt
>>
>>
>> On 4/10/15 11:56 AM, "Bry Carling" <bcarling at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Mass production always lowers the price. That is not a fair comparison.
>>> Somebody somewhere is quite happily making Cushcraft antennas for a
>>> much lower price than these multi thousand dollar antennas.
>>>
>>> Best regards - Brian Carling
>>> AF4K Crystals Co.
>>> 117 Sterling Pine St.
>>> Sanford, FL 32773
>>>
>>> Tel: +USA 321-262-5471
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Apr 10, 2015, at 11:56 AM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Fri,4/10/2015 8:08 AM, Bry Carling wrote:
>>>>> It seems like very few antennas are affordable to the average ham.
>>>>>
>>>>> It seems like they need some competition. With prices in the
>>>>> multiple thousands of dollars for a few aluminum tubes somebody
>>>>> could make lot of money by being less expensive...
>>>>
>>>> When we buy a product, we are paying for design, manufacturing,
>>>> marketing, shipping, documentation, and support. None of that is free.
>>>>
>>>> Want to reduce the cost of an antenna? No problem. Pull out the ARRL
>>>> Antenna Book, pick a design, order the hardware, and build it. Or get
>>>> some version of NEC and design it yourself.
>>>>
>>>> While you're at it, keep track of the number of hours you spend. From
>>>> the cost of those overpriced antennas, subtract what you paid for
>>>> materials, and divide that number by the number of hours. Chances are
>>>> it will be less than what you could make flipping burgers at McDonalds.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Jim K9YC
>>>> _______________________________________________
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