[TowerTalk] Optibeam OBLY14-5

[W3YY]

AC0H -

I'll be very interested in how you like the 16-EL Optibeam.

My 4 el SteppIR 20-6M gave me great service for 14 years but has now reached
the end of its useful life.  So am considering the Optibeam and others.  

73, Bob - W3YY
 

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
kstover at ac0h.net
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2018 6:55 AM
To: jim at audiosystemsgroup.com; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Optibeam OBLY14-5

I'm about to make a decision between the 4 el SteppIR 20-6m and the 16 el
version of the Optibeam Log-Yagi. Whichever way I go that antenna with the
JK402T I'm going to stack above it will be turned by a K7NV prop pitch
rotor.

Unlike the SteppIr, which has almost single handedly revived the crank up
tower market because the antenna goes up and comes down so often for
maintenance/repair and the Optibeam which you barely hear a word about
outright failing.. If you want to compare real world failure rates compare
those two. Who wins? Ahem.

K7NV has also put out warnings about the SteppIR's with trombone elements
being way understated in surface area specs and we hear crickets on this
reflector. 
This conversation has clear4ed some things up for me. I was just about to
drop some serious cash on a new crank up tower. I think I'll go with an AN
Wireless tower, the Optibeam Log-Yagi, the JK402T and the K7NV PP.

I have nothing but respect for Kurt. I'm buying his product.

R. Kevin Stover    AC0H

ARRL, FISTS, SKCC, NAQCC.
"If it doesn't work the first time you push the button it won't work the
20th.Just stop."

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2018 3:04 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Optibeam OBLY14-5

On 11/14/2018 11:38 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
> If not you're just spreading an unsubstantiated rumor.

Hi Dave,

I know Kurt Andress well enough to know that he does not deal in
unsubstantiated rumors. He is, among other things, a superb Mech Eng'r, and
he runs a first rate biz installing antennas. That puts him in a position to
see a lot of problems.

Things DO change in the world of manufacturing -- ask anyone who has dealt
with a company that changes hands, or that acquires an overly aggressive
bean counter (or purchasing agent who wants to make a good impression with
bosses who don't know any better).

I made my living as an audio systems design consultant, and it was part of
my responsibility to know who was making good stuff, who was supporting it,
and who was not. In my 40 years in that world, I saw all of the above happen
over and over again, as once great companies and products turned to crap.

73, Jim K9YC


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