[TowerTalk] Skyhawks on TIC Rings?

[Jim]

Agreed Jeff!

And VERY well said Tony!


Thanks
73
Jim W7RY

On 1/9/2019 9:01 PM, Jeff Blaine wrote:
> As a previous KT owner, I can also say there is a lot of wisdom in 
> this message on so many topics!
>
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
> www.ac0c.com
>
> On 09-Jan-19 8:54 PM, Tony Brock-Fisher via TowerTalk wrote:
>> When working, the KT36-XA is a great antenna. I believe that compared 
>> other tribanders on a 32' boom, they are the highest performing 
>> antenna you can find. Unlike interlaced tribanders, the XA uses all 
>> of the boom length on all bands, and forward gain is related to boom 
>> length, not the number of elements.
>>
>> The trouble with the KT antennas is that they are not reliable. 
>> Despite the tremendous mechanical improvements from the M2 revision, 
>> water still gets into the capacitors, resulting in skyrocketing SWR 
>> or arcing at high power.
>>
>> I've owned, loved, rebuilt, and hated the KT antennas for over 30 
>> years. I've made several experimental modifications. I started a user 
>> group for them, KTantennas at yahoo.com. I have been successful in 
>> keeping the bugs and debris out of the tubing, but the antenna still 
>> fails from moisture getting in. And once the capacitors get wet, they 
>> do not dry out by themselves, and the antenna must be taken down and 
>> rebuilt.
>>
>> My last experiment was an attempt to hermetically seal the antenna. I 
>> posted a detailed description of this experiment to the KTantennas 
>> group. This worked for 3 years, but recently failed with typical high 
>> SWR and high power issues. This is the second time that the XA has 
>> failed during  a contest season, forcing me to use my 2-element quad 
>> 'multiplier' antenna as the main (and only) antenna on the high bands.
>>
>> So after 30+ years of trying to make this great design reliable for 
>> many years of service, I am forced to face the conclusion that 
>> finding a way to give it environmental longevity  is beyond my 
>> technical ability.
>>
>> Therefore I too will be replacing a KT36-XA with a Skyhawk next 
>> spring when antenna weather returns. I know I am giving up a db or 
>> two in forward gain, but hopefully the Skyhawk, with no traps, will 
>> be able to give me long term service. The reviews all seem to support 
>> this vision.
>>
>> A 'good' antenna  that works is far better than the 'best' antenna 
>> that doesn't.
>>
>> -Tony, K1KP
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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