[UK-CONTEST] Moonraker VHF beams

[Adrian Rees (MW1LCR)]

Hi all

To be honest, I bought an 8 Element Moonraker beam 5 years ago.Its built
like the proverbial tank, and is made from some very thick wall Aluminium
tubing.I have had two problems over the 5 or so years I have had it, the
first problem was the joint section between the two halves of the beam, a
pop rivet had failed. This was easily fixed with a 32mm long bolt and a
Nylock lock nut.

The second was the match. It uses a Gamma match and "out of the box" it
requires a bit of fiddling with to get the SWR low around 144.300MHz. I seem
to recall I also had an issue with water proofing the connector socket. 

All in all, I have taken the beam apart numerous occasions, and its been
left up in the air in at this QTH through some serious storms. Whilst I
can't compare its technical performance accurately I can say that it does
give a 9 Element Tonna a run for its money, and beats it hands down on
strength.  It also gives a Wimo 9 Element Yagi a good run, although it's a
lot heavier than the Wimo.

It needed a mast to boom mount as well.

I would suggest that anyone who wants an extremely robust (and I mean
robust) low cost, Yagi with reasonable performance, then do have a look at
the Moonraker 8 Element Yagi.

There again I havn't tried the likes of M2 aerials, so I may not appreciate
the purist (and expensive, Hi!) Yagi.

73

Adrian MW1LCR