[VHFcontesting] 222MHz Big Wheel Interest.

[Grant Hopper]

A couple of us here in Western WA purchased BigWheels and parts direct from
WiMo last year.

A couple of things we learned from that (research before and experience
after receiving):  First is pay attention to customs fees.  Second is that
a single Big Wheel is nice but other things do as well.  Where the Big
Wheel stands out is with stacking a pair.  I and another ham have stacked
2m and 70cm.  The 6m model is so large that I need to prepare space
specifically for it if I were to deploy a stacked set.  Phasing harnesses
aren't hard, but the one that WiMo recommended was not correct.  We
couldn't understand why performance was horrible until we actually examined
the phasing harnesses we bought.  They weren't correct for that antenna and
that setup.  I forget the details at the moment, but we ended up rolling
our own so I'd recommend skipping WiMo's offering if you're going to stack.

So I think the bottom line is that one should get a pair of 222 Big Wheels
and stack.

Speaking to Chris about the way WiMo might handle the order(s): my guess is
that they would want you to aggregate the "orders" but that they would
ship.  This is what would work best and avoid any import fee ($800)  The
shipper would collect that and it's not part of what WiMo charges (but they
do charge for shipping.)  This shouldn't be at all hard for them to set up
in their order system if they were serious about selling one.  It might be
a hard sell though as 222 isn't a world wide thing so there is somewhat
limited appeal (to really just the US.)

So, I'd work out with them a way that they can take the payment and such,
and you're simply a salesman for them, trying to get at least 40 units
confirmed.  My gut is that even at a "new offering" price, a pair of 222MHz
would be under 800, so I'd think that finding 20 people nationwide that
want a pair would be possible.  I certainly would consider it if I saw
confirmed specs from WiMo (in other words, they built a stacked set as a
test and did a real world confirmation of the design.)

It would be interesting to see if someone in the US would license their
design (I think ti's a good, strong approach) and we could buy direct with
no overseas shipping, import fussing, and more simple than getting them
from WiMo.

73,
Grant
KB7WSD

On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 11:04 AM w3cmp via VHFcontesting <
vhfcontesting at contesting.com> wrote:

> Buddy  -   Wimo will make them. I'm not sure if they will ship them
> individually or whether I have to.  Right now I'm just trying to find out
> if there is enough interest to proceed. Right now I've had interest in 3
> wheels.73,Chris Patterson W3CMP Sent from my Galaxy
> -------- Original message --------From: Buddy Morgan <beamar at aol.com>
> Date: 2/14/25  1:51 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: w3cmp <w3cmp at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: 222MHz  Big Wheel Interest.
>         I can make that work. I currently have a M2 loop, side mounted, on
> my tower. I will sign up. Have you thought about getting them made, here in
> the United States? Maybe Terry at Directive Systems would be
> interested?Buddy WB4OMG
>
>
>
>
>
>                         On Friday, February 14, 2025 at 01:46:56 PM EST,
> w3cmp <w3cmp at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>                 Bubby:   Diameter of the 2 meter Big Wheel is 3.7 ft; the
> diameter of the 432MHz Big Wheel is is about 13.5".  Stacking distance is
> 5/8 w/l.      Extrapolating the two diameters I would expect the diameter
> of a 222MHz Big Wheel to be about 26".    The benefit of a Big Wheel over a
> loop is that the Wheel has more gain than a loop, just about dBd.  A loop
> has less gain than a dipole because it is a dipole folded into a square
> shape.73, Chris Patterson W3CMP Sent from my Galaxy
>
>
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