11 meter dipole vs A99 for base

[ETXcummins]

Flag buddy is what I used on the ladder. I bought that and a telescoping 18' Fiberglass Flag Pole.
Must fly Old Glory. Always!

Well, I hadn’t heard of Flag Buddy until now. But I checked into it and this definitely seems like the way to go! A clean, simple and attractive way to mount the A99 to the ladder. Very nice!

I’ll either get one or just mount a small mast to the ladder in a similar fashion.

Good stuff!

 

[ETXcummins]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have some good ideas now as to which direction to go. Hopefully I’ll have something working in the next two weeks and I’ll snap some pics.

Brandon

 

[357magnum]

I saw an antenna on the Collasal website , it looks like a Flag pole deigned for people in HOA's also a functional Flag pole problem is ..... https://zerofive-antennas.com/produ...-performance-commercial-duty-flagpole-antenna

 

[W2EKG]

If you gonna be parked on channel 38 lower sideband, run the dipole on the flat side.

 

[Alan Blackmon]

Hey. Where are the pictures? Didn't happen until they are on here.

 

[ETXcummins]

Hey. Where are the pictures? Didn't happen until they are on here.

I've been out of town and now I have to take my trailer in for service in a couple weeks. The heat is out and one of the slides isn't working properly. So long story short, the radio project is on hold until I get the trailer back from the dealer in a month or two.

 

[Alan Blackmon]

Yikes. Good luck.

 

[JAF0]

I've owned several a99s, Imaxs, Sirio gainmasters and other fiberglass antennas and the one that most impressed me for big performance without radials is the Proton99.

It beat the a99 and seemed to keep up with the Imax.

It's only a foot or so taller than the a99 but 5 feet shorter than the Imax.

I used inexpensive electricians black tape and wrapped mine from bottom to top so it didn't stand out in the neighborhood like white would.

I recently saw it for sale on line for around $80.

Plus its four 54" sections instead of three 72" sections so it tucks away nicely.

 

[LBRadio2018]

If the camper has a metal roof, I would be thinking about a full length 1/4 wave whip right in the middle of the roof. Use the metal roof as a ground plane. This will reduce RFI as compared to an Antron 99.

I second this ..... I just mounted a 102 whip flat down tight against a metal pole barn roof with a 40x48 foot print using the entire roof as a ground plane. SWR flat from 26.0 to 28.0 then slowly climbs 1.1 down into 25 and up into 29. Broadest band coverage I’ve ever experienced, no spring just the 102 whip. I talk all over the lower 48 and up into Canada. I always get reports of loud and clear, the radio is so quiet sometimes I think it’s not on. Sweet deal for a $ 20 antenna.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I second this ..... I just mounted a 102 whip flat down tight against a metal pole barn roof with a 40x48 foot print using the entire roof as a ground plane. SWR flat from 26.0 to 28.0 then slowly climbs 1.1 down into 25 and up into 29. Broadest band coverage I’ve ever experienced, no spring just the 102 whip. I talk all over the lower 48 and up into Canada. I always get reports of loud and clear, the radio is so quiet sometimes I think it’s not on. Sweet deal for a $ 20 antenna.

Did you ground the roof or is it a steel frame building? I have a steel roof on my house, now you got me thinking. Haha

 

[LBRadio2018]

Did you ground the roof or is it a steel frame building? I have a steel roof on my house, now you got me thinking. Haha

Wood frame pole barn. I grounded the roof on its own ground rod, but i have done this on an all metal building too( roof and sides connected) and the results were the same. I’m sure every case is a little different.

 

[Chicago Savage]

I would home brew a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna, and put it on a 10' mast on the roof of your trailer.

 

[Chicago Savage]

After reading everything you said in the original post (for once), I would get a heavy duty magnet mount that has your standard 18 feet of coax, and run a 102' whip (with a spring, if the spring is needed for a better SWR) on the top of your camper. This will only work if the camper is metal, and not aluminum. This will put your total height at only 9 feet above your camper, and the nice stainless whip will look sweet, and not be too "offensive looking" to your neighbors. He'll, you can take the antenna down when you're not using the radio. That will perform the same or better than an A-99 sitting low to the ground. Also, anybody can shoot skip with a 9' whip stuck to a refrigerator if the conditions are right. But, I digress. Top of the day! The Chicago Savage (who lives in Denver) said it.

 

[L2]

I ran both at one time and the A-99 worked better on transmit and receive for local and DX. It's easier to get the vertical higher. Nowadays I run an IMAX 2000 on top of a 35 foot push up pole that runs up/attached to a tree.

 

[Hurricane145]

Nowadays I run an IMAX 2000 on top of a 35 foot push up pole that runs up/attached to a tree.

I am curious how you have it attached to the tree. I have a couple BIG Douglas fir trees I have been thinking about using. Just not sure how to go about it.