A99 survived the hard wind last nite

[Rwb]

We had severe storms yesterday afternoon.about 430 pm lighntning struck a huge tree in my yard.it calmed down,i went out to survey damage .sky had a long DARK bank.got back in house and the strongest wind i ever recall since i mived here in 79 hit.turns out tornado went over just north of my house.
It broke the mast pipe my scanner antenna was on,bent the mast pipe for my A99.its in a tree now.but swr is still in 1.1 to 1 range.talked to my usual group today.they all said im soundin same as always.
Im kinda sold on A99 durability

 

[S&W357]

My A99 has been a survivor thus far also. Mid October last year it survived high winds from a big storm for a couple of days with gust 70-80 mph. No mast pipes were bent. Power was out 5 days.

Like an idiot I dropped one end of my horizontal dipole wire antenna thinking swaying trees would pull it apart. With one end loose it ended up in the tree like a backlash on a casting reel...duh.

This past winter the A99 survived several ice storms.

Your situation was more severe with tornado being close to your house.

 

[Rwb]

My A99 has been a survivor thus far also. Mid October last year it survived high winds from a big storm for a couple of days with gust 70-80 mph. No mast pipes were bent. Power was out 5 days.

Like an idiot I dropped one end of my horizontal dipole wire antenna thinking swaying trees would pull it apart. With one end loose it ended up in the tree like a backlash on a casting reel...duh.

This past winter the A99 survived several ice storms.

Your situation was more severe with tornado being close to your house.

us weather bureau estimated winds over 100 mph.small trees we set out 5 years ago 6 inch diameter bowed to the ground several times.strongest wind i ever remember.i got a video of that tornado but it wont post here

 

[Rwb]

just a few images of a few trees broke and lightning struck.my 3 acre yard is covered with brush

 

[Blackcat630]

Back in the day at my old qth.. house sat on a hill probably 8 ft above surrounding yard. 50 ft rohn 25 and 12 ft mast. I lost one IMAX to lightning and one broke in the wind. Maco V58 was a joke.. it twisted back and forth and lost radials.. broke the radial hub.. worked good when it stayed together.. Always went back to the good old A99. Flat open Illinois fields in all directions with NO wind breaks. Big straight line winds in the summers and ice in the winters. Overall height was roughly 70 ft at the base/ 88 ft tip.. above surrounding areas. The A99s took it like a boss. Might not have been the best performance but durability was there. Not terrible performance, work good for what they are...
My experience... your mileage may vary..

 

[oldtymer]

A99 is a good antenna. I wish Shakespeare would make the old "Big Stick" again.

 

[Eldorado828]

RWB, thankfully the twister spared you and your home man. I've never owned an a99 but everything you guy's say it sounds nearly bulletproof, aside from the lightning. I don't know anything about the Shakespeare either but I've got a Tram 1498 that's a few months old now and I have to say it this thing has survived some intense 60 to 70 mph Texas panhandle wind storms. The V58 was destroyed earlier this spring by our winds here so the tram replaced it. Performance sounds to be as good as the a99 but I can really say the tram is top notch construction and build quality. Not sure how that stands next to the Shakespeare

 

[Marconi]

A99 is a good antenna. I wish Shakespeare would make the old "Big Stick" again.

I like this thread. I've told my stories about bad weather long ago.

Oldtymer, I agree with you about the A99, but I'm not too sure the Big stick is as good. The BS had a really good finish and that might have helped it stay in the air longer had it not been struck by ball lightening.

 

[Rwb]

I have an old quarter wave antenna,it was destroyed the first year it was up,the radials were broke off,center pole came loose.it was pinned to a wood piece that had a coil wound around it. I used a piece of water pipe and installed it in place of the wood.made a great scanner antenna.
If an A 99 had a shakespere finish it would be even better.
If my A 99 breaks im buying another. Mine is 1 of the first 1 sold.
We are all a testimonal for them

 

[Road Squawker]

... edit... I wish Shakespeare would make the old "Big Stick" again.

You might not say that if your neighbor was using one.

 

[old goat 321]

Im impressed with my old a99. It sure takes a beating and keeps on ticking. I get out with it pretty well also. Old antenna, old coax, still works. Im somewhat apprehensive about putting up my spt 500. I would hate to end up having less performance and durability. Im kicking around the idea of useing the a99 on my old f150 on a mountain top this weekend. Maybe i can bolt it to the headache rack.

 

[357magnum]

My A-99 hasn't failed me on this hill & it's been through a few Hurricanes on it's 30' Galvanized Push Pole mounted to the side of my house w/ no G-wires . Well just that one time when the top section unscrewed & I found it the ground ! Found the lock washer & a drop of Loctite & it hasn't done it since but Boy it does some whipping around up there ! I've talked to all 50 States and World Wide w/ That Old Girl !

 

[357magnum]

Btw oldtymer , Cleaning up my Wife's Dad's house in between the weeds 3 days ago I found the remains of a Big stick w/out the top section . I'm sure it's junk by now !

 

[S&W357]

I really liked my Big Stick when I had it but that was decades ago...late 1970's to mid 1980's.

Now I'm happy with my A99. I think I like the A99 better but I liked the fiberglass quality on the BS better. But that was so long ago I don't really remember.

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

You dodged a pretty big bullet RW, I didn’t realize how bad it was until I actually saw it on the news. You were lucky, many weren’t.

Fiberglass resin works pretty well for coating an A99, leaves a really nice finish if you apply it thin enough or it can be sanded. A 102” whip cut down to size makes a nice and sturdy replacement when wind/ice snaps the top section off.

I could care less about the antenna, I’m just glad you and your family are safe.