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Base A99 vs Gain Master vertical
- Thread starter Titan7
- Start date
Being 10’ off the ground Is low but also what are your surroundings like if you are in a low area and surrounded by hills geographically you may wanna go with the A99 the high radiation take off angle will work for your advantage get you up and over sooner.
I am on a hill in suburbia Orange County CA. Yes RFI is something I would like to avoid if possible. Just for reference I was using one of the Firestik indoor base antennas sitting on my concrete pool deck and could get good reports for about 10-15 miles. I would use it but it’s not really weather proof and I just figured the a99 or gain master
If you are sitting up on a hill that is a plus already.
I have not used the gain master but I have used the a 99.
It worked well for me with minimum effort. We really did just screw it together and push it up 20 feet above the house and started talking on it.
I used it for years with no maintenance I also installed one for my uncle his is 20 feet off the ground on 2 sections of tv mast and has been there well over 10 years with out being touched. Both were the Solarcon brand. I have no idea who makes them now.
73
Jeff
I have not used the gain master but I have used the a 99.
It worked well for me with minimum effort. We really did just screw it together and push it up 20 feet above the house and started talking on it.
I used it for years with no maintenance I also installed one for my uncle his is 20 feet off the ground on 2 sections of tv mast and has been there well over 10 years with out being touched. Both were the Solarcon brand. I have no idea who makes them now.
73
Jeff
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
Rfi will be a problem with any antenna that doesn't have counterpoise radials. It tries to make the coax shield the counterpoise so a choke or 1:1 balun will be needed at the feed point.
I re-coated mine the last time it hit the dirt .
Put it back up , all my readings were fine . I did put Loctite on the threads because w/ the wind & all the " Whipping " around it does the sections came un-screwed . Elevation is also working for me because I sit on a hill @ 800 above sea level w/ good exposure N, S & E but the hill behind me is my nemesis .
Put it back up , all my readings were fine . I did put Loctite on the threads because w/ the wind & all the " Whipping " around it does the sections came un-screwed . Elevation is also working for me because I sit on a hill @ 800 above sea level w/ good exposure N, S & E but the hill behind me is my nemesis .Yes, there is a major reduction in RFI with the Gain-Master when compared to other end fed verticals. Because, it's not an end fed vertical and uses an isolation choke at the base to form a balanced antenna. This is more effective at reducing RFI and CMC down the outside of the coax than decoupling radials since radials "bleed" an existing CMC off while the choke in the Gain-Master prevents the Common Mode Current from being generated in the first place. One is a treatment for the symptom where the other removes the cause of the symptom. If you have RFI, this is the biggest advantage of the GM. You may see a little better signal but the reduction in RFI is very easy to spot.
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I am sure they both work great, since I am mounting it low RFI is something I want to avoid. I think the GM does a better job.