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I've got two versions of the 1/2 wave Shakespeare Big stick. The first is the base station version they made for Radio Shack. It is dyed blue and it was sold as the Crossbow, but it was a Shakespeare Big Stick sold as a Radio Shack product.

I bought it in around 1981 after my prized .64 omni got hit by lightning. The Crossbow/Big Stick did not get out anywhere near as well as the .64, but 35 years later it is still giving me virtually flat SWRs across 11 meters in this very unfriendly environment. Regular maintenance has definitely paid off.

The 2nd one is the marine version - the Shakespeare 176-1. It has seen limited use. I bought it thinking I was going to install it on a boat, but realized the mounting scheme I had in mind was not practical. The boat instead got a Radio Shack 1/4 wave marine CB antenna.

I own an A99 and an IMAX2000. Both get out noticeably better than the Big Stick. The furthest contact I have been able to make locally is about 44 miles. However, Miami crane operators who have their antennas way up there are about 90 miles away as the crow flies. I can pick them up fairly often on AM32 when there isn't too much QRM.

<blockquote data-quote="Rick330man" data-source="post: 552186" data-attributes="member: 30799">I&#039;ve got two versions of the 1/2 wave Shakespeare Big stick.&nbsp; The first is the base station version they made for Radio Shack.&nbsp; It is dyed blue and it was sold as the Crossbow, but it was a Shakespeare Big Stick sold as a Radio Shack product.&nbsp; I bought it in around 1981 after my prized .64 omni got hit by lightning.&nbsp; The Crossbow/Big Stick did not get out anywhere near as well as the .64, but 35 years later it is still giving me virtually flat SWRs across 11 meters in this very unfriendly environment.&nbsp; Regular maintenance has definitely paid off.&nbsp; The 2nd one is the marine version - the Shakespeare 176-1.&nbsp; It has seen limited use.&nbsp; I bought it thinking I was going to install it on a boat, but realized the mounting scheme I had in mind was not practical.&nbsp; The boat instead got a Radio Shack 1/4 wave marine CB antenna.&nbsp;&nbsp; I own an A99 and an IMAX2000. Both get out noticeably better than the Big Stick.&nbsp; The furthest contact I have been able to make locally is about 44 miles.&nbsp; However, Miami crane operators who have their antennas way up there are about 90 miles away as the crow flies.&nbsp; I can pick them up fairly often on AM32 when there isn&#039;t too much QRM.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rick330man, post: 552186, member: 30799"] I've got two versions of the 1/2 wave Shakespeare Big stick. The first is the base station version they made for Radio Shack. It is dyed blue and it was sold as the Crossbow, but it was a Shakespeare Big Stick sold as a Radio Shack product. I bought it in around 1981 after my prized .64 omni got hit by lightning. The Crossbow/Big Stick did not get out anywhere near as well as the .64, but 35 years later it is still giving me virtually flat SWRs across 11 meters in this very unfriendly environment. Regular maintenance has definitely paid off. The 2nd one is the marine version - the Shakespeare 176-1. It has seen limited use. I bought it thinking I was going to install it on a boat, but realized the mounting scheme I had in mind was not practical. The boat instead got a Radio Shack 1/4 wave marine CB antenna. I own an A99 and an IMAX2000. Both get out noticeably better than the Big Stick. The furthest contact I have been able to make locally is about 44 miles. However, Miami crane operators who have their antennas way up there are about 90 miles away as the crow flies. I can pick them up fairly often on AM32 when there isn't too much QRM. [/QUOTE]

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