This discussion was afoot on another forum wherein a member had found what appeared to be a NOS StarDuster for sale at a good price and had, inevitably, asked what others thought. Many responses had been forthcoming, and, of course, all of us were right in our own eyes - how could those other guys be so wrong? . . .
Letting anyone interested in on one of the responses I made after reading many on the thread which had led as antenna threads do to some not surprising run offs into tangents beyond the initial question - is the SD a good antenna and should I pay $x for it?
Here you go:
On the other hand, there are other properties of antenna design that influence the performance of a given antenna - as in Take Off Angle (TOA), or the mounting placement can greatly affect performance - height above ground, nearness of other objects, quality of ground beneath the antenna, weather variables, etc.
Antennas can be deceptively excellent performers when looking at them, such as getting better performance from a cheap Radio Shack mobile antenna than from a $100+ high end design (yes, it happens).
Also, what one wants to do with their antenna can influence one's choice. Do you want to swap compliments with stations 800 to 1200 miles out running mega watts of power? Do you want to drop the maul? Do you want to round table ratchet jaw with a handful of local friends? Do you want to talk around the world with reasonable wattage, or QRP (5 watts or less) on SSB?
The variables of antennas can be nearly endless, and different conditions and needs can dictate completely different expectations from one antenna or another.
Is the SD a good antenna? - Without a doubt, yes.
I have made and mounted a whole variety of antenna types ranging from full wave loops to 1/4 wave GP, dipole to Yagi, Quad beams to a variety of vertical omnis - 5/8, 7/8, 1/4, and currently a 1/2 wave endfed. All of them have delivered results, and I've come to favor one or the other at my location. I have experienced a plethora of different antenna types and have narrowed my personal choice down to one were I to have to pick a single vertical Omni-directional antenna over those I've flown at my location.
I will be building another all-metal Homebrewed original styled Astroplane.
Why?
1. it performs admirably well, both as an international DX antenna logging me contacts into Europe, SA, and SW Pacific, and all points of the North American continent as well as nearly any mentionable island in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
2. it handles more power than I can afford to put into it.
3. it is light weight.
4. it has a smaller wind displacement.
5. absolutely nothing I have flown at my location has out-performed it for my purposes all around.
Beams out perform it in the distance, but not locally. The Vector 4000 edged it out at 40+ miles or more, but not closer in, nor to DX locations that are largely conditions dictated. The 1/4 wave GP, like the StarDuster blew smoke locally, and did well within the US continent, but not so well into Europe or Australia. A variety of 5/8 wave antennas proved to be neither better at longer distance local - 30+ miles - nor DX, and proved to do less well for local work - under 30 miles - for me.
My point is not that the Astroplane is the best antenna out there, but that variables abound when it comes to which antenna is the best. The first one is always what it is you wish to do with the antenna. After that, one never really knows until they use a given antenna for a while. The AP best meets my all around requirements, and that is the only real test in the long run.
I can't tell you whether you should buy that antenna (NOS SD), but I would. I love antennas.
Respectfully,
Homer
[/quote]
Perhaps others on the forum could share what has been their experiences at their locations without delving too deeply into a debate on whether or not it is true because of this red line, blue curve, or yellow shading on their models, etc. Don't get me wrong, I really find modeling advantageous in exploring the potential of given antenna types. I just would like to see if there is any anecdotal experiences that seemed to work for us that may or may not have defied other points of logic/science. Naturally, it is okay to discuss the results we've had as opposed to what should have been expected, so modeling is okay, too. The thread would be senseless without it. Just let's accept the anecdotal answers at face value no matter how much it hurts should this thread gain any traction.
I have gone out on the limb with mine . . .
Homer
Letting anyone interested in on one of the responses I made after reading many on the thread which had led as antenna threads do to some not surprising run offs into tangents beyond the initial question - is the SD a good antenna and should I pay $x for it?
Here you go:
I agree completely on the general principle expressed in this post regarding the advantages of more capture area.
On the other hand, there are other properties of antenna design that influence the performance of a given antenna - as in Take Off Angle (TOA), or the mounting placement can greatly affect performance - height above ground, nearness of other objects, quality of ground beneath the antenna, weather variables, etc.
Antennas can be deceptively excellent performers when looking at them, such as getting better performance from a cheap Radio Shack mobile antenna than from a $100+ high end design (yes, it happens).
Also, what one wants to do with their antenna can influence one's choice. Do you want to swap compliments with stations 800 to 1200 miles out running mega watts of power? Do you want to drop the maul? Do you want to round table ratchet jaw with a handful of local friends? Do you want to talk around the world with reasonable wattage, or QRP (5 watts or less) on SSB?
The variables of antennas can be nearly endless, and different conditions and needs can dictate completely different expectations from one antenna or another.
Is the SD a good antenna? - Without a doubt, yes.
I have made and mounted a whole variety of antenna types ranging from full wave loops to 1/4 wave GP, dipole to Yagi, Quad beams to a variety of vertical omnis - 5/8, 7/8, 1/4, and currently a 1/2 wave endfed. All of them have delivered results, and I've come to favor one or the other at my location. I have experienced a plethora of different antenna types and have narrowed my personal choice down to one were I to have to pick a single vertical Omni-directional antenna over those I've flown at my location.
I will be building another all-metal Homebrewed original styled Astroplane.
Why?
1. it performs admirably well, both as an international DX antenna logging me contacts into Europe, SA, and SW Pacific, and all points of the North American continent as well as nearly any mentionable island in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
2. it handles more power than I can afford to put into it.
3. it is light weight.
4. it has a smaller wind displacement.
5. absolutely nothing I have flown at my location has out-performed it for my purposes all around.
Beams out perform it in the distance, but not locally. The Vector 4000 edged it out at 40+ miles or more, but not closer in, nor to DX locations that are largely conditions dictated. The 1/4 wave GP, like the StarDuster blew smoke locally, and did well within the US continent, but not so well into Europe or Australia. A variety of 5/8 wave antennas proved to be neither better at longer distance local - 30+ miles - nor DX, and proved to do less well for local work - under 30 miles - for me.
My point is not that the Astroplane is the best antenna out there, but that variables abound when it comes to which antenna is the best. The first one is always what it is you wish to do with the antenna. After that, one never really knows until they use a given antenna for a while. The AP best meets my all around requirements, and that is the only real test in the long run.
I can't tell you whether you should buy that antenna (NOS SD), but I would. I love antennas.
Respectfully,
Homer
[/quote]
Perhaps others on the forum could share what has been their experiences at their locations without delving too deeply into a debate on whether or not it is true because of this red line, blue curve, or yellow shading on their models, etc. Don't get me wrong, I really find modeling advantageous in exploring the potential of given antenna types. I just would like to see if there is any anecdotal experiences that seemed to work for us that may or may not have defied other points of logic/science. Naturally, it is okay to discuss the results we've had as opposed to what should have been expected, so modeling is okay, too. The thread would be senseless without it. Just let's accept the anecdotal answers at face value no matter how much it hurts should this thread gain any traction.
I have gone out on the limb with mine . . .
Homer
Last edited:
