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I have an A99 with the Firestik tip. I compared it head to head against a Workman Bandit, Radio Shack/Archer Crossbow 1/2 wave, a Shakespeare 176-1 marine "Big Stick", and an IMAX2000.

The Workman Bandit is a copy of the A99. It's performance was virtually identical to the A99.

For local communications, the 5/8 wave IMAX outperformed all of the others. That makes sense since it was the sole 5/8 in a field of half waves. Among the 1/2 waves, the A99 with the FS-99 outperformed all others for local work - coming in just a little stronger than the A99 with the stock tip.

For skip, the A99 with the FS-99 tip outperformed everything else. The stock A99 came in a close second. The Bandit performed just like the A99. For skip, the IMAX2000 came in behind the A99 & Bandit antennas. For both skip and local, the Crossbow and Big Stick - which I understand to be basically the same antenna - were the poorer performers.

I found the FS-99 to make a difference for the better, but it did not bring my A99 to work as well locally as a true 5/8 omni. For skip, the A99 performed best regardless of which top section was used - doing just a little better with the FS-99 tip.

<blockquote data-quote="Rick330man" data-source="post: 488658" data-attributes="member: 30799">I have an A99 with the Firestik tip.&nbsp; I compared it head to head against a Workman Bandit, Radio Shack/Archer Crossbow 1/2 wave, a Shakespeare 176-1 marine &quot;Big Stick&quot;, and an IMAX2000.The Workman Bandit is a copy of the A99.&nbsp; It&#039;s performance was virtually identical to the A99.For local communications, the 5/8 wave IMAX outperformed all of the others.&nbsp; That makes sense since it was the sole 5/8 in a field of half waves.&nbsp; Among the 1/2 waves, the A99 with the FS-99 outperformed all others for local work - coming in just a little stronger than the A99 with the stock tip. For skip, the A99 with the FS-99 tip outperformed everything else.&nbsp; The stock A99 came in a close second.&nbsp; The Bandit performed just like the A99.&nbsp; For skip, the IMAX2000 came in behind the A99 &amp; Bandit antennas.&nbsp; For both skip and local, the Crossbow and Big Stick - which I understand to be basically the same antenna - were the poorer performers.I found the FS-99 to make a difference for the better, but it did not bring my A99 to work as well locally as a true 5/8 omni.&nbsp; For skip, the A99 performed best regardless of which top section was used - doing just a little better with the FS-99 tip.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rick330man, post: 488658, member: 30799"] I have an A99 with the Firestik tip. I compared it head to head against a Workman Bandit, Radio Shack/Archer Crossbow 1/2 wave, a Shakespeare 176-1 marine "Big Stick", and an IMAX2000. The Workman Bandit is a copy of the A99. It's performance was virtually identical to the A99. For local communications, the 5/8 wave IMAX outperformed all of the others. That makes sense since it was the sole 5/8 in a field of half waves. Among the 1/2 waves, the A99 with the FS-99 outperformed all others for local work - coming in just a little stronger than the A99 with the stock tip. For skip, the A99 with the FS-99 tip outperformed everything else. The stock A99 came in a close second. The Bandit performed just like the A99. For skip, the IMAX2000 came in behind the A99 & Bandit antennas. For both skip and local, the Crossbow and Big Stick - which I understand to be basically the same antenna - were the poorer performers. I found the FS-99 to make a difference for the better, but it did not bring my A99 to work as well locally as a true 5/8 omni. For skip, the A99 performed best regardless of which top section was used - doing just a little better with the FS-99 tip. [/QUOTE]

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