Gainmaster

[Mudfoot]

Are the current Gainmaster antennas still decent? Have they been improved any? My first one was purchased when they first came out. It's still on the house I sold. I was to lazy to take it with me. I need a new vertical and figured I'd grab another.

 

[Riverman]

I had the 1/2 wave model a couple of years ago. They hold up a LOT better in the wind than the 5/8. Mine survived gusts to 55 with no problem. Worked great too. Gave it to a newbie needing an antenna and went back to making my own.

Here’s some info on it beginning on page 9.

https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/new-sirio-1-2-wave-gain-master.197257/page-9

 

[Mudfoot]

I liked the one I had. I thought I read something about them being able to handle more power. Figured I'd try another one. I'm still sourcing tower and might throw up a dipole or inverted V just to get on the air.

 

[bob85]

The trick to making GainMasters handle more wind is ignore sirio's stupid assembly instructions,
The hose clamps should not be used to grip the next section like you do with aluminum antennas,

The tube is unidirectional acrylic GRP which has reasonable resistance to bending but has near zero ability to be crushed that's why you hear it cracking as you tighten the hose clamps,

Its damaged as soon as you assemble it to the instructions,

A better method is wrap electrical tape around the bottom of the section so it is a tight fit in the section below it, wind it in with just the right amount of tape so it won't slide,
Then tape over the joint like you would an aluminum antenna & fit the hose clamp just tight enough to add support but no so tight that you crush the tube, you don't want any cracking & creaking noises,

Then all you need is to reinforce around the hole they drill under the choke for the coax, cracks propagate from that hole up above the choke former & the whole shebang ends up folded & shredded.

 

[Mudfoot]

That's how I did my last one. I used self amalgamating tape that held up well. Hate those cheap clamps. Used some stainless worm clamps.