Hygain Super Penetrator

[bob85]

I doubt it, they have had long enough & done nothing but trim the end of the top coupling capacitor a bit neater because people were smoking them with 1pill amps,

if the tubes were a snug fit they would be stronger at the joints, its a good idea to wrap something round the bottom of each section so its a tight fit before you gently snug the hose clamps,

if they put something around the hole they drill for the coax it would not split from the hole up and fold at the coil former as readily,

if they used fatter lower loss coax for the stub & coax above the stub they could reduce loss in that part on the antenna by 50% or more & increase power handling,

6 shorter sections would be nice,

better still just make us an aluminum gainmaster from vector 4000 & sirio 827 tubes,
use fat coax throughout in any color but sun bleached pink.

 

[Blackcat630]

Wonder if they'll ever improve it? More power handling and mechanical strength would be nice.

These would be nice improvements. I've never had one but heard mostly good things on performance other than what you mentioned. I have been reluctant due to the power handling capabilities. I would like to be able to push legal limit on 10 (not something I do often at all) but I would like to know I could if I really wanted to.

I did inherit an older IMAX for doing some antenna work for a local. He cleaned it all up and repainted it before giving it to me. I lost my last one couple summers ago to lightning. I really dont know if I want to go down the IMAX road again?

I have also been considering a vector 4000.. I will mount it about 10 ft lower than my old IMAX but that still puts it at around 52 ft at base. I'm afraid the vector might come apart at that height with central Illinois winds and occasional ice...

Didn't mean to derail the thread but I'm thinking out loud..

 

[bob85]

The new vector 400 is a little more sturdy that the longer old version but we lost two recently in no more that 55mph gusts,

if im just thinking out loud,

i have a reel of westflex 103 coax in the shed, i should replace the gainmasters stub & coax above it with 103 & see what it does to vswr,

its only fractionally higher VF than the red coax with less than 1/2 the loss & much higher power handling,

make it 5 shorter sections so its stiffer in wind with less wind load

fix slop in joints with epoxy fiberglass & fiberglass under coil to stop it splitting,

put it up 15ft higher than my astroplane because its much lighter & much lower wind load on the mast.

 

[Mudfoot]

Just decided that the GM stays and will get new coax. Thinking strongly of taking my 2 meter quad down and putting a 2 element V Quad in its place. I had one before and liked it. I see the newer 3 element ones. Just not sure I want to try that one yet. I have limited space as it is.