Is the Alpha Sky antenna worth the money?

[Palex9]

Being rather new to ham radio I am always on the lookout for possible additions to my inventory. Anybody have experience with, or can provide some insight into, this antenna:

https://amateurradiostore.com/index...ducts_id=159&zenid=22lovet1mpj4pj3cl5d01eu4b5

Even on sale its not cheap. Is the satellite receiving capability worth the (tidy) extra money, I mean 2/440 antenna are really abundant.

73s

KK4NUK/AG

 

[W5LZ]

The only 'biggy' I see in the advertisement is that it's circularly polarized. That can certainly help with satellite stuff, but I think it's a bit 'much' as far as the rest of the description goes. If you want one and don't feel like making one, have at it. It should work. It won't be the absolute bestest way of doing it, but it'll work.
As for the repeater use? No thanks, there are cheaper and better solutions to that. But it would work though...
- 'Doc

I don't do any satellite stuff so it wouldn't be worth it to me at all.

 

[greenradioguy]

The Alpha Sky antenna cannot be circular polarized due to its construction. The globe is a surplus antenna part that was common on Ebay for awhile for $10-$15 and it consists of four metal blades with a common connection at the feedpoint and at top where they converge. Its simply a very fat monopole that happens to resonate somewhere close to the 2m ham band.

I bought a couple of the globes several years back and the consensus of some antenna experts is they were probably used as capacity hats for lower frequency antennas. A friend found a picture of these globes on the ends of a larger antenna array on the Internet and the construction, finish and the way they imprinted the P/N is consistent with how Rhode & Schwarz antennas but that's only speculation at this point.

I am speculating Alpha Antenna purchased these surplus globes in qty from the two vendors on Ebay and invented antenna to use them on.

The globes terminate on one side with a handy 3/8-24 thread and Alpha appears to simply screw these less than $15 parts onto common mag mounts and call them a mobile satellite antenna for considerable cost.

I've seen the Alpha Sky antenna up close and there is a tell tale part # molded in my surplus Ebay globes and the Alpha Sky has the exact same part #, so there is no doubt they are using the Ebay surplus mystery globes.

I would like Alpha Antenna to explain how they get circular polarity from these surplus globes and if not they should stop the false advertising about circular polarity.

 

[W5LZ]

Commercial antenna manufacturers stop misleading advertising?? Really? I ain't holding my breath for that one...
- 'Doc

 

[RatsoW8]

You can build a better antenna for lots less than half what they are asking that can be used for 440 transmit. The plans are out there for you to Google.