Looking for antenna opinions

[Raccoon]

Hi Everyone ,
I've been using an A-99 for quite a few years now , and after all this time ... I decided that I should update a bit and buy a new antenna . I'm looking for a good base antenna and I would prefer it was made of airplane aluminum or aluminum (which ever way you look at it) .

I have a tower and nice rotor that can hold a lot of weight , so Beam antenna ideas are welcome too .

Anyway ... I'm not too familiar with the newer antennas ... so I'm hoping that some of you might help me out and let me know a good antenna would be to get .

Thanks

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Well...

There are of course countless options..

Here is how i progressed over the years...
Big Stick...To A99...to Imax 2000 ..to Interceptor I-10K..

Home of the Interceptor 10* Antenna is well worth looking into..

The Interceptor I-10K
( can be had as an I-25K if you use more then 10,000 watts)

Anyways....It is an antenna build strong as can be..
( a truly industrial strength antenna)
Mine has survived storm i thought no way it would survive
( including 3 tornados within 2 miles of me..as well as some really brutal winter storms)

The I-10K is an aluminum (aircraft grade) 5/8 wave vertical Groundplane..

Mind you it is not exactly cheep, however it is clearly viewed by likely all antenna experts as " THE " best performing vertical groundplane for 11 meters ( cb frequency's)..

The antenna has a way of basically " creating " its own skip conditions ( ok i am in part kidding...but this antenna takes advantage of even slight conditions and amplifies them greatly)

In talking skip with this antenna in the 1200 to 3500 mile range,
those i am talking to often think i am lying when i say i am not on a beam of some sort ( most thinking i am on a monster sized beam at that) because of how i destroy all other signals both local and skip people so that basically i am only one they hear well..

if you have a tower...then getting it up at least one wave length high will help a lot ( mine is only at 52 ft at its base)

The same company also sells a 5 element and a 7 element beam which is supposed to kill most other beams..

One additional thing this guys antennas use is the type of hair pin feed point that is far more efficient then what most other antennas use..

However...

If you do now or may in near future want to talk on not just 11 meters but also ham radio HF..

Then i would suggest MonstIr beam..
it basically keeps your swr at a 1 to one swr from 40 meters to 6 meters ( at a cost of around $6000 though )

Let us know how you wind up going
and or ask more questions

 

[Robb]

The Joe Gun -the Smokin Gun II- is both popular and effective. I know someone that has one - and it works OK. They cost about $260 & shipping.
Palco Electronics has them:
Jo Gunn Smokin Gun II - Palco Electronics

 

[555]

The Joe Gun -the Smokin Gun II- is both popular and effective. I know someone that has one - and it works OK. They cost about $260 & shipping.
Palco Electronics has them:
Jo Gunn Smokin Gun II - Palco Electronics

seriously a maco m-103 flatside will outperform this gunn II thing

 

[Simon004]

The Joe Gun -the Smokin Gun II- is both popular and effective. I know someone that has one - and it works OK. They cost about $260 & shipping.
Palco Electronics has them:
Jo Gunn Smokin Gun II - Palco Electronics

wow, what the hell is that thing? Crossed yagi reflector but whats going on with that driven element?

seriously a maco m-103 flatside will outperform this gunn II thing

I'm sure it will, difference being that Joe Gun thing should be better for skip as it looks dual polarity so should reduce signal fade, allthough it will have less gain.

Just to throw something else into the mix, if it were me I'd build a quad and throw that up.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

i would pass on the Smokin Gun II & Maco M103..

If your to go the route of a beam..
i would go with no less then 5 elements..

these above 2 antennas have way to short a boom
therefore to little gain

 

[DXman]

i would pass on the Smokin Gun II & Maco M103..

If your to go the route of a beam..
i would go with no less then 5 elements..

these above 2 antennas have way to short a boom
therefore to little gain

I would have to go along with what KingCorba is saying. The I 10K is a very good antenna, I really like mine and it out done the I max 2000 and Maco 5/8 hands down...

If going to beam - I would also suggest what the King is saying; go with no less than 5 elements. I have been using a 5 element Yagi since 1976 and the only other beam that I would even think of going to, would be a 6 element.