Marconi's 2010 fall antenna testing

[Marconi]

Here is a PDF file of my Signal Reports comparing my AstroPlane, Gain Master, A99, and I-10K. View attachment Signal Reports 12_2010.pdf

I have also posted the reports in an album for easier access after this thread gets old: http://www.worldwidedx.com/members/marconi-albums-marconi-s-signal-reports-december-2010.html

I have not added captions to these album reports as yet, but I will do so soon. If you have comments or questions on any item in the album, please leave your comments in the space provided with each image.

Also note that this time I made all reports with the same 7 guys in my group of regular contacts, and if I recorded any additional signals, I placed a "*" beside them and did not include that data in the averaging at the bottom of the report. This was an effort to gain a little more reliability in reporting the averages.

 

[BammBamm]

Marconi the more I read about your AP and seeing the difference a friend of mine is getting by switching from an A-99 to a AP I am thinking about one. Now how to explain to the wife?

 

[HomerBB]

I found mine standing over n old building unused and in need of minor repairs. Cost me $25.
Keep your eyes open.

 

[Marconi]

Marconi the more I read about your AP and seeing the difference a friend of mine is getting by switching from an A-99 to a AP I am thinking about one. Now how to explain to the wife?

I have a buddy that bought a New Top One and can't install it at his rent house. He is loaning it to me to install here and hopefully I'll soon have one to test. I've heard very few reports on this antenna, so I don't know what to expect.

To me, the new antenna looks different, but appears to work exactly the same.

 

[Marconi]

The rest of my Signal Reports #25 thru 30 & the Recap.

Here are reports #25 thru 30, that finish the first group posted earlier in this thread. I will be testing using only one station at a time, using the same system throughout.

View attachment Signal Reports 25-30.pdf

Here are the averages recapped that ranks all antennas tested in this series.

View attachment 2011 Signal Reports Recap.pdf

 

[gamegetter]

are they 2 different antennas ?

I have a buddy that bought a New Top One and can't install it at his rent house. He is loaning it to me to install here and hopefully I'll soon have one to test. I've heard very few reports on this antenna, so I don't know what to expect.

To me, the new antenna looks different, but appears to work exactly the same.

The new top one is listed as a 1/4 wavelength by Sirio
while the old Astro Plane came in a box showing it as a 5/8 wl. Was the old astro plane actually a 1/4 wl? I am confused.

 

[Marconi]

The new top one is listed as a 1/4 wavelength by Sirio
while the old Astro Plane came in a box showing it as a 5/8 wl. Was the old astro plane actually a 1/4 wl? I am confused.

Gamegetter, I've never see the original box for the AstroPlane so I don't know if that story is true or not. I've heard it reported to be a 1/4 wave ground plane, a 5/8 wave, a folded 5/8 wave, a dummy load, and upside down 1/4 wave or ground plane, and maybe a few other descriptions just as bazaar. I believe it is a center fed 1/2 wave. It does radiate very well for an antenna with a 40" tall radiator. No where do I find Avanti claiming it to be any particular wavelength.

The main thing that convinces me it is a 1/2 wave radiator is that the antenna is also used as the driven element in a yagi styled multi-element beam. Have you ever seen a beam with an element that is not a 1/2 wave or multiple by design or physical measurements?

I believe the New Top One is very similar, being a 1/2 wave and it too is center fed. It shows an excellent match right out of the box if instructions are followed carefully and the metrics are converted correctly.

Here is the bandwidth you might expect from the NTO at about 15' high, but 35'-50' high would likely be much better with over 5 mhz of bandwidth, which is remarkable for any vertical even an Imax.

View attachment New Top One SWR Bandwidth Curve .pdf

 

[gamegetter]

pic of original box

the 1/2 wave would make sense for the astro beam and hence for the asto plane. attached pic of original box showing the advertised 5/8 wl on lower left.

i just wondered what it was and if this discussion had been had...it is a phenomenal little antenna for it's size as you say.

 

[Marconi]

the 1/2 wave would make sense for the astro beam and hence for the asto plane. attached pic of original box showing the advertised 5/8 wl on lower left.

i just wondered what it was and if this discussion had been had...it is a phenomenal little antenna for it's size as you say.

Very good Gamegetter. Now I've seen the box folks talk about. I agree that Sirio calls the New Top One a 1/4 wave, so I can't be sure. However the AP has always acted like a very efficiently center fed 1/2 wave to me, and a 5/8 wave won't load properly without some sort of matching. Even the new Gain Master from Sirio, being a true 5/8 radiator with little question, uses a stub tuner in order to get a good match, and a good match is what it does very well, among a lot of other very good features including no TVI.

I'll give you a link below to a piece I published on the Internet in 2006, and there you will find how I felt about the AP back then. Hopefully you can access the site via this link: The Radio Operators Roundtable: AstroPlane

If not, and if you would like to see it posted here, then let me know. I would recommend the New Top One, it works great, no tuning, but can be a little problem to assemble as all measurements are in metrics. I didn't find it easy to mount either, I had to attach it to the side of the mast, and I think it will work best if the mast would fit inside or outside of the bottom portion and thus make a smooth connection. I have a reason for saying that, but it would require some words to tell the story. If you would like to know anyway, then let me know, OK?

I would also recommend the New GainMaster from Sirio, but it is pretty expensive now after being introduced in the US in November, 2010. H&Y went up on their price $50 I think. This is probably the best all around CB/10m vertical around today.

 

[C2]

You should include reciprocal readings.

Lots of variables in this kind of test though. I'm surprised to see such small variations in the bottom line.

 

[74IN]

Marconi, if you had to pick one omni, which would it be?

 

[Marconi]

You should include reciprocal readings.

Lots of variables in this kind of test though. I'm surprised to see such small variations in the bottom line.

I agree C2, it is best to test one at a time, using the same system. I started this series testing different antennas back on December 5, testing my antennas side by side. I've done it that way for years and I always got similar results...with all antennas testing close. Previously I also tested with antenna tips the same height and sometimes at the same feed point. This last fall was my first time to try and determine what was the best way to test, and it created a lot of ideas. The main thing I learned was to test in the future using the same setup when possible.

I also started, RX only, testing using 7 local contacts that were typically on the air every day so I could just about test anytime I wanted. These guys range in most directions from 16-55 miles distance. This info is all noted on my Signal Report in the details. When I use a (*) by a signal...that means the signal shown was not a regular contact and would not be included in the Averages at the bottom of the report. I found that using such random contacts were not fairly reflecting balanced comparative information from report to report, so I include such random reports as noted, but eliminated them from the report conclusions.

I would prefer to do two-way testing, but I don't and won't be doing reciprocal signal reports because my guys will not cooperate in my testing efforts. I will say however, that when I do get a reciprocal report it often shows more difference than I see testing two antennas, side-by-side at my station. I think testing only one antenna at a time will help eliminate our seeing my antenna reports showing such small differences, maybe.

I starting my new test scheme with testing my Sigma4, on report #31, today. It is up on the new mount outside of my shack all by itself. It has shown an average of 6.6 Sunits with all random reports included in the average at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[Marconi]

Marconi, if you had to pick one omni, which would it be?

New Gain Master