i dont know about all this hype 1-2 db over a typical 5/8, are sirios 5/8 typical?i have seen antrons and stardusters advertised as 5/8 is that typical?an sgm improving over an antron99?an a@@tron99 are you serious!a 21 foot s@@t stick that has what about 20 feet of radiator maybe?two different wave and size antennas at different heights?not even worth mentioning really.i heard this was aimed at the imax market.if so i would only hope to see someone test it against one or at least a true 5/8 wave antenna sigma,penetrator,i10k,coily.true 5/8 22.6 feet!i would not expect to see this whip a imax or penetrator!how broadbanded is it?probably not as good as imax.imax cheapest i found online $112 shipped.sgm 129.99 plus shipping so probably about $155-$160.hell you can get a vector 4000 online for $150 shipped in the states.would a gainmaster out perform a vector 4000 not very likely hope i am wrong though.sgm 500 watts max well i couldnt even run my collins 30l-1 into that!i dont think we reinvented the wheel here!
-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
New antenna from Sirio Gain-Master
- Thread starter dxswe
- Start date
1342, you are justified to question these antennas for sure. I can do the same without casting some of the lot to the trash bin however. I have several nice full size 5/8 ground plane antennas that I may try and compare to my new SGM, but if it holds true to the results I see so far, the others might need to look real sharp on that day, if and when it happens.
I can't tell you that every signal that I compare by flipping the switch on my switch box is 1-3 Sunits different, not db, but when I do see a difference, thus far, it has been 100% in favor of the SGM, no exceptions. The other signal comparisons I get are all 100% the same being about the same...and most of these are near-in local traffic. I can't explain technically why this is, but this is what I'm seeing, with both antenna centered at about the same height which is nearly 40' feet...well above my immediate surroundings.
I might not see this same advantage for the SGM however, if I put both antenna tips at the same height. The AP will then likely show the same advantage, but in reverse. I find the AstroPlane just that good, and that is why I'm so impressed with this SGM. Set it up feed point to feed point and I can only guess it would be hard to beat.
Te first Imax 2K test ?
I read your comments with interest. I agree 100% with you comments on the A99 (that's why I never have owned one). Surely an Antron 99 is an end Fed half wave dipole with Unity Gain and only around 18 feet long. As for anyone testing it against a true 5/8th wave. Well I have and posted videos. OK I know about all this not on the same pole (this will be tried next year here). But come on a Shakesphere ABS1600 Big Stick is a 23 foot long 5/8th wave. Also I'm not the only European to of checked it against 5/8 wave antennas. Simon 007 in Germany has. Gavle in Sweden has tried it on the same pole coax against an IMax 2K ,Sirio 827 and an A99 and he has had his 2 months and say it works better than all three. I agree the 500 Watts power handling could do to be "Beefed Up". I look forward maybe you getting a i10K ,Coily or similar and doing a comprehensive test and posting your findings on here and Youtube?. I would buy a Coily (would love one) but at $400+ delivered to the UK......well out my reach i'm afraid. As I said before I would love to see others findings against the Top End USA branded products. What I posted was my findings ,that was all, maybe for others it won't work as well.......Time and tests will tell I guess!
I read your comments with interest. I agree 100% with you comments on the A99 (that's why I never have owned one). Surely an Antron 99 is an end Fed half wave dipole with Unity Gain and only around 18 feet long. As for anyone testing it against a true 5/8th wave. Well I have and posted videos. OK I know about all this not on the same pole (this will be tried next year here). But come on a Shakesphere ABS1600 Big Stick is a 23 foot long 5/8th wave. Also I'm not the only European to of checked it against 5/8 wave antennas. Simon 007 in Germany has. Gavle in Sweden has tried it on the same pole coax against an IMax 2K ,Sirio 827 and an A99 and he has had his 2 months and say it works better than all three. I agree the 500 Watts power handling could do to be "Beefed Up". I look forward maybe you getting a i10K ,Coily or similar and doing a comprehensive test and posting your findings on here and Youtube?. I would buy a Coily (would love one) but at $400+ delivered to the UK......well out my reach i'm afraid. As I said before I would love to see others findings against the Top End USA branded products. What I posted was my findings ,that was all, maybe for others it won't work as well.......Time and tests will tell I guess!
Well Done Marconi
The only way the truth will be told Marconi is people taking "The Bull By The Horns" and doing what you and I have done. All the talk in the world about antenna design ect ect on Forums proves nothing in the real world that antennas are used in. I find it so easy to dimiss a product without giving it a go........But again I understand people not wanting to waste money on something that doesn't do what it says on the tin.......Dave M0OGY/26CT110
The only way the truth will be told Marconi is people taking "The Bull By The Horns" and doing what you and I have done. All the talk in the world about antenna design ect ect on Forums proves nothing in the real world that antennas are used in. I find it so easy to dimiss a product without giving it a go........But again I understand people not wanting to waste money on something that doesn't do what it says on the tin.......Dave M0OGY/26CT110
I've borrowed my friend's SGM which was one of two purchased of which I received the other one. His does not have a smashed coax pigtail.
I will be testing it both on the IMAX mast/ coax/ height and on the Penetrator mast/ coax/ height.
These tests may still have possible variables, but I find comparing one antenna to two others in two separate locations, and using the other two as reference standards, especially against each other simultaneously, should net me enough data to derive a solid and self-satisfying conclusion as to whether or not Sirio have indeed "Reinvented the wheel"!
More to come.
I will be testing it both on the IMAX mast/ coax/ height and on the Penetrator mast/ coax/ height.
These tests may still have possible variables, but I find comparing one antenna to two others in two separate locations, and using the other two as reference standards, especially against each other simultaneously, should net me enough data to derive a solid and self-satisfying conclusion as to whether or not Sirio have indeed "Reinvented the wheel"!
More to come.
Bravo Scott
I look forward indeed to your tests Scott. I know for a fact mine's not coming down "Some Time Soon". Good luck Mate.......the more who do tests,the more we will learn.
I look forward indeed to your tests Scott. I know for a fact mine's not coming down "Some Time Soon". Good luck Mate.......the more who do tests,the more we will learn.
I'd have thought a better description of the A99 is an end fed monopole thats missing its groundplane/radials (a major contributor to the A99's being a rfi source, notoriety) , and thats its gain is less than the unity a true dipole exhibits due to the lossy nature of its matching coil system. I'd rather have a half wave dipole over an A99 anyday. wouldn't surprise me if coax radiation from the A99 also reduces that gain in certain planes through phase cancellation.
Admittedly many people find that in reality a dipole will perform worse than an A99 due to difficulties in getting the dipole mounted in free space either horizontally or vertically polarised,but i think thats more a flaw in the user adequately mounting the dipole rather than a failing of the antenna.Whereas the A99 is very easy to mount vertically in the clear.
oggy all the specs i found on the abs1600 claim its a 21 foot antenna, with that said that would put the radiator length at about 19-20 feet long, the imax 2000 radiator is longer then your whole antenna.all those true 5/8 i listed have around 22 1/2 foot radiator.so abs1600 falls short of that 22.5 feet by about 2.5-3.5 feet.i dont think you would see that 3s unit improvement testing against an antenna with 22.5 radiator.
cdx cant wait to hear your results, as marconi stated 1-3 s units between his astroplane sounds about right,however i dont expect to see that kind of difference between your penetrator and imax and sgm.i guess we will have to wait and see.
Having just replaced a Vector 4000 with the Gain-Master, I can't tell them apart in terms of signal. The GM does have more bandwidth but less power handling as of now. The wide bandwidth on the GM maintains it's gain over a larger spectrum with no tuning. Another advantage is the antenna has extremely low wind loading when compared to a Vector or 5/8 wave ground plane.
If you can keep a Vector in the air and it's bandwidth meets your needs, there is no point in replacing it with the Gain-Master. However, there are lots of people who can use the large Vector. If your power is below the rating of the antenna, the GM is a great alternative that looks like it will hold up to the weather. Seeing how it compares virtually identical to a Vector means it's going to have more gain then any other 5/8 wave.
I am shocked to say the least that a fiberglass stick would reach the level of performance of the Sigma design. That is what it's doing at my location and it seems others are seeing the same. That also means those $400.00 5/8 waves are going to produce a gain that is indeed noticeably lower then the GM. There are only two omni antennas that perform like this and the reason behind the gain is clear.
Verticals that are end fed inherently start producing counterproductive radiation in the lower portion of the radiator when it's wavelength is beyond 1/2 wave. Both the Vector and the GM have been designed to eliminate the effects of this destructive base radiation and replace with radiation that reinforces the far field gain. In simple terms, the Vector does this with it's cone that sheilds the "bad radiation" at the base of the raditor and replaces it with "good radiation" from the cone.
The GM avoids the entire issue by center feeding a 5/8 wave radiator. This changes the distribution of the radiation currents along the antenna in such a way that all of it reinforceses the far field gain. With this ballanced 5/8 wave that is split in half, the radiation currents never see enough length to produce a phase angle that is deconstructive. When you use the antenna, the advantages are easily confirmed.
You will see that when all of the radiation currents along the length of the antenna are phased to add gain, signal goes up in the distance over all other 5/8 wave or less antennas. Some have seen local signal gains. I notice the gain in the distance. The GM is awesome with RFI too. In order to center feed the radiator, Sirio had to essentially eliminate any possible radiation from the coax and mast. They did achieve this.
If you can keep a Vector in the air and it's bandwidth meets your needs, there is no point in replacing it with the Gain-Master. However, there are lots of people who can use the large Vector. If your power is below the rating of the antenna, the GM is a great alternative that looks like it will hold up to the weather. Seeing how it compares virtually identical to a Vector means it's going to have more gain then any other 5/8 wave.
I am shocked to say the least that a fiberglass stick would reach the level of performance of the Sigma design. That is what it's doing at my location and it seems others are seeing the same. That also means those $400.00 5/8 waves are going to produce a gain that is indeed noticeably lower then the GM. There are only two omni antennas that perform like this and the reason behind the gain is clear.
Verticals that are end fed inherently start producing counterproductive radiation in the lower portion of the radiator when it's wavelength is beyond 1/2 wave. Both the Vector and the GM have been designed to eliminate the effects of this destructive base radiation and replace with radiation that reinforces the far field gain. In simple terms, the Vector does this with it's cone that sheilds the "bad radiation" at the base of the raditor and replaces it with "good radiation" from the cone.
The GM avoids the entire issue by center feeding a 5/8 wave radiator. This changes the distribution of the radiation currents along the antenna in such a way that all of it reinforceses the far field gain. With this ballanced 5/8 wave that is split in half, the radiation currents never see enough length to produce a phase angle that is deconstructive. When you use the antenna, the advantages are easily confirmed.
You will see that when all of the radiation currents along the length of the antenna are phased to add gain, signal goes up in the distance over all other 5/8 wave or less antennas. Some have seen local signal gains. I notice the gain in the distance. The GM is awesome with RFI too. In order to center feed the radiator, Sirio had to essentially eliminate any possible radiation from the coax and mast. They did achieve this.
Yes it is classed as a 5/8th wave and indeed it is 21 foot long..my mistake. But it has been upgrade with a 8 section radial kit and runs a rock salt earthing system. I had an Imax 2000 on the same pole and since this Shaky was upgraded it works better for me on TX and RX .Not vastly but still better. One thing that the Imax did what the Bigstick never has ........is snap near the top section in high winds. This is one area the Shakesphere still wins hands down compared to the Sirio Gain Master or any other antenna for that matter. When are Shakesphere going to get a grip and relaunch a decent updated one?.Gavel in Sweden says (I take his word for it) on the same pole his SGM worked better than an Imax 2000 and with far less white noise. Now who knows what the outcome against the i10K,Mr Coily or Predator is........I'm sure we will soon find out......
A99.........Good Old Jazzy
Hello George my friend ,hope your not caught up in this bad weather. Yes Ok it's a monopole and it sounds you rate the A99 as highly as I do!!!. Yes they work and have sold by the bucket load for sure.I am not pulling them down at all. But all the 5/8 antennas that need comparing to the Gainmaster are in a different ball park to the humble A99 or anything like it....as I'm sure you will agree Mate. My SGM is working well for sure down to Minus 17 degrees the other night.
Hello George my friend ,hope your not caught up in this bad weather. Yes Ok it's a monopole and it sounds you rate the A99 as highly as I do!!!. Yes they work and have sold by the bucket load for sure.I am not pulling them down at all. But all the 5/8 antennas that need comparing to the Gainmaster are in a different ball park to the humble A99 or anything like it....as I'm sure you will agree Mate. My SGM is working well for sure down to Minus 17 degrees the other night.
As stated I don't feel it's anything to do with actual length of the antenna ,it's the centre fed design and how Shockwave explains it that makes this thing work so well.
that sounds like a good set up but hey oggy shakespeare still makes 4 commercial grade military base antennas model 222-b 35 foot fiberglass $2400 model 229-b 35 foot $4000 model 390-img 23 foot $200 and model 4328 28 foot $600 dollars and there is still a marine big stick 18 foot.but who has that kind of change to spend on a fiberglass vertical.