| Author |
Message |
    
Telephone Man
| | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2002 - 8:39 pm: | 
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Hi - I am getting back into CB after 25 years & I want to get the best small antenna. I an renting and can not put up a monster ground plane. I am looking at the repro of the A/S starduster. Does anybody use this antenna? Is it the same as the one that was built in the 70's? Everybody in my town uses a I-MAX 2000 and has no problems. I also want an antenna that does not produce TVI like the A-99..
THANKS - Telephone Man |
Marconi
| | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 8:00 am: |
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TM, not all A99 do that. The M400 knockoff can be a problem because of an ill fitting SO-239 in the hub and possibly a loose fit stinger setup above the hub. Both can be fixed and the antenna is an excellent antenna for both local and DX work. Some will argue that the knockoff is not the same antenna as the A/S SD'r but they are almost identical in basic design so I doubt anyone can tell any difference. They are very light, but can be a little trouble to install, just be careful, the down radials can be a pain and the antenna can be delicate if laid down. I have had my knockoff up for over 9 years and just took it down due to a bad line. The line was bad (water) but the antenna was in fine shape.
I used vasoline on all moving parts and the film was still there after all those years. I used Stainless steel parts instead of the original, screws and set screws. Don't screw the sheet metal screw in too tight, it will pull metal up inbetween the elements and cause gauling making the parts difficult to come apart later. I think the radiator gets water in it and leaks down through the hub right into the coax. I believe this is what caused my line problem. I drilled a very small hole in the base of the radiator just above the connecting stim that makes up the center conductor of the SO-239 but this did not seem to help keep water out of the coax in my case. This time when I go up I will use some water shield in the connectors.
Marconi |
Telephone Man
| | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 11:10 pm: |
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Marconi - Thanks for the info on the M400. How would you compare it to the Imax 2000 or the Army Stick? I do not have any help putting it up so I might have to get a Imax or Army Stick because they are easy to put up. Which of these do you like better?
Thanks TM |
Marconi
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 9:25 am: |
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The M-400 is better than the Army BigStick or the Imax because, IMHO metal is less likely to attract lightning strikes.
I have not run an Imax but it is very highly touted and is easier to install but if I was going to use the glass type I would save the money and put up an A99.
I can put my SD'r up or down without help and I am beyond the 60 mark, so you should be able to handle that if you think clearly about what you are doing. Do be careful.
Marconi |
RCI2990
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 4:36 pm: |
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The I max is ok but i like the old metal antennas myself. Thats why i run a set of rakers and a sigma 4 plus i have my good old penetrator 500 up in the garage. I find fiberglass antennas tend to lose their "ears" after they are up a while. Dunno why but every fiberglass antenna ive had seems to lose receive after it is up about 2 years or so.. |
Taz
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 8:44 pm: |
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Hey 2990, is there anything about the moonrakers that you could tell me before I get it? Low mantinance? |
bullet/151 southern Indiana
| | Posted on Saturday, March 02, 2002 - 2:35 am: |
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follow the destructions carefully and adhear to them and youll do fine.
as marconi said in the earlier post replace hardware with stainless steel
nuts and bolts ,washers. you will thank your self later, believe me ive worked on alot of moonrakers
and build alot of quad beams and i wont build one
without ss hardware!
mild and high carbon steel
rust up and if you ever have to do repairs for what ever reason it can be a pain in the ass to free rusted bolts that alot of the times break in half.go ss and this will not happen.i just did a 6
element quad and the hardware cost me under 3 bucks at a farm outlet store(big blue) cheaper than buying hardware at a hardware store...makes sence huh....haha lol
goodluck with the moonrakers they are a great beam! |
george kinzer
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 6:02 pm: |
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anyone know where i can obtain a spec manual for the Starduster? I have two that needs repaired, missing parts...need lenghts on a few sections...
will give away one, keep one...DX'r , 118 North Central Alabama...the Horsefly is 10-7 |
