| Author |
Message |
    
xlaxx
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 10:28 am: | 
|
What's the optimal length for the best "all around" frequecy coverage for this antenna??? I don't want to climb up on the roof all the time to lengthen and shorten this monster. Please help. Thanks! |
307
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 2:23 pm: |
|
240 inches is EXACTLY where you want it.
307 |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 4:06 pm: |
|
307,
Thanks! I plan to mount this beast tommorrow. I put it together last night... ordered from copper of course! I am a little worried about lightning though. I was told to run #12 or #10 copper wire to the ground. I am using a Radio Shack 4ft grounding spike. I think the 8ft ones from home depot might be a little too difficult to get into the ground without an auger. Any other recommendations? Thanks again. |
Disk
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 6:37 pm: |
|
307 - I am going to get one also and once it is up I cannot take it down to tune it. I had back surgery and I am going to pay someone to put it up for me. What Freq range will 240 inches be and what will be the highest SWR? I have a watt meter and just want to be sure that I am in the ballpark once the antenna is up.
THANKS
Disk |
307
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 9:26 pm: |
|
26.500 through about 27.800. As for Lightning it is the BEST there is because it is a TRUE DC ground unlike A-99's which splinter when hit. My Alpha has been hit 3 times now and you could never tell...
307 |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 6:16 pm: |
|
307-
I mounted the antenna. It's about 55ft up on my chimmney, from ground level and just above tree line. I live in a townhouse (aluminum siding and brick) and my neighbor is about 13ft away. This sucker doesn't bleed at all. Only on my infant's monitor.
It was doing about 1.5 SWR on Saturday in Va. on 27.1550. Partly cloudy skies. On Sunday it rained here and the SWR shot up to 2.5 on only 1 watt of power. Man, I shut it all down. What should I do?... cause that 42ft ladder and me don't get along too well. Should I buy an antenna match box??
Can I run the match box in front of a linear without damaging anything? The match box goes 300W... its the MACO 91. Any recommendations would be great. This antenna rocks though!
Thanks again! xlaxx |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 6:20 pm: |
|
307-
Just to let you know, I did change out the grounding spike from a 4ft Radio Shack job to a home depot 8ft. copper rod. The sledgehammer did the trick and its definitely 8ft under!!!! Will this change SWR at all????... sorry this may be a stupid question.thanks xlaxx |
307
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 9:05 pm: |
|
Water does affect the SWR because of the Open Tuning Ring. It will dry off and resume normality. Leave it alone. Make sure it is 240 inches long from tip top to tip bottom...
307 |
B1kshad0w
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 5:12 pm: |
|
That's weird, I have a maco 5/8 and man, it's good for keeping the neighbors off your back. I had to make mine alot smaller than the 240 inches to get the swr down around 26.5mhz to 27.5 mhz. Not sure if I measured from the wrong part or what. To me it's almost a miricle antenna. With my maco 5/8 and my klv 550 I don't even bother my neighbors with the little tv antenna on their roof. |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 12:06 pm: |
|
307-
What do you think about antenna match boxes? Can you run one in front of a linear?
Thanks
xlaxx |
davespurlock
| | Posted on Saturday, April 27, 2002 - 2:37 pm: |
|
yes a machbox can be ran in front of a linear |
Taz
| | Posted on Saturday, April 27, 2002 - 3:16 pm: |
|
yes, but why infront? you running two radios?
usally the matchbox goes behind the amp |
Pcovington
| | Posted on Saturday, April 27, 2002 - 4:48 pm: |
|
Get some clear silicone sealant (RTV) and seal the clamp on the tuning ring. Also coat the top of the SO-239 connector (where the wire is soldered that goes to the clamp on the tuning ring) on the antenna. I did this to my brother's MACO and the SWR doesn't go up when it rains anymore. You should not have to put up with the SWR going up in the rain.
Phil |
Galileo
| | Posted on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 11:58 am: |
|
Ive got a Maco up about 50 ft. Am running a 4 gauge wielding cable from the mount to 2-8 foot rods..LMR 400 coax...My SWR does change when it is wet, but not enough to make me worry...Love the antenna so far..Didnt do much in the way of tuning, just measured....I am going to take it down, and seal the clamp..Good idea..... |
307
| | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 3:51 pm: |
|
Your question about Match-Boxes is quite simple. Do not use them unless you absolutely have to. They "Steal" power and give you an illusion that all the power is going out the antenna when really the tuner takes most of the heat. That is why tuners are power rated.
307 |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 12:00 pm: |
|
when checking swr on the maco, i've been told to keep the mic gain completely turned down...hence, zero (0) on the radio. then check swr. is this correct? or should i check swr at the mic gain i am speaking at? i tried this using an astatic echomax 2000 and it picks up background noise like nobody's business. these mics are loud and sensitive. any swr recommendations are appreciated. with mic gain at zero on the radio, i get a 1.6ish reading with the maco. thanks xlaxx |
xlaxx
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 12:06 pm: |
|
taz, my question about the antenna match box running in front of a linear was to see if i can adjust my antenna load accordingly through a 5 tube amp. maybe my setup is wrong but can you rig in this direction...???
radio to match box to amp to meter to antenna
the matchbox could probably be eliminated if i get my antenna load ideal. does this make since? anyway, thanks for the help.
xlaxx |
