| Author |
Message |
    
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 5:13 am: | 
|
Yes, the time has finally come for big Dan to go into debt for 30 years  . And since the payment is going to cut into my "go to the bar and drink till she's cute money  ", I figured I could get a decent base setup and sit at home (a lot), and talk to people who can afford to drive around. I was pondering the Melaka, but I don't know if it is a good bang for it's buck. But I like the idea of having the extra channels. But mostly I want to know about the antenna. I really don't want to put a 50 foot tower with a 40 foot beam on it. Realistically, does an omnidirectional work for any type of DX work, or do you need a directional. The most power I would run is 250 watts, but I really would just like to try sideband barefoot. I live in Colorado, and the elevation where I live is 4700 feet. I am also accepting donations for the "Big Dan Radio Fund", so feel free to send me checks, cash, money orders, jewelry, unwanted ex-wives (preferably that can cook or clean), new radios that you feel guilty about owning while I go without, vehicles, or stock tips. I can assure you that they will be put to "good use"  . But seriously, I've heard a lot of talk between the I-MAX and the A99. What if I took a 108" whip and mounted it on a steel pole and drove a ground rod? Or if I stuck a magnet mount on top of the swamp cooler?
Gimme some ideas guys, or at least things that you have done in the past that have worked good or bad. I have never had a base set up, so any other tips or warnings would be appreciated.
Thanx,
Big Dan |
Highlander
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 12:24 pm: |
|
I have use both the A-99 and The Imax-2000, with very good results both locally and DX. A beam would be nice, but for the $$ and ease of installation versus performance, you cant beat the A99 or Imax2000. The Melaka reports here on the forum seem to be favorable--for the price, that seems like a good way to go. |
Sodapop
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 12:52 pm: |
|
A omindirectional antenna should be fine for skip. I have run them for ten years, and have talked all over. They all do a good job, but if money is tight, just buy an A99. Or something in that price range. As for the base, the Melaka is a great choice. Great radio for the price. And when you tune them up right, they will do a great job. And with your location, you will do just fine with that kind of a setup. A nice cheap base setup. Well a few hundred bucks, but cheap when you compare to the amount you could spend on goodies! And believe me, it can add up fast!*G* And last but not least, I was making out the check for your radio fund, that is until the wife came in. Needless to say, the money I had planned on sending you just left with the wife, along with the truck. So a shopping spree is on me I guess! Boy, I hope she remembers to come home and feed me! *G HAHAHAHA |
Harpoonman
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 1:07 pm: |
|
Big Dan,
For the money and the relative ease of installation, I think my Solarcon IMAX 2000 5/8 wave vertical antenna has been a wonderful investment. I can talk all over the country and beyond from central Maryland with a relatively small amount of power (like 250 watts PEP or less) on this antenna. The antenna's base is only about 25 feet off the ground, too! If I raised it to about 36-40 feet off the ground at the base I would significantly lower the antenna's angle of radiation which would improve local (ground wave) coverage and longer distance DX.
Of course, this kind of antenna can never compete with the large, cumbersome, but high gain directional beams and such for shear forward power concentration, and there are certainly some advantages to having switchable polarity with these antennas. But, BOY, are the big beams a hassle to erect (at least for me they are)!
So, I'm gonna recommend the IMAX 2000 or an antenna like it, because it has good all-directional gain and does well for DX, even with stock power under reasonably good conditions, and it is SO much easier to put up and maintain!
73 and best of luck!
Harpoonman |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 3:05 pm: |
|
A99-Dirt cheap and trouble free. |
Honkytonkman593
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2002 - 11:23 am: |
|
i agree with vernonott antron 99 on a 30 foot pole or off the roof. throw in a rci 2980 and a maco 300 and youd be king. oh wait thats what i run. ... oh well good luck!! |
Sodapop
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2002 - 3:31 pm: |
|
Honkytonkman - that was very subtle. I'll have remember that one! *G* |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2002 - 8:33 pm: |
|
OK guys thanx for the input, and don't forget that any or all of you are more than welcome to send me any equipment you feel guilty about owning!! Just think of the smile that you could put on my face! I would even be willing to adopt a few of you as my official step-dads. (Now if that isn't an honor, what is?) I am going to try and have the setup here in a few months, so I can try and talk to a few of you on SSB. I would really think that it would be cool to be actually be able to make voice contact with some of you all the way from here in Colorado. Gentlemen, you are all good people and I really enjoy reading every word each one of you have to say. Thank you for all your help and input.
73's from Big Dan |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 4:52 pm: |
|
Triplecguy:E-mail me your shipping address and I will donate a little something to your cause.That's the best that I can do as I do not use SSB. |
Taz
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 11:21 pm: |
|
Hey very you can donate to mee to!
my address is 0000 w terdy terd terd and terd street 00000 browntown arizona |
707
| | Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2002 - 3:30 am: |
|
My suggestion is stick with an aluminum antenna, 5/8 at least, up 40' above average terrain, even if you are on a mountaintop, if you can get away with it in your locale. If not, then go the A99 route.
Seriously consider what you are buying when you go for a base radio. If you plan to stick on the regular 40 channels only, then there are a few good base stations still out there, from $50-200 you can find tons of classic CB SSB radios for sale to like new in the box Cobra 2000 GTLs on Ebay for around $350, good to average ones about 200-275. I picked up a good, clean, working GE Superbase on there last year. If you want a "newer" radio, of course, you can spend the same money on any Galaxy, Texas Ranger, or clone.
If, hypothetically, you are going for 11m in general, then take a close look at modified amateur radio gear, where you might pay more for the radio, but you will likely have much higher and cleaner output(save money on amp), better receive, plenty of gizmo controls and even a general coverage receiver(for when the skip's not running) in the same box if you get a full HF rig. Of course, that is just hypothetically.... |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2002 - 4:48 am: |
|
OK, now I have a question that may sound dumb. I have seen the term "general coverage receiver" many times before. I take it that it means it covers all the bands, and even some frequencies that are not allowed to be transmitted on even by hams. What good would this do for me? Also, if I were to go with the Melaka, and had access to the 10 meter band, would any hams converse with me if I don't have a call sign? I remember reading years ago that hams WILL NOT respond to a party whom does not identify themselves with a call sign. I'm sure I could make one up, but I really don't want to devceive (straight out lie to) anyone. I am very familiar with the amateur rules, and in fact I take practice tests for the tech license all the time, scoring perfect quite often. Of course all this is fine and well, but I am still not a licensed ham. I think it would be jiffy to listen in on some of them, and I may learn a thing or to. I just read somebody's post here last night about the Alinco DX-70, now that sounds like a kick-butt radio! from 160m-10m plus 6m. But I just don't think I could ever use all those bands or find an antenna that could work with them all. Plus, don't forget gentlemen, I have yet to make my millions, and the cooler a radio is, the more it sets us working folk back. Unless you're one of the techs at Copper and make 6 figures!!!  But alas, I fall into the category of you can never overdo anything!!! No such thing as to much power, to many channels, or an antenna to tall. The more, the manlier!! And yes I would love to have a transceiver that goes from 100hz to 21Ghz, but until then, I'll be happy with what I am lucky enough to have, and dream about what y'all have. Folks, lets all remember to count our blessings.
Mucho thankos,
73's Big Dan
P.S. I LOVE THIS HOBBY!!!!!!! |
Highlander
| | Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2002 - 5:39 pm: |
|
TripleC, you definitely don't want to transmit above 27.990 unless you have a license. But you can have a lot of fun between 26 and 28! I don't recommend running huge amounts of power, because I think it can bring trouble, whereas a clean 100 watts with a good antenna is all you need, and will not draw undue attention.
As far as the general coverage receiver goes, they are great fun to listen to for shortwave broadcasts, maritime, aircraft, other HF ham bands, and various utility and pirate/clandestine comms, such as is common in and around the CB band.
You don't need an expensive ham set to explore the the 11 meter band and its charms, a good export or converted cb and a good antenna will do the trick, maybe a little amp to get you up to that next level.
73 |
BRUCE
| | Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2002 - 9:08 pm: |
|
Triple guy i own a alinco dx-70 and use it it is a kick butt radio the reciver goes from 100 khz ( .1 mhz) to 54 mhz with a break between 30-50 although there is a mod to allow it to tune part of that range. It is all mode and a very fine CW radio very clean very stable on all bands also it is very small about the size of a ranger 2950.
bruce |
Vernonott
| | Posted on Monday, January 07, 2002 - 11:01 am: |
|
OK TripleCguy:My small donation is on the way. |
|
