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Danusee
Member
Username: Danusee

Post Number: 65
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got new coax, Altelicon CA-400 Cable from Copper.
I replaced Rg8u with it. All I got to say is "if you are thinking about it, do it".
You want to see a kicking antenna. I change my a99 top section to metal. Then I replaced the gpk fiberglass rods to 102" metal ones (at the same angle). Now I have added the new coax. What a set of ears and transmit to match! It is the best I have had to date.
At 3am I was listening to a conversation @ 75 miles. While I was trying to contact them a station further than contacted me from the other direction.
The drawback of the coax, it is stiff as a poker.
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi

Post Number: 732
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 4:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Danusee, this time of year and for sure at 3 am you are likely to hear all kind of things. Short skip is working off and on here in the Texas area and that could be what you were seeing.

I'm just using RG8X Mini and I sure don't have any of that other stuff done to my old plain Jane A99 setup at 36' high. Just recently I have made contacts into Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Northeast, West, and Northwest Texas. These were all in the 100+ mile range and due to conditions. Sometimes it works that way even when there appears not to be any DX working. Are you sure this is not what happened to you?

Maybe you will let us know if doing this now is like an every day thing, like your other local contacts? If so, that would be an impressive improvement really worth noting.
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Danusee
Member
Username: Danusee

Post Number: 66
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Marconi,
My 20 mile contacts were improved when I went to the new coax. One fellow that has a very low mounted antenna, located on the far side of a large town, had trouble hearing me. He now has improved reception on my signal. He didn't know that I made a change and made the comment that "I can hear you now and before I use to have trouble".
The best other improvement on my setup was the 102" metal gpk over the shorter fiberglass one. My receive improved again.
Between the two mods I have very good ears and transmit to match.
If you have the material, give it a try. You will not be sorry. I used the rods from a Maco v58.
I have tried many antenna experiments. This is what worked. Several other things didn't turn out so good. It was fun trying but man I am getting to where I hate climbing that tower.

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