| Author |
Message |
    
mikefromms
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 6:35 pm: | 
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I'm not disappointed at all. It takes some time to put together right if you've never dealt with one, but the time, cost and other expenses are worth it. I bought good 213 u coax in 50 ft. pieces with good ends. Part of my coax is contained inside of PVC pipe and that running on the ground next to the house is wrapped in water hose. You don't want a hedge trimmer cutting up your expensive coax.
I have the antenna on a 36 ft. pushup pole with 6 guy wires and it is supported against the house as well. The wind is a concern for me, but the next time we have fast winds I'll report on that if I think about it.
The ears on this antenna are outstanding. I can switch one way or another and hear a station if it has a signal and audio at all. It has better rejection than the Super Scanner I used to own. One man asked me if I turned on a box when I was switching around on him. Surprisingly, the groundplane part of the antenna works nicely. I have found that I can shut many stations completely out by switching off of them even if they give me a 5 or 6 s-units. My transmit will drop off equally on them when I make this switch. I can talk about as far as I can hear locally. This switching system is unlike the Super Scanner in that it doesn't require additional wire (super scanner used telephone wire). This antenna simply uses two coaxes and you use a regular switch box. In affect, you are using half of your antenna at a time when using it as a beam and using it altogether as a groundplane. If everyone is trying to talk at the same time I just switch to the direction I want to hear and it usually becomes very clear. The rejection is for real on this antenna and the gain is there. If I get a 5 on the groundplane I'll get maybe a 7 on the beam. It varies on how close the station is is in a straight line to the point of the antenna or away from it. There are weak spots in the system where the groundplane actually receives better but that's to be expected based on the design. Most stations are much stronger on the beam but one way or the other you're going to both hear and get to your station. I still think it costs a good bit more than the materials involved in building it; so, I'll give the cost a 6 on a scale of one to 10. Quality of antenna materials and build = 10. Performance is a 10+. For anyone who wants both a groundplane and beam that works really well, or someone who misses the Super Scanner and can't buy one because they don't make them anymore, the Thunder 8xb will thrill you. I'm a believer in this antenna. Am I finally a happy camper? ... You bet!
Mikefromms |
Bullet
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 9:19 pm: |
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cool now that you got a good ground plain you like lets see if we can talk you in to that lightning 8 beam.......hehehehe. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Friday, August 22, 2003 - 6:34 pm: |
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Man, I wouldn't know where to erect that Lighting 8. As big as it is it might do a great job just 18 feet off the ground in the middle of a big field.
I am more than happy with the Thunder 8xb. As good as most G/P's and works as fine as a small beam.
mikefromms |
Bullet
| | Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2003 - 5:48 am: |
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rodger that |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 1:12 am: |
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Id like to try that lightning 4 someday and sell off both sets of my moonraker 4's.. |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 6:37 am: |
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Go for it RCI 2990. I've heard of guys who tried different beams every 6 months. I would suppose these guys eventually "met themselves coming back," if you know what I mean. But in your case this would likely be a good move. Do more homework and decide. It is fun messing with different types of antennas.
mikefromms |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 1:48 am: |
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Yes it is!!! I love working on antennas and trying out new ones and working on old ones from the Golden age of CB (the mid 1970s). |
mikefromms
| | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 7:18 am: |
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There's an 84 year old here in my hometown who is currently working on a homebrew groundplane. I told him I was stopping by to see his antenna and he says he has all kinds of homemade things like power supplies and even a big rotor and odds and ends antennas. Great hobby.
mikefromms |
RCI 2990
| | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 6:42 pm: |
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There used to be an old guy were I used to live that built beams, groundplanes, amps, preamp boards, and power supllies too. The guy worked at GTE and i think prior he also was in the navy as a tech. great old guy to talk to about antennas. Theres nothing he doesnt know about.... Its always good to talk to the old timers about radio because they are a treasure trove of info and over the past 10 years most of what i know i leanred from a few "old timers"... |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 741
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 11:33 am: |
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I was happy with this antenna until I tried it in a pine tree. Don't make this mistake. Worked fine on a 36 ft pushup and will do great on a tower. I still think it is overpriced. I'm happier now with an Imax 2000 and gdp/kit. Hey, I've had the Imax for about a year now and I'm still happy. That says something....
mikefromms |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 794
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 1:49 pm: |
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Still happy with the Imax and it October....going on my tower today, hopefully.
mikefromms |
Twowatt
Member
Username: Twowatt
Post Number: 66
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 8:35 pm: |
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has anyone ever tried using both "beams" at the same time - you know, like on some of the old type antenna switches, where you had "horizontal", "vertical" & "both"?
wouldn't that be a 6.8dbi omni (except on the edges of course)?
just curious |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 803
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 - 12:07 pm: |
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It already does that but becomes a groundplane.
Mikefromms |
Twowatt
Member
Username: Twowatt
Post Number: 69
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 12:10 am: |
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hey Mike,
is that a slightly "less than unity", unity, or slightly above unity groundplane (since it's over 9' tall, but less than 18')?
thanks |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 825
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 11:53 am: |
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It works ok as a omni. Gives you some beam effect when switched. Keep wires away from tree limbs.
mikefromms |
Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 1052
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 9:15 pm: |
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When the Thunder8 was intact it was a good antenna. But it will get destroyed easily by tree limbs. I paid too much for the thing and practically gave it away, what was left of it. If you want to try a beam start with a 3 element maco; if you want a trouble free good working groundplane antenna go with Imax 2000. |
