| Author |
Message |
    
Drifter_8291
Junior Member
Username: Drifter_8291
Post Number: 20
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:06 pm: | 
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Hi I am currently using a a99 on my setup. I am thinking about in the spring/summer of experimenting and buying a Top One Ground Plane Antenna (astro plane) from copper. I would like to hear others comments (all) on this antenna good and bad. Like how well is the ears on this antenna?, How well does it get out? How much gain? Overall strength in wind ice ect? any opinions on it compared with other antennas..Thanks
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 536
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 1:59 am: |
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Drifter, if you do a search on AstroPlane, using all words, you will find seven pages full of links to the subject, talking about all the aspects of the antenna. If that is not enough, come back here and leave me a message and I will send you or post a letter describing to a bud how I think is works electrically. There are others on here that can do a better job of describing all this I'm sure, but maybe they don't have time.
OK?
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 3430
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:18 am: |
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I had one untill a hurricane rapped it around it's mounting pole in +100 MPH winds .....
It worked good untill then .... |
1861
Intermediate Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 437
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
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I,VE USED A-99 AND TOP ONE , STILL USE TOP ONE . IT WORKS MUCH BETTER FOR ME . NOT QUITE AS GOOD TX AS MY I MAX 2000 BUT AS GOOD RX AND QUITER |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 539
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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1861 that make very good sense. Besides if you can't here em' you sure can carry on a conversation with em', right? There are some exceptions, but the Astroplane is probably much quiter than an Imax or an A99 by a big margin, most all the time. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1173
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:39 pm: |
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Here's what i see when looking at the Top One.
The antenna looks cheaply made,BUT, it actually DOES hold up in severe weather.
There's still 3 astroplanes around here that
have been up 20+ years and there still in
good condition.
I would compare it's performance to a A-99,but,
more quiet on the static recieve noise.
I also, like 1861 had better luck hearing signals
better on a Top One than a Imax 2000.
Mostly due to high static noise of the Imax.
THIS OF COURSE CAN VARY FROM LOCATION TO
LOCATION AND MAY NOT BE THE RESULTS YOU MIGHT
GET. |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 838
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
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I'd get an imax 2000 with groundplane kit and high quality coax. You would have the best overall setup. I have no noise issues with mine.
Mikefromms |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1074
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 7:29 pm: |
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here ya go:
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=29&post=93094#POST93094
and here's another good one:
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=29&post=87219#POST87219
enjoy!
matt
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26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 72
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:40 am: |
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We love our astroplane!! Its a copy of the original made by Tagra in Spain, Model BT-101. Ive had it 20 years + and its still working great at out club station and surviving all the high winds ! Height is at 27'.
73
Tim
26 Orient Pirate 141 |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1092
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:13 pm: |
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i ran across a post on this forum from way back, and the guy had used larger tubing for the vertical sections that attatch to the hoop. he stated that he was able to tune the antenna by sliding the verticals up and down. sleeving them instead of bolting them.
sounds neat,
matt |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 559
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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Hey Kid, if I can I will attempt to post some images of the patent on this antenna. There you will find that the tuning of this antenna is basically done by changing the relationship of the two 1/4 wave elements attached to the bottom hoop, relative to the feed line, the mast, or both. There is a flaring of the arc in these elements as they attach to the hoop. This flaring produces this arc and the insulated mast support in the middle of these elements also controls this arc relationship as well. Since these parts are not made adjustable one would have to fix that to make adjustable. If you did that then maybe the length of the elements you mentioned would also need to be readjusted in order to bring the new tune into resonance better.
I have the patent images on file. If I can't post these images here in the picture section, and I don't believe I can because they are probably too large, then maybe I could email them to you if you are interested is such. You let me know your feelings about that, OK? The patent is a complicated read, but I believe you will get much understanding from it. Is it also possible I have already sent them to you earlier as well? I seem to recall we had a nice discussion about this one already. You remember when I made some mistakes and you were right about the construction of this one. You shed some light on the subject for me and I thank you for that. Just let me know.
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Kyoji_fujimatsu
Junior Member
Username: Kyoji_fujimatsu
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 6:14 pm: |
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The "Top One" or "astroplane" is a J-pole in disguise offering 2 db gain over a quarterwave ground-plane. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1171
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 12:42 am: |
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Hi Kyoji.
The Top One or Astroplane is not wuite a J-pole, but close. It is actually an upside-down folded 1/4 wave ground plane. By getting the current node above the voltage node, it makes the antenna very efficient when low to the ground. Quite a brilliant design for its time, back when CB antennas had to be 20 or less feet above whatever they were mounted on. |
26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 74
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:39 am: |
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According to my original literature which I got with my Original Avanti AV-101 (Astroplane) antenna way back, Avanti referred to this special design as “co-inductive” and was there patented design. It also featured on the PDL2, Astrobeam, Mooraker 4 and 6. Apparently it cost 1.5 million dollars in antenna research and that was back in 1977!!
Marconi, I'd also love to see these files if you can then send them on. Where did you get them?
73
Tim
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 569
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 12:48 am: |
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Tim, 26 op 141, I will email you the patent if that is what you referring to. |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 570
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:02 am: |
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Tim I tried but your email was returned. I guess the one in your profile is vapors, right? |
26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 75
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 5:22 am: |
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HI Marconi,
Strange my email ad is 100% correct?? Maybe a problem with email server?
I will try to search on the info you have given me.Any probs and I will contact you.
Maybe I can find the other patents there for the rest of Avanti's range?
Thanks again
Tim
26 Orient Pirate 141 |
26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 76
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 11:27 am: |
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Marconi,
Im on the site and Ive found the Sigma 4 patent. Can you give me the patent number for the astro plane as I cant find it on the search option?
Tnx
Tim |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 571
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 7:25 pm: |
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Try these numbers Tim,
3587109
4236160
3587109
4282531
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26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 77
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 5:29 am: |
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Thanks Marconi for the email. It worked this time! I'll check the above for sure. They make interesting reading.
Looking at the Astroplane radation pattern, am I right in thinking they produce a stronger pattern in the way the legs are facing at the bottom? If this is the case I will point the legs in an East- West diection to cover Easter Europe and back to you guys in the states facing West.
73
Tim |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 574
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 7:34 am: |
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Well Tim that would depend on just how the current flows in the antenna. There is a principal that goes something like the following.
If two parallel elements have current flowing in them that are both equal in current value and opposite in phase then this system will not radiate or will radiate very little."
So if first 1/4 wave element under the feed point of the AP is flowing with + current with a value of X for the current, and the supporting mast/feedline/both is flowing with – current of value X for current, then this part of the system should follow the non-radiating principal noted above.
So then I reason what this system does electrically is simply feed the 1/8 wave bottom loop at a voltage node and then feed the 1/4 wave radial on the opposite side of the mounting hub from the first 1/4 wave element (feeder). And the shortened top 1/4 wave element above the mounting hub thus serves as the opposite side of a dipole from the current node in the mounting hub.
Thus we have a 1/4 wave feeder feeding a 5/8 wave radiator. This might be said to look like a form of J-Pole antenna, or if I’m wrong, this does not describe the AP electrically at all.
I also read in the patent, I think, that the particular mildly arcing angle created between the 1/4 wave feeder working against the opposing 1/4 wave ground element, being the mast/feedline/both, also helps produce in the antenna the 50 ohm impedance at the feed point, thus this first 1/4 wave element is actually a feeder and not the radiating antenna.
Then again the first 1/4 wave feeder under the feed point in the hub could be feeding the opposite side 1/4 wave element and the shortened 1/4 wave element above the current mode and above the hub is serving as the opposite side of a truly balanced dipole.
Thus this antenna is basically a 1/2 wave dipole end fed at a voltage node by a 1/4 wave transformer working against the supporting mast/feedline/both.
I have never heard anyone argue these contentions, but it is just how I see this strange bird of an antenna working electrically.
Who ever it was at Avanti that designed this antenna must have been able to see the whole thing in his minds eye, strange as it is, and it is likely this guy was a genius.
Tim, or anybody give me your thoughs along these lines (electrical current flow) after studying the pattent, and let me know how you see it. Also see what impression you get about the idea of this one operating most efficiently at some particular low height as it was advertised to do.
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26_op_141
Member
Username: 26_op_141
Post Number: 78
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
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Hi Marconi,
Here is another that antenna that people forget about, The Avanti Saturn.
Patent No. 4155092
This is one of the few antennas Ive never owned!
73
Tim |
Dalowe
New member
Username: Dalowe
Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 1:00 pm: |
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I've been CB'ing since '83. My first base Antenna was an Avanti Astroplane. I bought 35' of mast at Radio Shack, stuck it in the ground next to my parents bedroom and when mounted, the top of the antenna was almost level with the peak of the roof.
At the time, I thought it was cheaply made, but then after helping my buddies assemble everything from Stardusters to Moonrakers, I noticed that fragile is something you live with in base antennas. I've never seen a top one up close, but in pictures it looks like Astroplane construction - light.
I loved my Astroplane. The Astroplane hears very well and like has been noted above, you really have to quit looking at the S meter and just use your own ears that are attached to your head. The Astroplane, as I found out after going on to an Antron 99 (in a different house), is very quiet on receive. Where I might get 3 dB of noise with my Antron, I would only get 1/2 dB with the Astroplane.
One thing I've noticed with the Antron is that the radiation pattern is no where near as circular as the Astroplane. The AP was equally good (or bad, depending on your perspective) in all directions. The Antron appears to be much more sensitive to its surroundings - probably a height thing.
As far as performance, the AP is at least as good as a Starduster mounted at the same height. Back in the early '80's, every other house had a Starduster where I grew up. I think it's better than the A99, but as height increases, probably not so much. I'm thinking of taking down my A99 and buying a Top One to put up in its place. When I bought the A99, there wasn't much selection. I'm glad to see the AP reborn.
I think that the mediocre reputation the AP used to have came from the fact that the mast went right up through the antenna. It was generally must easier to get a stick type antenna higher than it was an AP. Thus, generally, the AP was relegated to lower altitudes and like I said, any antenna I've ever used loved height. I tried to get mine up higher, but the owner’s manual warned against conductive guy wires under the ring. In following the recommendations, you'd have almost 15' of unsupported mast inside the antenna.
We had a very rare tornado touch down about a half mile of me and I watched from the windows as the AP swayed back and forth. The antenna is short and supported in three places, making it exceptional in windy areas even though it probably has more wind load than a stick type. The AP got torn down that night by a tree branch which fell into the antenna and ripped the bottom off. I recovered the pieces the next day and put her back together and she thanked me with her usual 1:1.4 SWR.
One more thing. One reason I want to replace the A99 is lightening. I've personally known 7 people who had lightening hits on these things. I read somewhere that the same thing that makes it noisy in receive makes it a lightening attracter. From my own anecdotal research, the fiberglass wonder antennas seem to be overly represented in lightening strikes. My buddy, who is an Extra Class Ham, got hit and lost about $6,000 worth of equipment. When the smoke cleared, guess which one of his 5 antennas met the lightening? You guessed it, the Antron. The lightening passed up a tribander, a 2 meter beam, a long wire and every other bare aluminum antenna he had up in favor of the A99.
Moderator Note!
5 paragraphs and over 50 lines of text had to be removed from this post as you had copied and pasted the same paragraphs 2 & 3 times.
Please Proof Read your post's before submitting them.
Thank's,
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Revpo
Intermediate Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 164
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 7:09 pm: |
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I have a astro plane, it is in it's 2nd year at 23 feet.
It is quiet on receive and with my radio it gets out good on skip, all thru South America, and the west coast. etc.
It can't be beat.............and thats not running a kw, 30 watts..ssb.
73
revpo/doctor/CEF795
73
REVPO/DOCTOR/CEF 795
Wavin a hand from the cornfields of INDIANA
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 33
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 11:12 pm: |
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Are these antennas easy to set up and tune and do you need a rotar?
382 - 123
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 34
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 12:54 pm: |
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how is it tuned for swr is there cutting involved?
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1861
Advanced Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 665
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 1:29 pm: |
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No , put it together according to instructions , swr will be there . |
Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 35
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 3:13 pm: |
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Cool thanks becuase i want to replace my a99 and i have crappy neighbors.My a99 is only 5 feet off the ground on my deck and i have no where to mount the a99.My neighbors are already being nosey and i havent even put a antenna up properly yet.I had one neighbor tell me he was getting tv interference before i even got my radio hooked up I told him it was for a scanner i never hooked up and he never complained about interference since i hooked up my radio.Bu thats the kinda people i deal with.
I want to be able to connect the antenna to the side of my house up above the roof from a 10 foot mast.So the antenna will be about 25 feet off the ground at the base.Im gonna run 30 feet of rg 258 coac to it.Now do these astro plane's heave a tvi problem?
Also will it perform better than my a99 at 25 feet off the ground?I read the article but it seems they only recomend the astro if you have no choice so will i be losing performance?
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Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 876
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 5:16 pm: |
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no you wont lose performance.in fact the
a/p will perform better than the a-99 at low
levels definately replace that a-99.as far as tvi its your neighbors problem as long as you use fcc type radios
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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1861
Advanced Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 666
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 5:22 pm: |
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I have zero tvi problems , it will do better than the 99 , I would use good coax -- cheap stuff might give you tvi . |
Revpo
Intermediate Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 197
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 8:41 pm: |
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I have one, it is on a push up pole at 22 feet, I feed it with good coax rg8 mini, no tvi, no rfi, I cheat and have a tuner on it, a ldg automatic tuner 1 to 1 swr, I think when I built it it came out 1 to 1:4, anyhow it out performs my ground plane, and what you hear you will work, can't be beat., low noise and good ears.
73
revpo/CEF795/doctor/795
p.s. I run 45 to 60 watts only on ssb with it or am...
73
REVPO/DOCTOR/CEF 795
Wavin a hand from the cornfields of INDIANA
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 36
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 9:52 pm: |
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cool thanks yeah i got my coax from copper its the 95% sheild rgu/258 good stuff very heavy duty i had copper do the ends on it as well.I got 30 feet of it and the antenna would be about 20 feet from my radio.So the thing comes already for 11 meters no tuning needed i like that and i cant wait to get it im anxiouse.
im gonna try to atleast get it 25 feet off the ground to 30 feet.
its hard to hear the guys that are 20 miles from me sometimes but they all hear me loud and clear.Im not bugging neighbors tv's with my antron 5 feet off the ground so i doubt the astro will be any worse 25 feet up.
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Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2531
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 12:45 am: |
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newoperator,
one 10 foot section of mast will not be enough.
you have to have a minimum of 8.5 feet of mast below the bottom hoop for the antenna to work right.
please click on the links i provided in my post above, and read those threads very carefully.
the top one is a great antenna, and the ONLY reason it ever got a bad rap was because the end user didnt install it correctly.
also, antennas do not create nor fix TVI problems.
your antenna is simply too close to your neighbors house.
that, coupled with the fact that all electronics sold in the last 10-15 years have absolutely no filtering in them is why you have a problem.
gotta be realistic about what you want to do, where you live, and how much money you are willing to invest to get it right.
there is much more involved to this.
do a search on the forum for "grounding" and "TV interference", and you will learn alot.
best of luck,
matt
anyone wanting a "clean signal", just look to the left and build one of these!!!
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 37
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 1:52 am: |
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No i dont give off any tvi right now.Im planning on getting 20 feet of mast.it will be 5 feet from my outside wall to the roof edge and then i have 15 feet of clear mast to mount the top one on.
I want the top one for variouse reasons.
1.Not to big so that neighbors take to much notice like they did my antron.
2.Cant get a imax or 5/8 wave up high enough to make use of it.
3.Interested on how well it performs.
4.With the description of how it works it seems that becuase im on a lake that it might give me a slight advantage over the antron becuase the way my landscape is set up in the area and around the water.
5.Ive heard good things about it.
I dont see any links 
I have absolutely no real tvi issues in the home right now and the only interference is the phone but thats most likely due to the antenna being mounted close tot he phone line.No neighbors complaining of tvi since "i actually hooked the radio up"
Moderator Note!
The links are in the Kid_vicious post above Posted on: Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 7:29 pm:
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 709
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 9:25 am: |
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Newoperator, except for the lake maybe providing some open space to work your radio over, fresh water is no better than the earth around it.
It is sea (salt) water only that gives a ground or reflective advantage to radio signals. I have even see guys on lakes that will tell you they don't get out as good sometimes as stations a few miles away from the water.
Be careful when you screw the parts together in your new AP. Maybe a good idea to use a bit of petroleum jelly around the fittings in the hub connections before screwing them in. Make sure the top section is screwed in well enough to make a good connection and for sure that the two wire elements at the top are secure.
If you can replace all the metal hardware with Stainless Steel, even the washers. |
Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 38
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 11:10 am: |
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The only question i really have is will it out perform my antron at 25 feet?
Moderator Note!
For the answer to your question just
CLICK HERE > Copper Electronics Omni/Vertical Antenna Suggestion Guide by Tech833
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852
Intermediate Member
Username: 852
Post Number: 305
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 9:22 pm: |
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Newoperator,
I myself live in a mobile home park,and much like yourself I could not get a A99 or Imax up high enough for it to perform really well. The Topone AP was the answer to my problems. I'm on 20 feet of mast mounted in clear yard, and this little ant. rocks. Local contacts it does as well as the Imax did mounted low, but when the DX is rolling it really performs better than I ever thought. And in my honest opinion for a low mounted ant. It flat slams the Imax.
Tommy~852~CEF 750
Do They Make Anything Besides "GALAXY"?
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 40
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12:51 am: |
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Yeah im going with the topone im gonna order mine next week my buddy keeps pushing me towards the sirio s-827 but i dont think im gonna top 30 feet my house measured today from ground up.
20 feet
im getting two ten foot masts to connect for 20 feet 5 feet will be needed to clear the roof from the side of the house were i will mount it.The rest 15 feet will be for the topone to sit on.I picked a great spot to mount it and i think it will look nice i really like the antenna's design its got that 50's rocket look to it very spacey not as ugly as those large sticks.
My antron being 5 feet off the ground i was shooting skip to ontario canada tonight with amazing signal strength running 30w.
god knows how good its gonna be with the top one i cant wait.
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Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2534
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 11:06 pm: |
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here are the links again. read through them. you will be glad you did.
matt
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=29&post=93094#POST93094
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=29&post=87219#POST87219
anyone wanting a "clean signal", just look to the left and build one of these!!!
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Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 44
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 12:00 pm: |
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I read them vicious i think the top ones probably my best choice becuase i have mountains all around me and i cant really clear 30 feet.
Plus the price is a issue as well as setting up the antenna.The top one seems easy compared to a maco 5/8 i read how people screw up put there coil on upside down etc and get high swr and other stories i dont have the time to mess with taking it down fixing this or that i just want to get it up and working.
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 710
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 3:23 pm: |
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Newoperator, I think you have made up your mind already, but you may find the AP to present a problem in the mountains because of its very low TOA. In your case the A99 or the Starduster with less focused primary lobes to the horizon may work over the high spots better. Getting the antenna down lower to the earth may also raise the TOA a bit and may prove to be a benefit in your case.
If you get the AP, the way I read the patent you might raise the TOA of that one by mounting it with the hoop closer than 8' to the ground. I have never tested this out, but that is the way I read and understand the issue of TOA with that antenna. It is to be noted that the bottom of the AP also shows very high voltage at the bottom hoop, so if it is close to the ground you must be careful with humans and anamils around. |
Newoperator
Junior Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 48
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 6:45 pm: |
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i got it 5 feet off the ground the a99 currently and i can barely hear the locals so it surely hasnt helped.The mountain i have 1 is in front of me to the west and i get all my dx from the west east is my problem and all thats to the east is woods and the highway go figure.
the mountain thats near me is about 1 mile across the lake from my home it isnt a huge mountain only about 700 feet "im guessing"
I think the ap will work out great.
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 715
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 7:45 pm: |
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When I said low to the earth for the A99 I did not mean 5'. The A99 does not do well at all under at least 9' or more and 18' and higher is much better for any angle it may produce.
The A99, 1/2 wave dipoles, and EFHW basically have very low TOA and are not affected as much with high angle lobe development when raised up unless you get them very high two wavelength and more I believe.
Also the A99 matching network depends a great deal on the conductive structure available under the antenna, and if it is only 5' it has no structure and likely is not going to work very well in any situation you might provide.
When I spoke of the TOA thing that I was referring to, regarding the hills and mountains, saying maybe keep it low I didn't mean keep it that low (only 5').
If you can only go up 5' with the A99 then you have a problem. It may be then that only the AP can help with the high hills problem, and that will only work if you can get the AP's TOA to raise up enough to work the top of the mountains and hills or else you will need a 1/4 wave Ground plane fairley low to the ground maybe 10' high.
Remember too, that DX is probably still dead for the most part and comes and goes maybe even in a day or less. When it is gone there is nothing out there even here among 5 million plus bodies in the Houston, Texas area. |
Newoperator
Member
Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 1:09 pm: |
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Isnt the ap a ground plane 1/4 wave antenna?
Im just gonna put my antron up 30 feet and end it its old but this antenna stuff is giving me a headache i liked the old days when i threw the antenna up and it just worked i never questioned it.
My swr is good at 5 feet its mounted to wood railings on my deck 5 feet from the ground im gonna get it up 30 feet next week.
As for my local buddies there gonna have to wait ;)
Moderator Note!
If you use the LINK below and read Tech833's article it should answer all of your questions for you.
CLICK HERE >>>> Copper Electronics Omni/Vertical Antenna Suggestion Guide by Tech833
382 - 123
Dont Sweat The Technique
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Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 889
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 4:57 pm: |
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well thats all good but go the extra 6feet
for 36feet at bottom of coax.which is a full wavelenth for cb.the maco alumin gp at this height would do better imho and quieter recieve
just a thought.
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 996
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 - 1:26 pm: |
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I think superior coax solves most antenna problems, i.e. noise and matching. Cut coax to 1/2 wave length (or multiple) of frequency used.
For lower height uses I would go with the Astroplane type antenna without hesitation. For higher up in the air (40+ feet) I would not hesitate to choose the Imax 2000 with the groundplane kit. You get broadbanded performance from both.
If you don't have a groundplane kit on your base antenna, trust me, get one--If you want true omni-directional performance.
Mikefromms |
Kabar
Junior Member
Username: Kabar
Post Number: 35
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 8:45 am: |
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Before anyone decides to install a Astro Plane please consider how broadbanded you need the antenna to be especially since many folks are obtaining 10 meter priviledes now.
I believe the Antron/Imax antennas are more broadbanded. |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 973
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 - 12:10 pm: |
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i agree with mike newoperator
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Mikefromms
Senior Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 1144
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 21, 2014 - 10:19 am: |
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Top hat vertical. |
Press_man
Advanced Member
Username: Press_man
Post Number: 759
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 - 6:39 pm: |
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Been using Astroplanes aka Top One for years. I've had them from 4ft off the ground to 50 and 60ft to the hoop and as quoted so many times, "Height is Might." 833 has written very useful articles about the different antennas. Might mention when I had the ant at 4ft I had a QSO on a Colt 480 with a guy in Australia with only 8 watts SSB. SWR was 1.5 and I got a 5X5 report. In my area of Florida I need an ant with a low wind signature.
73 Pressman
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