WorldwideDX Amateur Radio Forums

I found online a PT-99 base antenna and after reading the page realized the shop was in Crete Illinois which isn't far from my home so I called and found that I could pick this up in person and save the shipping and he had 2 in stock. So yesterday I went and bought one for $55. Upon purchase I noticed how light the box was but after opening it I found the antenna is only 5 pounds and is a 4 piece antenna with tuning rings similar to the A-99. I gave it 2 coats of flat black enamel paint and installed it this morning with the included clamps. I mounted it on 1 3/4" Steel mast at about 40' to the base. I am feeding this with 75' of LMR-400 and it is connected to a switch box. After install I found SWR to be 1.4 on channel 1 and 1.1 on channel 40 close enough for me as I tend to use 38LSB. The receive is very quite and locals have told me it is about 1db less than my Sirio But where I showed 9db receive with the Sirio the PT-99 showed about 7-8. The Sirio is higher in the air though. The PT-99 is said to be 9.9dbi gain and able to take 2000 watts well so far I have put full power from my 500 watt amp into it and it is still going strong and the SWR doesn't change with or without my amp on! I feel this antenna is out performing my old A-99 and will continue to use it off and on until spring when it will be going to my cabin in Michigan to be mounted on a tower. Just thought I would share my findings. by the way the shop I got it from can be found on e bay it's abetterwaytobuy and the guy sells all kinds of electronic stuff. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment.

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I've been told I have multiple personalities....
I'm normally but mess with my family and I become ^can not stand it^

ProComm Proton PT99 Base Antenna

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BASE: Kenwood TS-2000 w/Alpha Delta DX-CC, Diamond X50A, Sirio SY27-4, and IMAX 2000.
MOBILE: Galaxy DX99V w/RF Limited CR-577 mic, Sirio Z-180. Yaesu FT-8800R & Diamond NR-770.
"...2 WR-011..."

I have one as well as an Antron 99. The Procomm did not hold up very well though. The third section broke after it was hit with some high winds. I also have some parts to an earlier Antron as well. Looking at getting an all metal antenna next.

the 9.9dbi gain is just marketing hype/lies . no omni base antenna will give you that much gain . you also went from a 5/8 wl antenna with ground elements to a 1/2 wl with no ground elements and the 1/2 wave is lower in height so its both an inferior antenna compared to your sirio 2016 and its also further disadvantaged because its at a lower height .

The Ultimate Guide to 11 Meter CB Antennas

dont be too concerned about s-meter readings , they can vary greatly .

I would like to put it up higher booty but we have about 2 foot of snow here in Chicago. And I'm a big baby about the cold!

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I've been told I have multiple personalities....
I'm normally but mess with my family and I become ^can not stand it^

Just keep in mind that you are comparing two different types/length antennas, they will not perform exactly the same. All things considered, what you are seeing is ~probably~ about normal.
Gain figures and advertising. That's not something you want to take as 'gospel' for most manufacturers. That 1/2 wave antenna is the 'size' that all antennas are compared to, the 'standard', so how can it have any gain when compared to it's self? Compare it to something else as the standard? Okay, but what's that 'something else'? See where that's going?
And power 'ratings'. That's another thing you don't want to put a huge amount of 'faith' in all by it's self. There are just too many things that affect how much power any antenna will handle. Those power 'quotes' are for the absolute best case kind of situations, tuning, resonance, impedance matching etc. Don't know about you, but I very seldom ever have 'ideal' situations.
- 'Doc

I just bought one of these antennas. I had been searching for reviews on this antenna and all searches led to this forum.
I live in an apartment that does not tolerate external antennas unless they are small and a small deposit is required.
However I have 3 small vhf and uhf antennas installed and they have yet to ask me for a deposit, so I am happy.
I was looking for a 10 meter antenna that I could quickly put up and take down with ease and very little time involved.
Most of the antennas I have looked at are made up of either 3 6ft pieces or 4 7ft pieces.
So I had been looking for one that had pieces that were shorter than me.
The Proton PT99 is the one that has shorter pieces. Making it a whole lot easier to set up and tear down on my balcony.
Seems most people think this antenna is a half wave. I was thinking it was a 3/4 wave. Since it is a half wave over a quarter wave coil.
I ordered the antenna yesterday from FTL Distrubiting and will arrive on Friday. I plan on painting it black.
http://files.qrz.com/g/w5dmg/2012_01..._36_04_228.jpg

"I was thinking it was a 3/4 wave. Since it is a half wave over a quarter wave coil."
Sorry, there's no such thing as a "quarter wave coil". That coil at the bottom of the antenna is an impedance matching network just like an 'A99's. It does not add any length to the antenna. The length of the antenna starts where that impedance matching device ends, at the top of the coil/matching network. Your antenna is still a 1/2 wave length long and will act/radiate like a 1/2 wave end fed antenna.
- 'Doc