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getting a beam

C

canoe

Member
Oct 13, 2008
61
5
18
Eastern Ontario Canada
I'm looking at the maco m103c and the sirio line as well. I live in Ontario, and some winters get lots of ice. I've read that the sirio materials are not as durable as the maco. Is this true. Do any beams come with a so 239 instead of the uhf female connector.

For the little extra cost I like the sirio 4 element also.

It will be mounted on a 36' tower, and I'm looking for durability.

Any info would be great. Thanks
 

The maco is more durable than the sirio. the Sirio is a light weight design. The weak point is the way the elements fit to the brackets. Here in Aus you can buy a 4 element Sirio cheaper than a 3 element Maco .But snow and ice are not an issue here.If the price is right you could always reinforce the joint with dowel or alloy rod .SO 239 is a uhf female connector.
 
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The margin of relative 'durability' from the Maco may not overcome the benefit of greater gain and Rejection from the Sirio. My personal preference would be for the Sirio, with consideration to reinforce the first 8" (from bracket to the element) with wooden dowels or aluminum rods.
 
canoe said:
Do any beams come with a so 239 instead of the uhf female connector.
Click to expand...

The SO-239 is a specific type of UHF female connector having four mounting holes rather than a single nut. I haven't seen them in use on a stock beam since they stopped making the PDL-II.
 
Don't know if it makes a difference or not, but Ive seen most of the brackets that holds the elements on the boom section, they have been mounted on top of the boom.....

And have also saw them on the bottom side of the boom as well...

And I know some guys puts a piece of nylon rope inside each of the elements, not sure what this is for.....maybe a few things to look at..

As you connect the PL connector, I wouldn't wrap it with black tape, a lot of guys tells me this holds water in it over time......but when I put my Imax up I used some of that diaelectric grease on the PL and so far seems to do ok..
 
Oatmeal said:
Don't know if it makes a difference or not, but Ive seen most of the brackets that holds the elements on the boom section, they have been mounted on top of the boom.....

And have also saw them on the bottom side of the boom as well...
Click to expand...

Makes no difference at all.

And I know some guys puts a piece of nylon rope inside each of the elements, not sure what this is for.....maybe a few things to look at..
Click to expand...

It dampens vibrations caused by the wind. Some elements develop bad resonances that can actually lead to metal fatigue at the mounting point over time. Most people assume that if you have to use rope in the element "to reinforce it" then the antenna is of poor quality. That is not the case nor the reason for using rope.

As you connect the PL connector, I wouldn't wrap it with black tape, a lot of guys tells me this holds water in it over time......but when I put my Imax up I used some of that diaelectric grease on the PL and so far seems to do ok..
Click to expand...

I ALWAYS use a good electrical tape first and then seal it with silicone sealant. It makes it 100% waterproof and is easier to remove later by cutting down through the tape and just peeling back. It does not matter if the silicone is the type that smells like vinegar or not either.
 
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Just because of your weather extremes, I would opt for the Maco. If you can, pony up for the 4 element though. Great performance out of that antenna. I made mine to the Signal Engineerinig specs for the "ultimate 11 meter yagi", and it was tuned for the triple five. Good SWR all the way down into the normal 40 channels, as well as up to 28 mghz. DO the rope a dope. Your elements will sing in the wind if you don't, and that makes them brittle (as already mentioned). And toss the factory clamps and use some good stainless steel hose clamps for the elements. Should make for a great performing, long lasting setup.

73,
RT307
 
Build a Moxon Rectangle. Performance isn't that much down on a 4 element and it'll survive a winter better.
 
I have a Sirio SY27-3 mounted horizontal at my place. I live 60 miles east of Lansing,MI.

I did not add anything inside the elements to reinforce them.
The antenna has stood up to wind very well.
This coming winter will be my antennas first test with snow and ice.
I'm curious to see how it will handle the winter weather.
I really enjoy this antenna. If it fails it will be a shame.

If I could do it again I would have bought the Maco M103c due to the availability of replacement parts.

When I was constructing the antenna I had a part break.
I contacted Sirio and they were really understanding.
Sirio sent a replacement part out to the distributor I bought the antenna from. The distributor then sent me the replacement.
This took much longer than I had expected.
 
from the factory specs the maco seems to have a slightly longer boom
which is good ,cause to my understanding of beams the longer the boom/ further spacing
of elements the more gain it will have [probaly not a lot ] .plus the maco i think
would be more durable
 

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