It’s just an antenna

[nfsus]

I’ve spent lots of time effort and money playing with stupid antennas. Taking down free ones and rebuilding them or picking up new ones. It don’t matter from what I see. A stick is just a stick. But let me explain.

End fed verticals. Straight up in the air sticks of aluminum is what I’m talking about. Just plain ol 5/8 or 1/2 wave with or without a groundplane. They’re all the same.

So many feet of element. Some sorta matching device maybe. Some groundplane elements maybe. It’s all the same. And I can’t get around it. It is what it is.

No matter the brand or design the only thing that changes is the same stuff. Power capabilities, different groundplane design, material thickness, a different mount, maybe a different flux capacitor. That’s it. They’re all the same. A 5/8 is a 5/8 is a 5/8. Plots are all the same. Just are what they is.

And that sucks. I want better. Get higher get lower. It matters but it don’t. Ground is the only real improvement. And who has time or space to burry 250 radials in the yard?

I use an Astroplane. I like it. But for kicks I ordered a 5/8 groundplane just because I had an extra $100 just lying around. Even though I know it won’t do any better locally. Sirio gpe27.

Well that’s my bitch session.

 

[HomerBB]

n f sus just had to fuss
he spent another hundred
and when all's done, and had his fun
it still won't really matter

Homer

 

[nfsus]

At some point it matters which one. But I ain’t found it yet.

 

[bob85]

There's nothing special about end fed 5/8waves,
some handle more power,
some handle higher wind speeds
some decouple the mast/feed line better than others,

I am sure we got to the bottom of where the mythical gain claims over 1/2waves came from on here years ago,

5/8 could be described as a 1/2wave of wanted radiation raised 1/8wave higher above ground by 1/8wave of unwanted out of phase radiation,

you lose some of what you gain by raising the current maxima higher above ground due to the lower 1/8wave been out of phase with the upper 1/2wave,

& end up with a little less low angle gain than a dipole installed at the same tip height .

 

[nfsus]

I need it to warm up a little and need some time off work so I can piddle around outside. Miss it

 

[nfsus]

The tornado came in. It sucks. Just staying with Astroplane. The screws won’t tighten. Ground plane rod fell out. Top fell in. After 3 hours.

And noise my god the noise. Tuned good but ugh

 

[bob85]

The tornado is an open circuit antenna with weak ass sirio construction, The 827 is shunt fed & far sturdier,

I would much prefer the astroplane at the same tip height,

For best results Isolate the mast a little over 1/4wave below the hoop & choke the coax at the same point,
The info about the best place to isolate the astroplane is posted on here by The DB.