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Re: [CQ-Contest] TH7 Replacement

To: k9yc@arrl.net
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] TH7 Replacement
From: K9MA <k9ma@sdellington.us>
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 14:47:14 -0500
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Besides the maintenance issues, the SteppIR won't do the instant band changes I 
do all the time in contests.  Not SO2R, but my station is set up to change 
bands as fast as the K3 can. That's become a vital part of my operating 
strategy. 

So far, the Skyhawk and JK Mid Tri are looking good. Skyhawk is cheaper, but JK 
looks more rugged and has a higher wind rating.  

73,

Scott K9MA 




----------

Scott Ellington

 --- via iPad

> On Aug 7, 2017, at 12:59 PM, Jim Brown <k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
> 
> If you don't need to tri-plex it to two radios, it's hard to beat a SteppIR.  
> My neighbor K6XX has wrangled my straight 3-el at the top of my 120 ft tower 
> without difficulty.  Standard procedure is to assemble and test it on the 
> ground, then remove the elements, pull both elements and boom up the tower, 
> and reassemble.  That straight 3-el is light enough for one strong guy to 
> handle pretty easily, and it's gain is comparable to any high-efficiency 3-el 
> Yagi (meaning full-size elements, without traps). If you doubt that, I 
> suggest that you read N6BT's self-published "Array of Light" book, wherein he 
> debunks some of the phony claims and "physics from another universe" used in 
> advertising for some of these products. Some of these ads, for example, 
> claimed greater gain than an ideal monoband Yagi with the same number of 
> elements and boom length.
> 
> If you do need to tri-plex, I'd look at the new products from G0KSC.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
>> On 8/6/2017 2:48 PM, K9MA wrote:
>> My 28 year old TH7 needs to come down for maintenance, and I'm told the trap 
>> end caps MFJ now sells don't last long.  I also may be just a matter of luck 
>> that no bugs have moved into any of the traps. So, I'd really like to 
>> replace it with a trapless antenna.  The TH7 has served me well, having last 
>> been put up in 1993. It needs to be replaced before I'm too old to climb the 
>> tower!
>> 
>> Here are the requirements:
>> 
>> Performance comparable to TH7
>> Boom length 24 feet or less
>> No traps or fragile linear loading
>> Can be assembled on the tower (as was the TH7 in 1993.)
>> 
>> At this point, the Skyhawk appears to be my best option, at least of the 
>> tribanders available in this country.  Any experience with the Skyhawk, or 
>> other suggestions?
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> Scott K9MA
>> 
>> ----------
>> 
>> Scott Ellington
>> 
>>  --- via iPad
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> 
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