Brad and the group,
Read with interest the postings on the Sigma 80 vertical and the related
discussions about home made verticals, wires in trees, etc. There are at
least two different issues to consider on the "buy" or "build" question.
One issue is the physical construction of the vertical and related ground
system. The other issue is the actual siting options of the antenna as
installed - on the ground, in the trees, on the roof, etc.
As far as the actual construction of the vertical is concerned, it
certainly is in the best amateur tradition to creatively use low cost
materials in a manner to get good electrical and mechanical performance.
For a vertical, this is relatively easy for most of us to do. There are any
number of published designs to call on for ideas. I agree, one doesn't need
to spend a ton of money to construct a first class vertical and an
appropriate ground system. It does take judgment and some skill.
Vertical antenna siting is an issue that is less clear cut and ends up
relating to the construction question and "buy" vs. "build". I personally
have questions whether verticals installed on the ground between houses or
strung up parallel to a tree trunk are as effective as verticals installed
in the clear - open spaces or roof tops. I know from my DX experience on 40
meters, that the stronger signals to this QTH from European backyard
stations come from high dipoles and elevated verticals. (I routinely ask
people about their equipment line up.) I am an advocate for siting
verticals "in the clear". So, if any of this is true, a vertical,
commercial or homemade ought to be more effective in the clear, on the roof
rather than between the houses or strung in a tree. Commercial units like
the Sigma 80 and others are constructed with light weight and strong
materials and usually come with suitable base assemblies and guying
attachments that provide a lot of different siting options. Hence, a
commercial unit like the Sigma 80 might prove to be a more effective antenna
than a homemade version of the commercial unit permits advantageous siting.
My view is that the discussion of "commercial" vs. "homemade" should
center around what performance level one is after and what the siting
options are, not on how cheap one can get by. Of course, I am one of those
people presently using a cheap wire vertical in a tree, surrounded by trees
and trees and more trees.
Regards,
John Petrich, W7FU
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike & Coreen Smith" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
To: "Brad Nowak" <bnowak@telocity.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force 12 Sigma 80
>
> Brad, (& group)
>
> My 80m vertical cost me practically nothing and I'd pitch it against a
> Commerical design any day of the week.
> It's a very simple 5/16th WL inverted L( #12AWG stranded R90 wire) thrown
> over the top of a 40' cedar tree. Feeding it at the bottom with an ol
> junkbox air variable cap, taped to a small branch 3' off the ground with a
> cut-off 2liter pop bottle (open at bottom) for wx proofing. 100' of (free)
> CATV hardline to the shack.
>
> Just about the same thing here for 160m, but longer wire & taller trees.
> Lots of radials under both.
>
> $600 Commercial antenna or $6.00 wire which will do EXACTLY the same thing
> (maybe better)?
> Hmmm, for me, the decision was made in about a u-second!
>
> (It it makes you feel better, you can always tell people you're using the
> commercial one-HI HI!!)
>
> Mike VE9Antenna Antenna
>
> Michael, Coreen & Corey Smith
> (VE9AA, VE9AAA & Little-VE9 to be)
> 271 Smith Rd
> Waterville, NB
> E2V 3V6
> Canada
> http://members.tripod.com/~ve9aa/index.html
> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2174/
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brad Nowak" <bnowak@telocity.com>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 1:38 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force 12 Sigma 80
>
>
> >
> > Hello all;
> >
> > Have any readers had experience with Force 12 Sigma 80??? I am
> considering
> > a vertical due to small lot and dissatisfaction with my inverted vee for
> DX.
> > The info on F 12's site looks interesting but $600 for a 80M vertical
!!!!
> > WOW. Opinions??
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brad - N8SNM
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
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> > Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > -----
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> >
> >
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
> same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
> Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----
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>
________________________________________________________________________
Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
same place that pays for the hosting of this list: The eHam Store.
Order online at http://store.eham.net.
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