In a message dated 3/22/2006 12:40:25 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
> I need to make a decision as to whether to use my Force 12 XR-5 beam or
my Cushcraft A-4 and an A-3WS. The Force 12 supposedly has only 2
elements per band and does not brag about a lot of gain. Is this just
not that great of a beam?? The Cushcraft is no peach either I am sure
but given just the choice of the Cushcraft pair over the XR-5 what does
the brain trust here recommend.
First, the gain figures quoted by Force 12 are realistic. They use the
same type of testing that we did during our tribander antenna test (the book
of results is available at _www.championradio.com_
(http://www.championradio.com) ) and it basically corroborated our results.
The same cannot be said about
the A-4. We didn't test it specifically but you can't go by the gain figures
from Cushcraft, or any other manufacturer by that matter. (Okay F12 and
SteppIR figures are basically legit.)
Second, the A-4 is a trapped antenna with all the compromises and
potential problems inherent in the design. Of course the XR-5 has design
compromises but is a generation or two newer design.
Third, the A-4 was designed before the days of computer modeling while
the XR-5 has gone thru dozens, if not hundreds, of design iterations in order
to achieve the designer's vision. Newer designs typically offer more gain and
more uniformly across the bands than the older cut-and-try ones.
Finally, gain is a function of boomlength - not the number of elements.
If it was my station, I'd use the XR-5 over the CC in a New York minute.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for amateurs
Cell: 206-890-4188
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