[Antennas] Re: Antennas Digest, Vol 40, Issue 7

[Kg4fet99 at wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 5/28/2007 4:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
antennas-request at mailman.qth.net writes:


> QUESTIONS:
> 
> 1.  The AES catalog says the A-99 has about 3dbi of gain.  Isn't that very 
> close to what a full dipole has?  It seems I recall a dipole having about 
> 2.8 dBi gain or so.  But then I may be full of hot air too ;-)
> 
Basically your right it's not much better then a dipole. 



> 2.  How much do the optional radials improve performance on this particular 
> antenna?
> 
Solorcon Claims it adds 3db gain to the antenna, However, What it really does 
is imporove the take off angle of the antenna.  The pattern is improved by 
adding the radial kit.  This comes from personal experience and using an A99 in 
the past and Anttron 305 now for calling a 10 M net and chasing DX.  



> 3.  Since I plan on leaving this antenna up for many years, and it's still 
> like new, I'd like to protect the fiberglass from future UV damage.  Will a 
> good coat of Poly varnish or similar do this job?  Or perhaps a can of gray 
> Krylon spray paint would be better (and keep the white pole from sticking 
> out like a sore thumb :)  Is it likely that painting this thing would badly 
> detune it?  If it's likely to cause any problems I'll just keep it stock!


IF You paint it.  Make sure you do not use a paint containing metal of any 
kind.  Varnish of some kind would be ok but same caution.  Keep in mind that if 
you use  a cheap paint on the antenna the sanding you had to do in order to 
get it to stick will cause the fiberglass to break down even faster.  
> 
> 73 de Phil,  KO6BB
> DX begins at the noise floor!
> 
> Ten Meter CW Beacon KO6BB/B, 20 Watts 24/7 on 28.248MCs.
> THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
> QSL GALLERY: http://photobucket.com/albums/f306/KO6BB/
> Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh
> 
> 
> 

GL Phil, Hope to hear the beacon soon here in FL.  
73 es God Bless
DE KG4FET  Sandor 
NCS Wacky Wingding net Montay's 7-8 EST 28390   </HTML>