[Boatanchors] antenna question

Mon Aug 25 16:53:01 EDT 2014

This is from the Explorer 14 manual.  As I mentioned before, it's an older Hy-Gain antenna, but a very good one.
I've seen others say they are still using theirs after all these years...

The Hy-Gain Explorer 14 is a very unique 4-ele-
ment, three band beam antenna designed for
broadband, high performance, high efficiency
operation on the Amateur 10, 15, and 20 meter
bands. The boom length of 14 feet 11/2 inches
(4.17 m) and a longest element of 31 feet 6 inches
(9.6 m) combine for a modest 17 foot 3 inch
turning radius, small enough for most city lots.
Broadbanding is accomplished through the use of
a monoband reflector on 10 meters, a duoband
reflector on 15 and 20 meters and a very unique
driven element system called the Para-Sleeve
Stainless steel hardware and clamps are used on
all electrical and mechanical connections. Hy-
Gain's 50 ohm BN-86 balun and new Beta Multi-
Match are supplied. Add-on kits for a 30 or 40
meter driven element are available as option QK-
710.

> From: k2gkk at hotmail.com
> To: hwhall at compuserve.com; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:36:26 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] antenna question
> 
> The traps on Mosley's beams (TA-32, TA-33, etc.) have both 10m and 15m traps in a single enclosure. The Hy-Gain beam in question is unfamiliar to me, what with having one pair of traps on two elements and TWO pairs on another element. I had always thought that the Hy-Gain beams (TH-2, TH-3, TH-4) had two pairs of traps on each element. 
>  
> Even so, the theory of ALL trapped beams is the same. 
>  
> While it is true that a defective parasitic element could cause SOME deterioration of the VSWR, I do not believe that the out-of-sight VSWR in question could be caused by other than a fault at the driven element. 
>  
> * * * * * * * * * * * 
> * 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
> * (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
> * k2gkk hotmail com * 
> * Oklahoma City, OK * 
> * USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
> * * * * * * * * * * * 
>  
> 
> > To: k2gkk at hotmail.com; anchor at ec.rr.com; rayfrijr at msn.com; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> > From: hwhall at compuserve.com
> > Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:27:44 -0400
> > Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] antenna question
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Well, we do know a beam's feedpoint impedence is affected by the number and spacing of parasitic elements, among other things. So I wouldn't be surprised that if it's designed for three active elements and one goes bad, the impedence would change and thus show an altered SWR. But how badly the SWR would change, I am unsure.
> > 
> > My thinking assumed that when he stated the number of traps that was really the number of traps. But if the description is really just a visual count of the number of enclosures on the elements, perhaps some of those enclosures contain something more clever than simple single parallel LC traps. If that may be the case, diagnosis attempts before opening it up may be useless since we wouldn't be understanding the way it really was to work.
> > 
> > I guess since we don't have the model number, the manual, etc., the problem will have to be revealed by actual inspection.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  Wayne
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: D C _Mac_ Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>
> > To: hwhall <hwhall at compuserve.com>; Al Parker <anchor at ec.rr.com>; rayfrijr <rayfrijr at msn.com>; boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 1:21 pm
> > Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] antenna question
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I believe that problems in the parasitic elements (director and reflector) won't show up much in VSWR anomalies. I believe that points to driven element problems.  That is the only element directly connected to the feedline! 
> >  
> > As I wrote earlier, I really suspect the trouble lies in the outer half of one or both driven element traps. 
> >  
> > * * * * * * * * * * * 
> > * 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
> > * * * * * * * * * * * 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > > To: anchor at ec.rr.com; rayfrijr at msn.com; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> > > From: hwhall at compuserve.com
> > > Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 23:07:55 -0400
> > > Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] antenna question
> > > 
> > > If it's working well on 10m & 20m, but not 15m, I'd suspect the parts unique to 15m, and those sound likely to be two traps in the director. The other two elements are using the same traps for 10 & 15 so they SEEM to be doing their jobs right. 
> > > 
> > > Since it works well on 20, I'd guess one of the director's 15m traps is detuned. If they are lumped L and C traps, perhaps a capacitor is faulty since it SEEMS the trap's inductance is working correctly to make 20m work right.
> > > 
> > >  
> > > 
> > >  Of course, there could be something more complicated going on besides what the symptoms immediately suggest. Of course, if the antenna has to come down for repair, check everything before sending it back up.
> > > 
> > > Wayne
> > > WB4OGM
>  		 	   		  
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