[Drake] Antenna Question...

Thu, 13 Nov 2003 11:17:26 -0500

I have had precisely the opposite experience with  a GAP Titan vertical, a
Hustler 6BTV smokes it.	

I spent many hours on the phone with George, the designer of the GAP Titan, and
I got three different sets of instructions for assembly and tuning! One came
with it, one was sent to me when I encountered problems because the original
documentation was faulty (never did tell me exactly what) and one from George by
phone. 	

Mine is set up exactly as GAP says it is supposed to be. Everything is by the
book, checked and rechecked.	

It is at best mediocre on all eight bands. The swr is tolerable without a tuner,
but generally not below 1.5 The bandwidth leaves something to be desired on some
bands, for a vertical. 	

I have it out back along with the Hustler, so it is easy to make a comparison,
just flip the switch. Without fail, the Hustler is less noisey and is equal to
the double bazooka, quieter than a dipole. Many Hustler owners report the same
thing, but all were ground mounted as I am, not elevated using wire radials. 	

The GAP Titan is without any doubt in my mind the most particular and fussy
vertical ever designed. Worse than a human female! Downright moody! Coax must be
above ground, not below it, at a certain angle, not run along footings and on
and on. I obliged it and did everything I was supposed to, and thensome, in
fact. George had me make several modifications not in either of the printed
documentation GAP supplied to me. He finally did admit to me that it was a
compromise antenna design. Because it worked on eight bands, (WARC included),
the design had to be broad enough to handle them all. The tradeoff was good
performance on any of them. That is, average performance on all bands, but not
above average performance on all bands. Now some bands were better than others,
seventeen meters, for instance. 	

Location has much to do with the performance of any antenna. Expectations do
also. There is no one antenna that is going to do it all and do it well. You
will have to tradeoff here and there. 	

I do not personally think that the GAP Titan is a good buy for the price it
costs. Nor am i satisfied with its overall performance. However, other people
have different experiences and expectations, so be happy with whatever you
decide on.	

Duane W8DBF	

----------
From: Larry Knapp <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Drake] Antenna Question...
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2003 10:58 AM

Jim - Some very good information here on the GAP....appreciate it being sent to
the entire list; thanks Alan.

I am also a proud owner of a GAP Titan since 1999.  It certainly is the best
verical I have ever owned, having owned several HyGain's and Hustlers...never
had owned a Butternut.  It certainly is a far better product than most. 
Advantages to the builder are no grounding and no radials.  Just like any
antenna it depends upon how it's constructed and by all means it does need to
be guyed.

I would read over all the reviews on eHam.net...I am one of the early
reviewers.  Some additional tips are in some of the reviews and they should be
paid attention to.

You can find these antennas sometimes used at less than the $300+ original
price...so look on eHam and QTH.com.  If you want it new, refer to the GAP
website and they have links to those outlets that sell them. 

Best....hope this has assisted in your decision.
73, Larry KC8JX
--- [email protected] wrote:
> Jim
> I have used one for several years. As with any antenna they are all a 
> compromise. First you need to decide what bands and if local or DX. Note the
> GAP Titan is basically a vertical dipole and will be low angle and not very
> good generally within 500-1000 miles depending on band. I have mine tuned so
> it is 1-to-1 SWR on all the CW portions of the bands. I have worked Europe on
> 900 milliwatts CW plus lots of other DX on very low power with it.
> 
> If you do a lot of 80m close in work you will not be pleased due to the low 
> angle lobes.
> 
> So define your operation type and then pick an antenna that comes closest to 
> producing the lobes you need.
> 
> Alan KB7MBI in Woodinville, WA

*******************************************************************************
I'm thinking of adding a Vertical, such as the Gap Titian DX. Anyone have any
experience with this antenna?  It looks good on paper.  Best place to buy?

Many thanks

Jim - W8DRZ

=====
May your days be full of sunshine and good thoughts fill your head.
From: Larry Knapp, KC8JX, St. Joseph, Mi  49085
  Best 73's

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree
_______________________________________________
Drake mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/drake