[K3CAL] replacement antennas for Prince Frederick

Shawn Donley n3ae at comcast.net
Fri Oct 5 16:11:40 EDT 2018


My recollection trying to come up with antenna choices for the County RACES infrastructure project is that as soon as you ask for a dual band 2M/70cm antenna, there just are not any "commercial grade" choices out there.  I'd be very interested if anyone knows an exception.  


Moving to commercial grade means a one-band antenna.  Take a look at the Telewave link below.   Big prices.  Over $1000 for an antenna roughly electrically equivalent to a Diamond X50 ( < $100 ) but presumably more robust mechanically.


https://www.telewave.com/products/base-station-antennas/


Shawn

> On October 5, 2018 at 2:22 PM James Tetlow <k3uga at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>     No that it matters, but I agree with Chuck’s choice for medium gain antennas. For non commercial they are very high wind rated. May want to consider Shawns recommendation of 6 foot stand-offs for both antennas, and add a top standoff stabilizer bracket for the X300NA.
>     Guess we will never get the HAM out of buying commercial antennas, just remember the antenna on a commercial tower is the weakest link in the repair chain (like were we are now). 
> 
>     Sent from my iPad,
>     Best Regards, 
>     Jim Tetlow
> 
>     On Oct 5, 2018, at 1:59 PM, Chuck Shefflette via K3CAL < k3cal at mailman.qth.net mailto:k3cal at mailman.qth.net > wrote:
> 
> 
>         > >         Dave,
> > 
> >         I hope this isn’t a duplicate, it looks like the first one I sent, didn’t go anywhere. I’ll throw my $0.02 in here, we should go with the Diamond, purchased from a dealer such as HRO, not from eBay.
> > 
> >         For the repeater, I would go with the X300NA, for the links the X50NA. The X300NA is rated for up to 112 mph winds, the X50NA for up to 135 mph winds. Short of a major hurricane, they should both work well even though they aren’t really intended for use on a commercial tower. They also both have “N” connectors (the NA int the part number), which are preferred over UHF connectors.
> > 
> >         The X300NA is listed at $139.95 at HRO. The X50NA is listed at $94.95 at HRO but is on sale at the moment for $89.95.
> > 
> >         Chuck - AA3CS
> >         ------
> >         “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” -- Albert Einstein
> > 
> > 
> >             > > >             On 05 Oct 2018, at 13:13, David Weaver < W3PQS at comcast.net mailto:W3PQS at comcast.net > wrote:
> > > 
> > >             Thanks for all the input. I appreciated.
> > >             Looks like to me the Tram antenna should not be used in either works or it doesn't. I know we have a local, ham that point up. He just notified me that it's not working. It needs to be replaced.
> > >             However, the diamond antenna has a little bit better reputation.
> > >             I need for Cara members to take a look and find an antenna they would like to install it. It's up to the executive board. I will put up. Whatever you say. Please don't take too long. Let's keep this project moving
> > >             Dave W3PQS
> > >              
> > >              
> > >             From:  k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net  [mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Shawn Donley
> > >             Sent: Friday, October 5, 2018 11:55 AM
> > >             To: Calvert Amateur Radio Association - K3CAL
> > >             Subject: Re: [K3CAL] replacement antennas for Prince Frederick
> > >              
> > > 
> > >             Dave,
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >             Take a look at https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4203
> > > 
> > >             The 1481 seems to either work well or sucks badly.  No idea why the spread of experiences.
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >             Perhaps a Diamond X300NA instead?
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >             In any case, longer 6-foot standoff's might help.
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >             Shawn
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
> > >                 > > > >                 On October 5, 2018 at 11:26 AM David Weaver <W3PQS at comcast.net mailto:W3PQS at comcast.net > wrote: 
> > > > 
> > > >                 Hello, Cara members 
> > > > 
> > > >                 At last night meeting, you asked me what type of antenna we should use. I found these 2 on eBay. 
> > > > 
> > > >                 One is 17 foot long and the other is 5.6 Feet 
> > > > 
> > > >                   
> > > > 
> > > >                 Tram 1481 Dual Band 2M/70cm 144-148 & 440-450 MHz Base/Repeater Antenna 17'
> > > > 
> > > >                     * 11.7dbd gain UHF430 MHz - 450 MHz 
> > > > 
> > > >                     * 8.3dbd gain VHF 144MHz -148MHz 
> > > > 
> > > >                   
> > > > 
> > > >                 Diamond X50A VHF/UHF Dual Band 2Meter/440 Amateur Ham Radio Base Antenna 
> > > > 
> > > >                   
> > > > 
> > > >                 Band:
> > > > 
> > > >                 2m/70cm
> > > > 
> > > >                 Gain (dB):
> > > > 
> > > >                 4.5/7.2
> > > > 
> > > >                 Please let me know what you think? 
> > > > 
> > > >                 Also, there's a lot of coordination that needs take place to replace the antennas. 
> > > > 
> > > >                 If you would like for me to move forward with the coordination of cable and antennas. Please let me know 
> > > > 
> > > >                 We will need to get an estimate from a company to climb the tower and install the antennas. 
> > > > 
> > > >                 David Weaver W3PQS 
> > > > 
> > > >                   
> > > > 
> > > >             > > > 
> > > 
> > >              
> > > 
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