[MIham] Gap Antenna

[Bill Roberts]

I can not agree with the last post regarding GAP antennas.  I have had two
GAP Voyager IVs.  They are awesome antennas.  I've also been involved in the
installation and occasional use of GAP Titans and Challengers.  All seem to
hear better than other commercially made verticals.  They also exhibit
greater bandwidth...  which in theory says they're less efficient but you
could never tell that from my experience on 80 and 40.

My first suggestion would be to go to http://www.gapantenna.com/index.htm
There, you can download revised manuals for the Titan and Challenger.  If
you need something else, their phone number and office hours are listed on
the web site.

I have found a few people who really dislike (or have not had good luck
with) GAP antennas.  Many have difficulty properly connecting the capacitor
at the top of the antenna, which determines resonant frequency on the lowest
band.  Without this capacitor properly connected, the antennas don't work on
any band.

If you already have the antenna, its certainly worth the effort to determine
which one it is (see their drawings on the web) and get the assembly manual.

73 and Good Luck.

Bill / K8DXX