[Rover] Antennas: to build or to buy?

[Phil Lefever]

At 08:32 AM 9/3/02, you wrote:
>I am trying to rebuild my home station with bigger and better antennas and
>was wondering the opinions of the idea of whether to build my own antennas
>or to buy them?
>
>My thoughts so far;
>
>Building could possibly save me a few dollars as long as the antenna works
>when finished.
>
>Pride in home-made items is not a big thing to me.
>
>A purchased antenna has a warranty that if it doesn't work I have a=
 customer
>service number to call for help.
>
>A purchased antenna is going to be lighter than what I can make as well as
>better constructed.
>
>A purchased antenna comes from a company that has done the R&D to make it=
 as
>optimum as possible vs. home-made trial and error.
>
>I ain't got a lot of tools or workshop to build the antenna in.
>
>What do you think?

Sounds like you answered all your questions ;)

The only thing I'll disagree with is that you can build a _quality_
Yagi for less then buying one. By the time you buy all the Aluminium
and other hardware the price will be pretty close to a purchased unit.
If you factor in your time at all you are in trouble fast! The purchased
antenna will also work properly and not require an antenna range to
be sure. The only time where I think building an antenna is possibly a
good idea is like when you will build several for a large array and
you can buy the hardware etc. in bulk.

With that said I concur, buy commercial antennas. Look at good ones
though like M2 or Directive Systems. Avoid Cushcraft unless you like
"kit" antennas with poor hardware and grossly overstated performance.

73

PL


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Phil Lefever - KB=D8NES			Twin Cities Repeater Club
kb0nes@tcrc.org			Tech Team Co-Chairman
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