I have one of the Scala (Kathrein) antennas here in Sac. It is a european model, methinks, as it is spec'd from 420-450, otherwise as Skip describes. VERY well built. Mine came in a burnt orange color for some reason, but a couple of coats of Epoxy Appliance paint from the local Home Depot, so now it's a nice, shiny white color and is very durable. That paint may make a good refinish for an older antenna as well. I bought the antenna, brand new surplus on Ebay for only $35 plus shipping. WHAT A DEAL. Very happy with it.
dave NA6DF --- In [email protected], "skipp025" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Re: Decibel vs Sinclair Dipole Antennas > (& Scala) > > Sinclair Antennas are different by electrical > design, size and price, but they are very wide > band when compared to the similar shape of > dipole style Decibel units. > > The Decibel DB-420 type of antenna is considered > and spec for 20MHz Bandwidth. The DB-408 I just > bought from Tom actually preforms well down into > the top end of the Ham Band (California's Repeater > Input "window"). > > The same style Sinclair UHF Antenna is spec for > about 410 to 490 MHz operation and it preforms > very well through the entire range. > > In a site master antenna system, the Sinclair > would be the better wideband choice. If you > only require 450-470 operation, the DB-420-B > would work very well and provide a measure of > out of band/range protection. > > Sinclair antennas tend to cost >3dB over the > Decibel and Cushcraft Products. > > Another line of very good wideband antennas is > the Scala Katerine name. They make a killer > 3 and 5dB omni stick, one range spec'd flat from > 440-470. I have a number of both gain versions in > service. > They also look more like a smaller Station Master > or Hustler Antenna. My first purchase 1991 dated > Scala Omni is still working very well. > > You might compare the Scala 5 dB stick to the > Hustler G7 UHF regarding relative size and > physical layout (only). The Scala sticks have > a very cool dual mast size one piece metal > mount and the antenna doesn't require horizontal > radials. > This is good news because a large bird (or flying > cow) will quickly peel the original Huslter G6 & > G7 AL-Tube ground radials right off the antenna > within 2 weeks of the install. > > Cushcraft is also making a nice lineup of > repeater antennas. They offer a line up similar > to the Decibel Dipole arrays. > > Regardless of your choice, flames will burst > from your Credit Card or Check-Book when you > make your purchase. > > Cheers, > Skipp > > ps: Tom, too bad you weren't here to help me > park that DB-408 on a 175' tower top last > weekend. :-) > > > > "Richard D. Reese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Chuck is correct. The 413 is 18 ft 4 inches > > long and is rated 12 dB gain and rated to > > survive 1/2 inch ice at 90 mph. > > > > The 411 is 9 ft 5 inches long , 9 dB gain 112 mph > > wind with 1/2 inch radial ice. > > The 408 is 6.6 dB gain and will survive with 1/2 > > ice at 85 mph The 420 is 9.2 dB gain 18 ft 1 inch > > long and rated to withstand 70 mph with 1/2 inch ice. > > > > They are all good in my opinion. I have used them > > all including the DB-404 and they have survived the > > NE Ohio winters. even with the 420 top mounted > > on towers but there is a lot of flex at winds above > > 60 mph. I never had an antenna bend but did have > > on installation where the 420 was top mounted and > > the pipe that it was clamped to bent during a storm > > with gusts in excess of 70 mph. > > > > As far as which antenna to use - It depends on the > > installation, HAAT, top mount, side mount, omni > > pattern, etc. > > > > Rich > > > From: "Chuck Kelsey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > I think my wife stole my Decibel catalog ;-) Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
