Paul, Eleven years in a salt-air and lightning-prone environment is pretty darn good! I daresay the Super Stationmaster would not last that long. Fiberglass vertical antennas can be permanently damaged when struck by lightning, whereas the aluminum dipoles might shrug off such abuse. At least, that's been the experience at nearby Vandenberg AFB.
It is not clear from your post if you have established beyond any doubt that it is the antenna causing your SWR problem. Have you determined that the feedline is not cracked or dented due to flexing, not worn through at some point, no water in the line, center pin(s) haven't pulled out due to elongation, no bullet holes, etc., etc.? 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 7:12 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Wal Mart effect makes it to the Communications Hard (feed)-Line industry Paul, I have a DB224 at 1175 ft above ground 1/2 mile from the Gulf of Mexico here in FL. Put up in 1996 and it is having serious problems, 2:1 SWR on the ground. Think it is the salt air. The connections, on antenna and connectors, were coated and sealed before install. Other services with exposed dipoles have had the same problem here. We have same antennas about 5 miles from the Gulf that last for years although none past 20 years. Have seen about 5 of these replaced recently, most VHF. When I replace my DB224 I am going to a SuperStation Master fiber glass pole. It is obvious the exposed dipoles have a survival problem in this salt air. I know what you mean about the fiber poles and lightning due to the soldering connections. If top mounted would be reluctant, but have seen these last over 20 years and still had plenty of life in them in some harsh enviorments. I like the DB224 with it squeeing of the pattern, but exposed dipoles can have problems. Same with towers up north with ice falling off a tower. 73, ron, n9ee/r <unrelated text deleted>
