Nate—et al,
Fortunately on the left coast we don’t really have a lightening problem AND since our sites are all within view of the ocean, I don’t do anything but fiberglass OR coated folding dipoles, aluminum does not like salt air at all. And as Nate says—all you have to do is look around—and you will end up on a repeater committee or team—it started for me in the late 1960’s when we founded the Northeast FM Repeater Assn, and then Phila’s Para, then on to Cincy, and the same thing, make friends, show you know a little, have a Cushman and are you ever popular. Now on the left coast, this has happened twice—once near San Jose and now in Santa Barbara—LOTS of repeaters, very few folks who know how to make them talk and keep them talking—it is a lot of fun, and rewarding, and yes it costs money out of my own pocket here and there but that is what I like to do—build em and keep em running—let someone else use them! Andy W6AMS From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nate Duehr Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna question You all (well, everyone who's been here a while) know my general loathing for fiberglass stick antennas, since our lightning here turns them into pretty white bits of fiberglass blowing around the top of the mountain by the time you realize something's wrong with the repeater... But... after all the good comments about the Hustler Spirit antennas, if I *had* to use a fiberglass stick, it'd be first in line in the spreadsheet for cost/benefit analysis! :-) Otherwise, 99.9% of the time, it's Sinclair folded dipole arrays for me. The heavy-duty ones, not the wimpy little ones. (GRIN!) And to the guy who just showed up saying he has "always wanted to build a repeater"... yeah, me too... so I started volunteering with a group that needed some help years ago, and now I have repeaters coming out my ears. No need to build your own... in most areas there's PLENTY of repeaters that aren't performing up to spec, and/or need some TLC. Getting involved is step one, step two is shelling out real money for your own test gear, and once you have that... you're "sucked in" forever. And not just for your machines, it's like the bumper sticker you see on pickup trucks... "Yes, this is my pickup truck. No I won't help you move." LOL! Can change that to... "Yes, this is my service monitor. No I won't help you tune your duplexer." Haha... of course, reality is... you will. 'Cause you're a "good ham"... just make 'em bring beer over... and save the beer for AFTER you've done the tuning... -- Nate Duehr, WY0X [email protected] On Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:04 -0700, "Bill Hudson" <[email protected]> wrote: After installing some Hustler Spirit HD antennas in snow and ice conditions, and visiting the site to see several inches of radial ice everywhere, I became a dealer for them. They are built after the order to frequency. I ordered a 420 9 dB HD Omni, and a 440 9 dB Omni, and the 420 antenna was physically longer when compared side by side. Makes sense, but it’s nice they are not using a one size fits all fiberglass case. I won’t have to be worrying about replacing the Spirit Antennas for a long time, while I enjoy good coverage from the antennas. I have a statement that I always share: “When you buy quality, it only hurts once.” Bill Hudson W6CBS From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dan Hancock Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 4:16 AM To: repeater builders Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Antenna question Since no one else has mentioned them I'll say take a look at the Hustler Spirit series antennas. Built similar to Stationmasters without the "charging you for the name" price. http://www.new-tronics.com/main/html/base_spirit.html Dan N8DJP --- In [email protected], "W3ML" <w...@...> wrote: > > > Now I realize that the DB type antenna is the best, but we do not have 800 > bucks to buy one. You can do FAR better than that price. Primus Electronics, Joliet, IL. 800.435.1636. I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied customer. Laryn K8TVZ
