At 05:33 PM 7/1/2010, DW wrote: >Larsen used to make a heavy duty yagi in the 430-450 MHz range >(+11dBi ) for under $100.00. >They still make the YA34xxYN series, but they don't list the ham >split in the latest catalog. >I need it for a control link from my repeater site (high winds, ice, etc..). > >Does anyone know of a decent 440 yagi that is still being manufactured? > >Thanks, >David, AC4JF
I've been specifying the PcTel (Maxrad) BMOY series antennas for installation in a system where they had been using the MYA series. The MYA has an exposed gamma match, which I'm not thrilled about, and is very time consuming to tape up the RF connection, and thus generally not done correctly...but there are ~100 of those in use for about 9 years now without any specific antenna failures that I'm aware of. The BMOY series antenna places the N connector on the rear of the boom, and the driven element matching is internal to the antenna. Sealing the antenna connection is very easy. There are about 70 more BMOY series antennas in use in this same system for about 7 years now, and again I've not heard of any failures, though on one that I had been using for DFing interference, I did manage to crack off the driven element base insulator. In DF use, I did notice that the 5 element BMOY's pattern wasn't as clean as an old 5 element Decibel Products antenna I also had on hand. The MYA's tend to have finicky tuning, and I've never seen one sweep correctly out of the box. Close enough probably, but not optimized either. The BMOY's are broad band, with one model covering 406-440 MHz and another from 440-480 MHz. At cost, they are a good value, with a BMOY4405 going for about $100. There are better, and correspondingly more expensive, antennas, but this is one that I've used that's proven to be a good value. I'm interested in hearing others comments on this topic as well. --Dave / KA9FUR
