Way back in the 1970s had a 13 ft roof at the peak and I put a five section telescoping mast with a penetrator on top and ran for guy wires at every 10 ft level or 20 guy wires total every single one had insulators top Midland bottom and every single one had turnbuckles to make sure I could get it perfectly straight tight and even. With one foot of mast inside for the top four sections that was 46 ft of mast plus 13 ft of house plus 22 ft of Super Penetrator 500 or 81 ft at the top! It seemed to work well, especially with the Palomar 300a 👍🤠
I'm fixing to do pretty much the same thing as you did here. I have back problems and no help. Do you think I can get by without using guy wires if I put it 3 or 4 feet in the ground? Thanks for the video, good job!
I think it depends on the size of your poles and how how you intend to set it. One thing to keep in mind, is don't put the Antenna so high that you cannot accesss the tuner control. Mine is too high to safely reach. I trusted the people who said the antenna was probably correctly tuned, which it apparently is anyway. I also did not use the ground plane based on people's advice. Not sure if that was the best decision. Notice I did set the smaller pipe inside a larger pipe I already had. That gives more stability. I'm also not sure if the guy wires are effecting radio. No one has said anything yet. If you are using the A-99, I suggest you get some help. You saw me struggle and I have a rotator cuff with a complete tear. We have good old West Texas winds so I was playing it safe. One thing for sure, I'm getting skip from Alberta, New York, Florida, Nevada, and more. I did manage to get one radio check from New York. Good luck. Careful on the back. Texas402theSouthPlains
@@ronsradios6037 A ground plane on those antennas is useless because of the coaxial design of the antenna, the ground plane kit is a gimmick. The way the antenna works is, they fold the braid back against the ground portion of the antenna, that prevents the antenna from coupling with the coaxial feed line and altering the physical length of the antenna. The coax folded back against the ground side of the dipole is the ground plane. Picture the antenna sideways ------------------- =============== The dashes represent the stinger, or radiator of the antenna. The equals signs represent the braid, or shield, folded back, on top of the bottom sections of the antenna, which prevents RF from flowing beyond that bottom connection point of the antenna, and onto the coaxial feed line. This is basically how the antenna works.
Ron, a few words of advice. Try to install with another person if possible, even if only as a safety observer. The second is, a 20 Wt Galvanized: GPE40 Fence Pipe 40 WT Galvanized 21ft & 24ft Long: GPE065 Fence Pipe 0.065" Thickness Galvanized 21ft & 24ft Long. These are a single section (21 & 24 feet) of pipe with no couplings to fail and are the best support mast for the A99 Antenna & other like antennas. If you need further instructions please comment back to me. Glad to see you on the air. 73'
I’m preparing to set up one of these about 200 ft up a WV mountain slope. My plan is to connect a balun directly to the A99, connect 450 ladder line, run the 200 ft into the tuner. And I’m 65. Pray for me. 😂 😂 😂
By the way that was 2.83dB loss per 100 ft or approximately 23 DB total loss which would be 1/200 of my power reaching the antenna 😭 - and one 200th of about 130 Watts was right about 2/3 of a watt - lol
Nice,I use that on my paramotor props and its good stuff.I use dielectric grease on all my antenna connections seems to work great was thinking to try some liquid tape on the pl259 connector to water proof.
Nice job. Im getting ready to do same with a 99. I had been using a 102"whip on top of two pcs of rigid emt. Thanks for being obvious with the ground, as I wasnt sure where to attach it. (Currently the antennae to metal bracket to emt fastened to cyclone fence pole is ground).. fiberglass new to me tho. New sub here too, keep em coming.
How was your SWR reading? How did you adjust your SWR? Did you do it manually by lengthening and/or shorting the antenna or do you have one of those electronic tuning devices where you can adjust the length/settings from inside the home by the radio?
Your first mistake was buying that antenna, I do not like them at all. I have the new Sirio Top Hat Astroplane it really performs well. Yes it is a bit more work assembling it but well worth it. I am 60 years old and have 2 bad hips and back issues. I was still able to get it put up on my roof all by myself. yes with loads of pain. I quit taking the Gabapoentin over a year ago it was not halping me at all.
superiorvideoandphotograph375 - it's a POS for local or extended local "Ground-Wave" but does concentrate it's TOA around 25°- 35° so it DXs better than one would expect for a 16' 4" (7/16 wave) antenna. The Procomm Proton99 outperforms the A99 but a considerable amount, but is built lighter duty.
AndrewSparkfish - go with a Sirio 827 or it's newer version called Blizzard 2700 or if you're not in an area with higher than 70mph wind, the Sirio 5/8 GainMaster is also awesome but is fickle and cannot be set up near ANYTHING METAL or it's performance suffers greatly. Everyone loves their 827/Blizzard 2700! Use large coax like RG-213!
I'll say great job Sir. And I'll also say that you should have had a radio buddy helping you. Heck man 40 years ago you'd had that thing up in twenty minutes, but now...not so much. Be careful my friend as "over doing it" can lead to a hospital visit or worse. Hope to hear you on the air. 73's to you and family. Taco Bender107 "The Village Idiot" Scott Dallas, Texas
You sound like you about give out of breath and i know how that feels because my antron is 50 foot on pipes and i did it by myself and that was a work out lol
It is a good idea. I have polished my old Sirtel S 2000 Home Base 5/8 alu antenna. It is made in germany and no more produced but a really good antenna. Should i it lack with clear lack ? Than is it safety and no dirt and dust hang on it.
Good Job Ron! Dont feel like you’re the only one who makes mistakes, we all do!
bobmcnelis3648 - I stopped making stupid mistakes when I turned 90, 25 years from now 😆
Way back in the 1970s had a 13 ft roof at the peak and I put a five section telescoping mast with a penetrator on top and ran for guy wires at every 10 ft level or 20 guy wires total every single one had insulators top Midland bottom and every single one had turnbuckles to make sure I could get it perfectly straight tight and even. With one foot of mast inside for the top four sections that was 46 ft of mast plus 13 ft of house plus 22 ft of Super Penetrator 500 or 81 ft at the top!
It seemed to work well, especially with the Palomar 300a
👍🤠
I'm fixing to do pretty much the same thing as you did here. I have back problems and no help. Do you think I can get by without using guy wires if I put it 3 or 4 feet in the ground? Thanks for the video, good job!
I think it depends on the size of your poles and how how you intend to set it. One thing to keep in mind, is don't put the Antenna so high that you cannot accesss the tuner control. Mine is too high to safely reach. I trusted the people who said the antenna was probably correctly tuned, which it apparently is anyway. I also did not use the ground plane based on people's advice. Not sure if that was the best decision. Notice I did set the smaller pipe inside a larger pipe I already had. That gives more stability. I'm also not sure if the guy wires are effecting radio. No one has said anything yet. If you are using the A-99, I suggest you get some help. You saw me struggle and I have a rotator cuff with a complete tear. We have good old West Texas winds so I was playing it safe. One thing for sure, I'm getting skip from Alberta, New York, Florida, Nevada, and more. I did manage to get one radio check from New York. Good luck. Careful on the back.
Texas402theSouthPlains
@@ronsradios6037 A ground plane on those antennas is useless because of the coaxial design of the antenna, the ground plane kit is a gimmick. The way the antenna works is, they fold the braid back against the ground portion of the antenna, that prevents the antenna from coupling with the coaxial feed line and altering the physical length of the antenna. The coax folded back against the ground side of the dipole is the ground plane. Picture the antenna sideways ------------------- =============== The dashes represent the stinger, or radiator of the antenna. The equals signs represent the braid, or shield, folded back, on top of the bottom sections of the antenna, which prevents RF from flowing beyond that bottom connection point of the antenna, and onto the coaxial feed line. This is basically how the antenna works.
Ron, a few words of advice. Try to install with another person if possible, even if only as a safety observer. The second is, a 20 Wt Galvanized: GPE40 Fence Pipe 40 WT Galvanized 21ft & 24ft Long: GPE065 Fence Pipe 0.065" Thickness Galvanized 21ft & 24ft Long. These are a single section (21 & 24 feet) of pipe with no couplings to fail and are the best support mast for the A99 Antenna & other like antennas. If you need further instructions please comment back to me. Glad to see you on the air. 73'
I’m preparing to set up one of these about 200 ft up a WV mountain slope.
My plan is to connect a balun directly to the A99, connect 450 ladder line, run the 200 ft into the tuner.
And I’m 65. Pray for me. 😂 😂 😂
How did the ladder line do? Good idea. I haven't thought about that.
BALUNS not 'balance' 🤬
By the way that was 2.83dB loss per 100 ft or approximately 23 DB total loss
which would be 1/200 of my power reaching the antenna 😭
- and one 200th of about 130 Watts was right about 2/3 of a watt - lol
I am reminded of myself here.
Good show 👍
good quality electrical tape works great and strengthens it also
Nice,I use that on my paramotor props and its good stuff.I use dielectric grease on all my antenna connections seems to work great was thinking to try some liquid tape on the pl259 connector to water proof.
@@577buttfantake silicon from bath. I use this for my sockets.
Nice job. Im getting ready to do same with a 99. I had been using a 102"whip on top of two pcs of rigid emt. Thanks for being obvious with the ground, as I wasnt sure where to attach it. (Currently the antennae to metal bracket to emt fastened to cyclone fence pole is ground).. fiberglass new to me tho. New sub here too, keep em coming.
The Antron 99 is not a bad antennae. The Antron 99 is a really good DX skip antennae. I have talked all over the world.
How was your SWR reading? How did you adjust your SWR? Did you do it manually by lengthening and/or shorting the antenna or do you have one of those electronic tuning devices where you can adjust the length/settings from inside the home by the radio?
There are tuning rings on the antenna
Nice job, how is the antenna performing for you?
Your first mistake was buying that antenna, I do not like them at all. I have the new Sirio Top Hat Astroplane it really performs well. Yes it is a bit more work assembling it but well worth it. I am 60 years old and have 2 bad hips and back issues. I was still able to get it put up on my roof all by myself. yes with loads of pain. I quit taking the Gabapoentin over a year ago it was not halping me at all.
Why a mistake? Have just acquired one not yet up.
superiorvideoandphotograph375 - it's a POS for local or extended local "Ground-Wave" but does concentrate it's TOA around 25°- 35° so it DXs better than one would expect for a 16' 4" (7/16 wave) antenna.
The Procomm Proton99 outperforms the A99 but a considerable amount, but is built lighter duty.
AndrewSparkfish - go with a Sirio 827 or it's newer version called Blizzard 2700 or if you're not in an area with higher than 70mph wind, the Sirio 5/8 GainMaster is also awesome but is fickle and cannot be set up near ANYTHING METAL or it's performance suffers greatly.
Everyone loves their 827/Blizzard 2700!
Use large coax like RG-213!
@@AndrewSparkfish the fiberglass will dry out from ultrviolet rays and it will snap in time
Nicely done Sir
First, It would be much easier, if you had someone to help you. Review all of your plans to put the mast up!
I sure wish you had someone there to help you
I'll say great job Sir. And I'll also say that you should have had a radio buddy helping you. Heck man 40 years ago you'd had that thing up in twenty minutes, but now...not so much.
Be careful my friend as "over doing it" can lead to a hospital visit or worse. Hope to hear you on the air. 73's to you and family.
Taco Bender107 "The Village Idiot"
Scott
Dallas, Texas
Thanks for sharing ron.
I went over mine with clear Krylon
Mine is getting wore down but I heard u can use certain paint it affects swr so what did you use please post and did it affect swr
bradyseitz2883 - just use clear so you won't affect the swr or radiation angle by adding minerals used in making colors.
I am 72years old and every thing I do goes just like the trouble you were having I think it goes with age.
OMG how funny, how to not set up an antenna next to another wire. Cable? power?
You sound like you about give out of breath and i know how that feels because my antron is 50 foot on pipes and i did it by myself and that was a work out lol
I hope the spray paint didn’t contain any lead in it.
not anymore
Don't you a set of sockets
Why do something once when you can do it 5 times
Anyone ever tell you that you look like an 18 year old Frank Zappa?
@@mdcsokwithme All the time . Why couldn't I look more like Brad Pitt
Yup
too high on the ends, too dry in the middle.
Can't even with the whole view
I gotta do some work on my antron its been a few years and the swr is getting high across the band especially on channel 1.
I learned from your mistake from the start! You dont paint a Solarcon a99 antenna which is already a white fiberglass antenna!
They break down in the sun quickly with no protection.
It is a good idea. I have polished my old Sirtel S 2000 Home Base 5/8 alu antenna. It is made in germany and no more produced but a really good antenna. Should i it lack with clear lack ? Than is it safety and no dirt and dust hang on it.
Looks like your either on top of a mountain there or its really flat one of the two lol.