I'd take any Sirius vertical before an A-99 anytime, and for a half wave end fed dipole (which an A-99 is theoretically) to pull of 9.9 db in gain would defy all electrical RF Physics known to mankind!!!🤣👍
Antron 99 (Solarcon) Power Handling: 2000 Watts Length: 5.60m / 18'3"Gain: 5.8 dB impedance: 50 Ohms Frequency: 25-32MHzSWR: 1:1.5 or less. A medium gain antenna (6.6, 5.1 dBi) has a more rounded, wider pattern than a high gain antenna. This means the signal is less likely to be obstructed by obstacles such as buildings, trees or mountains. These factors make a medium gain antenna the best choice for those in suburban areas and the country side.
Your wrong as well ...the antenna can't possibly be 5.8 gain ...not electricly possible for this antenna to present that kinda gain... One u understand antenna theory u will quickly see why.... First off all antenna are based upon the di pole ...which basically is directly what we're speaking of . vertical dipole ... The antenna uses a dual coil matching network.. which has winding that is 1/4 over half ... electricly it's just a vertical Omni based upon facts ... It will have a gain that's is slightly over standard wire dipole .. don't it's load net work... This antenna has gain of slightly over 3 .....anyway u look at it.... Period
@@JustinRuth-km4wz Radio world site states even more, technical specifications, the antenna operates in the frequency range of 25 - 32 MHz and has a length of 5.18m. It has a low S.W.R. of less than 1.2:1, a power rating of up to 2000 watts, and a gain of 9.9 dB. Thunderpole site: Main Features · Power Handling: 2000 Watts · Length: 5.60m / 18'3" · Gain: 5.8 dB · Impedance: 50 Ohms · Frequency: 25-32MHz · SWR: 1:1.5 or less · Amazon UK:Solarcon a 99 CB base Antenne cb stations antenna material from Storm Windproof Waterproof White UV resistant fibre glass technical data frequency 26-30 MHz type 1/2 oxygen gain 5dBi Max. Power 1000 watts Material: Fibreglass connection PL-259 socket. 3.2dbi is more realistic .
@@paulhotson5820yea I don't know 3.2 is still pushing it I think lol I switched from an A99 to a Vector 4000 nearly 30 years ago and picked up 2 s units and everyone I talked to picked up about 2 on my radio as well. I don't get the hype for these bottom of the barrel antennas.
@@nashvilleoutlaw Yeah,I had a IMAX 2000 in 2001, but never again. The Sirio 827 was so much better with receiving and trans which I had up until 2010. Just came back on the radio in July, using a homebrew Delta Loop vertically polarised with 3 dB through centre and is working great. What are you running antenna wise for 11?
The 24 footer would be the iMax 2000. That's what I'm using now and it kicks butt too! Most of the videogates you here on my channel are on the iMax 2000.
I ran one as a kid back in the day and talked all over town on 4 watts. People would accuse me of running power, I was barefoot. By no means is it the best antenna out there, but for what it is it does really well.
Agree! It's still one of the best, even if it doesn't have 9.9dBi. Such an easy, lightweight, low cost antenna. I use one for mobile hill topping and POTA.
@@Z28videogates This IS NOT LOW COST. The price is actually stupid now. This is why CB isn't worth it anymore. Your talking close to 300 bucks to get this antenna setup final.
@@Z28videogates That's just the whip. Add the grounds, cables, mounts, lightning...ect..... With everything you really need for great performance, I might as well spend a little extra and look into HAM or something next level. Haven't played with radios since the 80's when I had a ball with em driving around contacting buddies because there was no such thing as cell phones or anything else. All we had were CB's. Lot's have changed.
@@RogerBrenon I see your point. Yes to actually get on the air, it's like $500 bucks. Need a radio too of course and power supply. But in the grand scope of things, that's actually not a lot in today's world where everything is so expensive. A decent RC car is $500 too. Other hobbies might be even more. It's a lot of fun. Hope you could get on the air like you did back in the day. It would be probably a lot of fun for ya. Cheers.
I had one of these in 1987 for my CB. IF you added the optional radial kit, 4 radials and a mounting bracket that cost MORE than the antenna, you got 4.5dBi gain AT THE VERY BEST, and that required a 1:1 SWR, a perfect radio, and at least RG213 coax. If your feedline was anything over 50 foot, the best setup in the world wouldn't give you more than 3.5dBi. The Antron 99 name was just that, a name, nothing more. It's time and folklore that has raised it's status to an unbelievable antenna with 9.9dBi gain. I replaced my 99 when it snapped in the wind with a Benelec Megatron 3.5dBi aluminium stick, and it was still in the air and still 1.2:1 SWR more than 20 years later. I still have it, and it's still perfectly useable. I am yet to see a 20 year old one of these fibreglass number's still working..... My 15 year old 12dBi UHF co-linear is fibreglass, and it's like tissue paper now, touch it and bits flake off and crumble away to dust...it still works, though aluminium is SO much better......
The main benefit is height, my house is in a valley and radiation should be 9' higher than a ¼ wave ground plane. Use a guy plate close to and bonded to the brackets. The sloped guys become radials, if you do it right. (Think dis-cone skirt.)
I've had 5 or more since they first appeared in the mid 80s as the Antron. No omni directional had 9 db gain. Also the radials were a hoax. The 99 is NOT a ground plane.
I was given the bottom two sections of an Antron A-99 so I took a 102 inch stainless steel whip and put it in as the top section. Well it has a great match and works wonderful. I have made contacts now around the world and the locals come in a full db stronger than they did on my Imax 2000. If you have an extra whip laying around give it a try and you may be surprised.
I am not surprised you got better DX with an a99 than the imax2000. You're not alone. Many people have reported this. I'll do a follow up video with my theory as to why this is the case. Cheers!
Say what you like but it is a good antenna. Mine is somwhere around 60' to the tip and ive talked to France,Ireland, England ,South Africa and tons of U.S.states.I live in Canada about 45 minutes from the Windor Detroit border.Its been through wind storms ,ice storms you name it. 514 Ontario Canada
@@Z28videogates yeah, these were never 9.9 db gain, more likely 3.5ish. I do know all my tx power gets passed along as efficiently as possible for great DX and local contacts. I routinely talk 60-65 miles to local guys & national plus international. Not bad for a $100.00 antenna.
Nothing at all wrong with a antron99. Great starter rig, and cheap and actually preform...now what makes the antenna so incredible is its bandwith.. the radiator has extremely good stable bamdwith andnu can work most everywere with it wt all bands with a tunner... Now it dont have 9.9 db gain inposible , for no vertical radiator will preform those numbers period.... It actually has around 3.3 3.8 on its gain factor ,but its other charteristics make it awsome ... It can hanle desvent wind load ... It has liw profile ,very stable vswr, meaning u set it and leave it alone, everyone else ve touched wich dozens and dozens ...were like 1.28 - 1.33 out the box and all tuned to under 1.5 under load ..meaning with amplifier inline ..so with all this said they just work... NOW were they really shine ....ON DX.. a antron 99 set up propery,and bye utilizing its extremely low takeoff angle u can literally own DX with this antenna ... They just work..now ther far from the best,for my spt500 or most all my others are better quality,but there is a antenna for every condition,and u will find then antron is very useful antenna... I use them on my bench ..for testing ,real world output test and signal test...theyakena winderful auxiliary antenna dor any station...73s from justin 9lb hammer Oklahoma 5180
Agree, it's a great antenna. The 9.9dBi is bogus but get past that, it's very good. Pretty broadbanded but the iMAX2000 actually beats it out on RF BW (see my other video I compared them both) - but still way more broad banded than most of the others. I plan on comparing the MACO 5/8 soon. Low angle is good for DX for sure! It's very hard to compare two antennas for DX but local transmit again the iMAX2000 beats it. Thanks for the comment.
It is one of the best I have tested vertical dipole sirio 27 tornado j pole and coaxial dipole a99 beats them by a lot. I think its the match to 50ohms coax and extremely wide band width. Also works on some ham bands 17 meter to 10 meter with tuner. Note do not use high power on 15 or 17meter will burn out rg8x coax. Was using 600 watts. It’s a great c b antenna.
yeah of static, bc it cant bleed off the natural dc ground noise, because it uses the shield of the coax as its counterpoise... its an end fed folded dipole w a matching section of a coil of wire and a capacitor...look up a99 exposed, and imax 2000 exposed google it...
@@keystonecountryboy that's why you ground the coax at the entrance of the shack as well as at the antenna base to keep the coax shielding from acting as part of the antenna.
@@Z28videogates The A99 came about after the people who protect us from ourselves decided that CB antennas can't have continuity to the mast. This was the end of the legendary 5/8 antennas like the Super Penetrator. Back in the day the A99 was in direct competition with the Shakespeare Big Stick which is essentially a coaxial dipole.
I've had 3 or more. Very broad! I use mine from 17-10 Meters with no tuner. It will operate below 17 with the tuner. The best omni? NO! It is what it is. Mine is in a 70' Poplar tree. Does quite well.
3.3 db gain. No effing way a fiberglass antenna has 9.9 db gain. Thats more than a 4 element beam. Some of you need to read the ARRL handbook as well as some of thier antenna books
My old grandma with 95 yrs of ages who was almost deaf she was still able to hear more than the A-99 on its best days...just to be honest. No kidding. Happy weekend
Splatter stick ??? If you mean talks entire circle yes but one that bleeds no that is your radio dude my ant 99 well over 17 to 20 years still talking around the world Tissue?? Don't know I don't need to pull down and "repair" so I don't touch or grab one day though one day it may come down a counterpoise is nothing more than floating ground run hard copper to the earth ground mine is two 9' rods ,9 ft apart and tied to house copper water pipe system my neighborhood all copper pipes so it makes for healthy ground and direct counterpoise
aluminum better, never go back to a static stick...look inside the aluminum tube when it breaks tell me what you see...and when a section breaks, you cant order a new section, you have to buy a whole new antenna...a99 good for beginners and people that are scared of tape measures or good for a temporary set up...
9.9 gain over what.. thats the real question!
haha over itself
I'd take any Sirius vertical before an A-99 anytime, and for a half wave end fed dipole (which an A-99 is theoretically) to pull of 9.9 db in gain would defy all electrical RF Physics known to mankind!!!🤣👍
Antron 99 (Solarcon)
Power Handling: 2000 Watts Length: 5.60m / 18'3"Gain: 5.8 dB impedance: 50 Ohms Frequency: 25-32MHzSWR: 1:1.5 or less.
A medium gain antenna (6.6, 5.1 dBi) has a more rounded, wider pattern than a high gain antenna. This means the signal is less likely to be obstructed by obstacles such as buildings, trees or mountains. These factors make a medium gain antenna the best choice for those in suburban areas and the country side.
Are you sure it has not much gain I thought it was 3.2dbi but I could be wrong
Your wrong as well ...the antenna can't possibly be 5.8 gain ...not electricly possible for this antenna to present that kinda gain... One u understand antenna theory u will quickly see why.... First off all antenna are based upon the di pole ...which basically is directly what we're speaking of . vertical dipole ... The antenna uses a dual coil matching network.. which has winding that is 1/4 over half ... electricly it's just a vertical Omni based upon facts ... It will have a gain that's is slightly over standard wire dipole .. don't it's load net work... This antenna has gain of slightly over 3 .....anyway u look at it.... Period
@@JustinRuth-km4wz Radio world site states even more, technical specifications, the antenna operates in the frequency range of 25 - 32 MHz and has a length of 5.18m. It has a low S.W.R. of less than 1.2:1, a power rating of up to 2000 watts, and a gain of 9.9 dB.
Thunderpole site: Main Features · Power Handling: 2000 Watts · Length: 5.60m / 18'3" · Gain: 5.8 dB · Impedance: 50 Ohms · Frequency: 25-32MHz · SWR: 1:1.5 or less ·
Amazon UK:Solarcon a 99 CB base Antenne cb stations antenna material from Storm Windproof Waterproof White UV resistant fibre glass technical data frequency 26-30 MHz type 1/2 oxygen gain 5dBi Max. Power 1000 watts Material: Fibreglass connection PL-259 socket.
3.2dbi is more realistic .
@@paulhotson5820yea I don't know 3.2 is still pushing it I think lol I switched from an A99 to a Vector 4000 nearly 30 years ago and picked up 2 s units and everyone I talked to picked up about 2 on my radio as well. I don't get the hype for these bottom of the barrel antennas.
@@nashvilleoutlaw Yeah,I had a IMAX 2000 in 2001, but never again.
The Sirio 827 was so much better with receiving and trans which I had up until 2010.
Just came back on the radio in July, using a homebrew Delta Loop vertically polarised with 3 dB through centre and is working great.
What are you running antenna wise for 11?
I have the 24' antron i have run for years. Love mine. I never listened to nay sayers. Also ran kicker through it and it never failed
The 24 footer would be the iMax 2000. That's what I'm using now and it kicks butt too! Most of the videogates you here on my channel are on the iMax 2000.
@Z28 Videogates yeah I hadn't set it up in so long I knew it was antron but forgot the imax part.... well I am going to be setting it up again
@@tomchristensen2914 Right on! Well I'm in Cali so when you get it up, I hope to catch you on DX!
@@Z28videogates yep. 73's to you and yours
I ran one as a kid back in the day and talked all over town on 4 watts. People would accuse me of running power, I was barefoot. By no means is it the best antenna out there, but for what it is it does really well.
Agree! It's still one of the best, even if it doesn't have 9.9dBi. Such an easy, lightweight, low cost antenna. I use one for mobile hill topping and POTA.
@@Z28videogates This IS NOT LOW COST. The price is actually stupid now. This is why CB isn't worth it anymore. Your talking close to 300 bucks to get this antenna setup final.
@@RogerBrenon I just checked and Amazon including shipping is $165. Walcott CB has them for $139.
@@Z28videogates That's just the whip. Add the grounds, cables, mounts, lightning...ect..... With everything you really need for great performance, I might as well spend a little extra and look into HAM or something next level. Haven't played with radios since the 80's when I had a ball with em driving around contacting buddies because there was no such thing as cell phones or anything else. All we had were CB's. Lot's have changed.
@@RogerBrenon I see your point. Yes to actually get on the air, it's like $500 bucks. Need a radio too of course and power supply. But in the grand scope of things, that's actually not a lot in today's world where everything is so expensive. A decent RC car is $500 too. Other hobbies might be even more. It's a lot of fun. Hope you could get on the air like you did back in the day. It would be probably a lot of fun for ya. Cheers.
I like it and it works just fine for me!!!
Agree, great antenna. It doesn't need 9.9dBi to still be good.
2.1 dBi free-space gain. Add about 5 dB for ground-reflection. This antenna, if it is working properly, is about 0 dBd
I had one of these in 1987 for my CB. IF you added the optional radial kit, 4 radials and a mounting bracket that cost MORE than the antenna, you got 4.5dBi gain AT THE VERY BEST, and that required a 1:1 SWR, a perfect radio, and at least RG213 coax. If your feedline was anything over 50 foot, the best setup in the world wouldn't give you more than 3.5dBi. The Antron 99 name was just that, a name, nothing more. It's time and folklore that has raised it's status to an unbelievable antenna with 9.9dBi gain. I replaced my 99 when it snapped in the wind with a Benelec Megatron 3.5dBi aluminium stick, and it was still in the air and still 1.2:1 SWR more than 20 years later. I still have it, and it's still perfectly useable. I am yet to see a 20 year old one of these fibreglass number's still working.....
My 15 year old 12dBi UHF co-linear is fibreglass, and it's like tissue paper now, touch it and bits flake off and crumble away to dust...it still works, though aluminium is SO much better......
And your wrong as well ...not possible for it to have that kinda gain. .....
The main benefit is height, my house is in a valley and radiation should be 9' higher than a ¼ wave ground plane. Use a guy plate close to and bonded to the brackets. The sloped guys become radials, if you do it right. (Think dis-cone skirt.)
I've had 5 or more since they first appeared in the mid 80s as the Antron. No omni directional had 9 db gain. Also the radials were a hoax. The 99 is NOT a ground plane.
Agree. And it's a great little antenna - just not 9.9dBi. Thanks for watching.
Why is it not a ground plane?
I was given the bottom two sections of an Antron A-99 so I took a 102 inch stainless steel whip and put it in as the top section. Well it has a great match and works wonderful. I have made contacts now around the world and the locals come in a full db stronger than they did on my Imax 2000. If you have an extra whip laying around give it a try and you may be surprised.
I am not surprised you got better DX with an a99 than the imax2000. You're not alone. Many people have reported this. I'll do a follow up video with my theory as to why this is the case. Cheers!
Say what you like but it is a good antenna. Mine is somwhere around 60' to the tip and ive talked to France,Ireland, England ,South Africa and tons of U.S.states.I live in Canada about 45 minutes from the Windor Detroit border.Its been through wind storms ,ice storms you name it.
514 Ontario Canada
I’ve used both the A99 & the IMAX 2000 w/ground plane kits, they fine tune really easy and I’ve heard they handle a lot of power. 😁 Just sayin..
Agree, I've had good success with both. A99 is still one of my fav antennas!
@@Z28videogates yeah, these were never 9.9 db gain, more likely 3.5ish. I do know all my tx power gets passed along as efficiently as possible for great DX and local contacts. I routinely talk 60-65 miles to local guys & national plus international. Not bad for a $100.00 antenna.
It is basically an End Fed 9 up 9 down,
Not 9.9 DB.
Nothing at all wrong with a antron99. Great starter rig, and cheap and actually preform...now what makes the antenna so incredible is its bandwith.. the radiator has extremely good stable bamdwith andnu can work most everywere with it wt all bands with a tunner... Now it dont have 9.9 db gain inposible , for no vertical radiator will preform those numbers period.... It actually has around 3.3 3.8 on its gain factor ,but its other charteristics make it awsome ... It can hanle desvent wind load ... It has liw profile ,very stable vswr, meaning u set it and leave it alone, everyone else ve touched wich dozens and dozens ...were like 1.28 - 1.33 out the box and all tuned to under 1.5 under load ..meaning with amplifier inline ..so with all this said they just work... NOW were they really shine ....ON DX.. a antron 99 set up propery,and bye utilizing its extremely low takeoff angle u can literally own DX with this antenna ... They just work..now ther far from the best,for my spt500 or most all my others are better quality,but there is a antenna for every condition,and u will find then antron is very useful antenna... I use them on my bench ..for testing ,real world output test and signal test...theyakena winderful auxiliary antenna dor any station...73s from justin 9lb hammer Oklahoma 5180
Agree, it's a great antenna. The 9.9dBi is bogus but get past that, it's very good. Pretty broadbanded but the iMAX2000 actually beats it out on RF BW (see my other video I compared them both) - but still way more broad banded than most of the others. I plan on comparing the MACO 5/8 soon. Low angle is good for DX for sure! It's very hard to compare two antennas for DX but local transmit again the iMAX2000 beats it. Thanks for the comment.
It is one of the best I have tested vertical dipole sirio 27 tornado j pole and coaxial dipole a99 beats them by a lot. I think its the match to 50ohms coax and extremely wide band width. Also works on some ham bands 17 meter to 10 meter with tuner. Note do not use high power on 15 or 17meter will burn out rg8x coax. Was using 600 watts. It’s a great c b antenna.
Thanks, straight to the point!!!! I have one and I love it!
Don't know wtf everyone is talking about but there are ways to test this. It actually has more than 9.9 That's just an estimate.
@@ericzerkle5214 I'm so glad you think that's funny.
@@therealwolfspidertoo I do actually. But if you want to believe the false claims go ahead.
I suppose you believe Jo Guns "audio gain" claims? I suggest you get a copy of the ARRL handbook and a few antenna theory books and read up.
yeah of static, bc it cant bleed off the natural dc ground noise, because it uses the shield of the coax as its counterpoise... its an end fed folded dipole w a matching section of a coil of wire and a capacitor...look up a99 exposed, and imax 2000 exposed google it...
@@keystonecountryboy that's why you ground the coax at the entrance of the shack as well as at the antenna base to keep the coax shielding from acting as part of the antenna.
I always referred to the A99 as having 9.9 dB over a light bulb in free space.
Good one. Not sure who when creating the antenna thought up such a grandiose lie haha!
@@Z28videogates
The A99 came about after the people who protect us from ourselves decided that CB antennas can't have continuity to the mast. This was the end of the legendary 5/8 antennas like the Super Penetrator. Back in the day the A99 was in direct competition with the Shakespeare Big Stick which is essentially a coaxial dipole.
Interesting - thanks for that little bit of history.@@CrawldaBeast
I'd say every manufacturer inflates the db gain on their antenna.
Look at Jo Gunn. Audio Gain! LMAO!
I've had 3 or more. Very broad! I use mine from 17-10 Meters with no tuner. It will operate below 17 with the tuner. The best omni? NO! It is what it is. Mine is in a 70' Poplar tree. Does quite well.
As a antenna builder designer and hibbiest ..I assure u it don't have 9.9.. I would say it's more around like 3.3 at most
3.3 db gain. No effing way a fiberglass antenna has 9.9 db gain. Thats more than a 4 element beam. Some of you need to read the ARRL handbook as well as some of thier antenna books
So you really need the ground plane kit
I don't think you need a groundplane. You will have very little improvement in gain, but you are gonna lose in bandwidth. Save you money on that!
WHO CARES WHAT THE GAIN IS. RIGHT SET UP WITH RADIO AND AMP YOU WILL GET OUT PERIOD!!!!!
You just won't be able to hear....
Does a 🌲 tree have branches
I like mine also, on my 2nd. More like .99 dBi
Good one lol, I might use this.
My old grandma with 95 yrs of ages who was almost deaf she was still able to hear more than the A-99 on its best days...just to be honest. No kidding. Happy weekend
😅😅
My 5/8 super penatrator only has around 8 at 27ft tall....
Ya I seen it said 9.9 dbi but I thought that was bull 🐂 but I did see later it said on another sight 3.3 dbi which I found more believable…😊😊😊
Yeah it's not a bad antenna, just not 9.9dBi.
Better off getting a £35 half wave silver rod
If an Antron 99 has 9 dbi gain, then iam a flying Dutchman and I am not Dutch!!!🤣💨💩
Agree! It's a great antenna but no way has more gain than a 3 stacked co-linear 5/8 wave 2 meter antenna like a GP9.
Yeah like I was told that my car would do 50MPG but reality is that only 30. It's all sales talk
Mine has 99.9 dB gain.
With the ground plane kit, mine reached the optimal 100.00dBi. I key over anyone, anytime I want even with my Cobra 19+.
No it don't have no 9 dbi lol
opinion are like butt holes everybody has one worth what paid for it HA,HA,HA
👍
You can do a lot better than a Antron 99.
I run a sirio 2016 and its the best omni ive had aside from the Avanti Sigma 5/8 and the Hy Gain P 500...
U don't know wtf your talking about the antron antenna has 6.9 db gain
Interesting.... Can you show your theory to reach that figure?
It is still a splatter stick!
And, only half an antenna without a counterpoise!
Splatter stick ??? If you mean talks entire circle yes but one that bleeds no that is your radio dude my ant 99 well over 17 to 20 years still talking around the world
Tissue?? Don't know I don't need to pull down and "repair" so I don't touch or grab one day though one day it may come down a counterpoise is nothing more than floating ground run hard copper to the earth ground mine is two 9' rods ,9 ft apart and tied to house copper water pipe system my neighborhood all copper pipes so it makes for healthy ground and direct counterpoise
Not if they've fed it properly using the deliberate co-ax radiation technique.... 😀
aluminum better, never go back to a static stick...look inside the aluminum tube when it breaks tell me what you see...and when a section breaks, you cant order a new section, you have to buy a whole new antenna...a99 good for beginners and people that are scared of tape measures or good for a temporary set up...
👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎