Trying a dipole to see what sort of results we would get using a halfwave antenna, it all looked good, but then I had a few problems. A bit of a rant at the end.
Hi Al - nice video - love your enthusiasm as always. The Sirio Starduster M-400 is a fantastic wide banded antenna and looks fantastic and only £59.50.I used one last year and was very impressed
Thank you , its not really perfect here. I hope one day i can look to move somewhere else, as it is a struggle sometimes and I doubt a move will be happening anytime soon, but i crack on and try my best.
Hey Al, Thanks for sharing you won't get it right unless you experiment, etc. amazing looking antenna and larger than I thought it would be. The Gamma matching thing a ma bob is also on my Siro Astro Plane. I did work some but where it was from the factory length was about the same as 1-1 but it was new to me. I can't believe that you can get that antenna in and out of the flat and mounted. impressive for sure Al. My siro grd Plane 5/8 had water get in around the copper coil and froze and split that plastic cover in the winter etc. Found that out when I took it down back on Monday. It was a fair-weather antenna for sure. Keep after it Al, You know I do. 73 Drew
I certainly will keep trying bud, its fun to experiment, but its hard work in such a tight space. Suffering with painful back pain atm aswell. I will try it again. I also have a few more ideas in the pipeline. Thank you as always Drew and im still listening out for you. You guys have been jumping across the pond for 3 weeks now. Wow and the solar cycle only just started. Catch you soon maybe🤔
I just bought one to use it horizontal on ten meters. My first setup using the directions, my swr is good from cb through ten meters. My end elements are set to 17inches (432mm). Tested it about 20 feet off the ground with the analyzer. I then hooked it up to my RCI 2950band swr looks great on the radio. I'm looking to get the Tornado for the vertical side.
Strangely enough I've put my Dipole back up today, video coming tomorrow, its vertical and so far getting some good reports on the DX, next test will be to see what happens when it rains and hopefully ive sealed it well. Good luck with it.
Im totally gutted for you Al, I think the special grease would of helped, with some self amalgamating tape. A pretty quite antenna with reasonably performance usually. After our chat, thought you had cracked it, but I know you like to work things out for yourself, so it's on your next experiment . Well done mate, dont feel down about it, its onwards and upwards to perfection, buddy. Al 26TE11
Cheers Al. Still waiting for the grease to turn up, not sure whats next, but I already have a plan or 2. I do enjoying the tinkering big thanks for your help and info. 👍🏻🍻
Just Subscribed good video, hard work putting up antenna anytime but in a small space just makes it hard, ive just moved into a bungalow and my rear garden is only 5ft wide and the length of bungalow and im having problem, unable to use my original longwire as lack of ancher ponts till i get sorted, i have ordered myself a gain master so this should inprove things but we will see, anyway 73s for now 26DR715
Sorry to hear the result with the new antenna Al, my Sirio 4 element yagi hit high one time and tryed everything and count that the in take of the pl plug was faulty and had to do a direct coax connection to the yagi and worked fine after that with good swr thankfully as was about to break it up and through away , the joy of antennas 👍
@@Al.26TC101 im sure I’ve got a dipole type old style antenna in the shack I’ll dig it out maybe a antenna you could try out and be easy to manoeuvre on the balcony I’ll dig it out in the week and send you a video via messenger 👍
Test and try and at times walk away then have a break then with a fresh mind try again I say I have so much noise here at home but just drive 15ft at the front of the house no noise. Some old boys just use vaseline to seal joints don't think it reacts with aluminium and a downwards drain hole if possible on the driven element. I still enjoyed your video. Keep it going. I need to iron out my issues with noise and hopefully be in contact in the near future Al from Al
Cheers bud, hadn't helped that ive done me back in aswell, so going to back away for a week or 2, I have a few ideas anyway. Cheers and hope to catch you in the radio one day.👍🏻🍻
i tell you what Al you are a braver man than me.. i have mega issues with height and wouldnt be able to work on the balcony no way my legs would turn to jelly.. try using amalgamating tape on the joints as nothing gets past it and it makes a bullet proof seal against water ingress.. none of us achieve anything without trying different things and experimenting but glad your noise levels are coming down.. great video as always. 73
Cheers bud lol I try not to think about it to much and don't look down. Its just a pain to get stuff like the dipole up and down again and atm suffering with back pain, but I will try it again. Ive got some algamating tape. Hope all OK your end and best 73.
Appreciate the vid. I'm looking to get one but will use it horizontal for ssb work. I have the sirio 827 as well if you ever upgrade that tornado. Ge the 827. I ran the tornado for a couple years before a storm took it out. 827 is much better built.
Cheers thanks for the info, im actually going to be trying the dipole out again hopefully this week as I've finally got the grease ordered and I'm going to make sure its all sealed up well, so there is no water ingress this time, so hopefully we will see how that goes.
:( damn how frustrating, I’m sure you have said but can’t remember, is it worth using a spider beam with the SSD antenna ? Hope to catch you Wednesday for the crazy CB anniversary net.
It can be bud, but ive said to a few others I do enjoy tinkering also I have used the SSD 5/8 when I 1st came back to the hobby, but I wanted something more stable. Hoping ill be further down south on Wednesday, not sure where , but ill keep my ears open for you 🙂
Ah the trusty old dipole my very first antenna back in 1981/2 had contacts on only 4 watts from my home qth as far as Banbury and Northampton .anyway Al dipoles are ok but stick to what you know best bud 73s fella
Cheers I just really like experimenting and seeing how things differ, In my opinion everybody's location is different, but it is fun to find out what works best with some frustration thrown in at times.
Im afraid im not allowed up there would be great if I could as I would, but if I went up there off my own back I would proberly lose my tenancy. Maybe hire a cherry picker, but not sure if I would get away with that either.
No problem Al I’ve worn the tea shirt over the last 40years in radio😂..if you can summon up the energy try the dipole on the flat side so less chance of water getting in! Keep the chin up mate 73s Gm4zji-107at176 Chris
The antenna is a Sirio SD-27 Dipole and is made of alumium , the Gamma match is adjustable here is the manual, hope that helps www.sirioantenne.it/images/pdf/manuals/id-097_sd-dipole_10-09-2011.pdf Size of gamma match fully extended is 890mm
I'm sorry that the dipole wasn't a success . I was listening in on the 19 today & apparently a radio operator in Brighton is in trouble with the council & Ofcom , from what I could gather from their conversation he's antenna was reported by his Neighbours , I don't know any of the details , there was another similar case two years ago , I would imagine stealth antennas would be the best way of going forward , the Sirio 26TC101 failure may of possibly been a blessing in some ways as in all fairness the antenna stuck out like a saw thumb against the building & it just may of been a matter of time before someone reporting the huge antenna ? , it's very unfair I know , the trouble is once Ofcom or the council have anyone on their radar & in their system their always on active monitoring . All that being said I wish you every success with your radio communication & thank you for sharing your amazing videos .
Cheers bud yeah disappointed at that side of build quality and took it down. Really difficult in the small area ive got on balcony to mess about with it to much, always need an extra pair of hands, health and safety wouldnt be happy how I do things here lol
Sorry that antenna didn't twork out. The noise issue could be just one cheap Chinese charger/psu in the block. Ian m0fxs (I think) has a video on YT showing him tracking down the culprit of his interference. Psu in a neighbours garage but it was a fair distance.
Wow,ok I think the QRM is just a mash up of living in a city centre in a apartment block with another 50 people around oddly enough my noise is down again even on the imax 2000. Just need to get the dipole sealed really, but its just very awkward and tight here on the balcony. So might try again.
@@Al.26TC101 could be that moving/changing antennas has improved your earthing. Might be why you're noise level decreased. Obviously when everyone comes back from work then all the device's get powered up and noise will be worse. I've got interference from Internet provision to the street via copper and a neighbours TV. Interference starts down near 3.5mhz and goes up to 29.5. Some bands worse than others.
I certainly will bud, once my grease comes. I quite liked the antenna and not too pricey, just a pain to put up and take down again all the time. Got to make sure I get it perfect. Cheers.
Nope im not allowed up there, if I could I would, its all off limits and I'd lose my tenancy if I went up there ive even asked but they told me its a big no which is a shame.
@@Al.26TC101 ok. The reason I ask is coz here in London councils rent out their tower block roofs to the phone people (virgin EE 3 ect to put their masks on. When they were doing mine I asked the guy if it would be ok to put mine up there? No problem he said. He actually got one of his lads to put it up for me🌚
hi, greetings from north germany. ich schreibe weiter auf deutsch weil ich nicht so gut englisch spreche. die dipol von sirio ist echt gross. ich wollte mir die auch irgend wann kaufen. ich selber funke auch hier aus einer mietwohnung vom balkon. ich darf leider nichts fest an der mauer anbringen und im m oment habe ich die sirio boomerang 72 a im einsatz. sehr schönes video, ich lass dir mal ein abo hier. THX
Many Thanks. Freut mich, dass dir das Video gefallen hat. Von diesem Standort aus kann es schwierig sein. Ich hoffe, dass meine Nachricht an Sie in Ordnung übersetzt wurde. beste 73
will try again at some point , had a bit of a move around of antennas . and back on the imax 2000 which I have moved away from balcony and seems to be working a lot better than before another video up on that.
Hi Al - nice video - love your enthusiasm as always. The Sirio Starduster M-400 is a fantastic wide banded antenna and looks fantastic and only £59.50.I used one last year and was very impressed
Thanks Rob, Cool ill deffiantly have at look at one and see if its worth giving it a go. Best 73 and hope your getting some good contacts.
Think everyone would like that perfect setup.
Excellent content .. and the 2 camera editing is good 👍🏽
Thank you , its not really perfect here. I hope one day i can look to move somewhere else, as it is a struggle sometimes and I doubt a move will be happening anytime soon, but i crack on and try my best.
Hey Al, Thanks for sharing you won't get it right unless you experiment, etc. amazing looking antenna and larger than I thought it would be. The Gamma matching thing a ma bob is also on my Siro Astro Plane. I did work some but where it was from the factory length was about the same as 1-1 but it was new to me. I can't believe that you can get that antenna in and out of the flat and mounted. impressive for sure Al. My siro grd Plane 5/8 had water get in around the copper coil and froze and split that plastic cover in the winter etc. Found that out when I took it down back on Monday. It was a fair-weather antenna for sure. Keep after it Al, You know I do. 73 Drew
I certainly will keep trying bud, its fun to experiment, but its hard work in such a tight space. Suffering with painful back pain atm aswell. I will try it again. I also have a few more ideas in the pipeline. Thank you as always Drew and im still listening out for you. You guys have been jumping across the pond for 3 weeks now. Wow and the solar cycle only just started. Catch you soon maybe🤔
I just bought one to use it horizontal on ten meters. My first setup using the directions, my swr is good from cb through ten meters. My end elements are set to 17inches (432mm). Tested it about 20 feet off the ground with the analyzer. I then hooked it up to my RCI 2950band swr looks great on the radio. I'm looking to get the Tornado for the vertical side.
Strangely enough I've put my Dipole back up today, video coming tomorrow, its vertical and so far getting some good reports on the DX, next test will be to see what happens when it rains and hopefully ive sealed it well. Good luck with it.
Im totally gutted for you Al, I think the special grease would of helped, with some self amalgamating tape. A pretty quite antenna with reasonably performance usually.
After our chat, thought you had cracked it, but I know you like to work things out for yourself, so it's on your next experiment . Well done mate, dont feel down about it, its onwards and upwards to perfection, buddy.
Al 26TE11
Cheers Al. Still waiting for the grease to turn up, not sure whats next, but I already have a plan or 2. I do enjoying the tinkering big thanks for your help and info. 👍🏻🍻
Just Subscribed good video, hard work putting up antenna anytime but in a small space just makes it hard, ive just moved into a bungalow and my rear garden is only 5ft wide and the length of bungalow and im having problem, unable to use my original longwire as lack of ancher ponts till i get sorted, i have ordered myself a gain master so this should inprove things but we will see, anyway 73s for now 26DR715
Sorry to hear the result with the new antenna Al, my Sirio 4 element yagi hit high one time and tryed everything and count that the in take of the pl plug was faulty and had to do a direct coax connection to the yagi and worked fine after that with good swr thankfully as was about to break it up and through away , the joy of antennas 👍
Yep it can be a pain especially in the small balcony area i have to play around with antennas, Ive been doing a bit more tinkering though. Cheers bud.
@@Al.26TC101 im sure I’ve got a dipole type old style antenna in the shack I’ll dig it out maybe a antenna you could try out and be easy to manoeuvre on the balcony I’ll dig it out in the week and send you a video via messenger 👍
@@walesunt Cool bud, they are not as popular as they were back in the day. Quite a few of the old CBers used to have them. Nice one. 👍🏻🍻
Test and try and at times walk away then have a break then with a fresh mind try again I say I have so much noise here at home but just drive 15ft at the front of the house no noise. Some old boys just use vaseline to seal joints don't think it reacts with aluminium and a downwards drain hole if possible on the driven element.
I still enjoyed your video. Keep it going.
I need to iron out my issues with noise and hopefully be in contact in the near future Al from Al
Cheers bud, hadn't helped that ive done me back in aswell, so going to back away for a week or 2, I have a few ideas anyway. Cheers and hope to catch you in the radio one day.👍🏻🍻
Turn the dipole 180° and remove the end cap from gamma match lets the water out
Cheers bud, yeah took it all down now back on imax 2000. Might stick it back up, not sure yet.
i tell you what Al you are a braver man than me.. i have mega issues with height and wouldnt be able to work on the balcony no way my legs would turn to jelly.. try using amalgamating tape on the joints as nothing gets past it and it makes a bullet proof seal against water ingress.. none of us achieve anything without trying different things and experimenting but glad your noise levels are coming down.. great video as always. 73
Cheers bud lol I try not to think about it to much and don't look down. Its just a pain to get stuff like the dipole up and down again and atm suffering with back pain, but I will try it again. Ive got some algamating tape. Hope all OK your end and best 73.
Appreciate the vid. I'm looking to get one but will use it horizontal for ssb work. I have the sirio 827 as well if you ever upgrade that tornado. Ge the 827. I ran the tornado for a couple years before a storm took it out. 827 is much better built.
Cheers thanks for the info, im actually going to be trying the dipole out again hopefully this week as I've finally got the grease ordered and I'm going to make sure its all sealed up well, so there is no water ingress this time, so hopefully we will see how that goes.
That’s a shame Al, our short QSO we had sounded pretty decent, haven’t caught you since unfortunately, hope you figure something out with it 73s
Cheers bud might just get it back up, really nice antenna just a shame about the water ingress. Watch this space lol
:( damn how frustrating, I’m sure you have said but can’t remember, is it worth using a spider beam with the SSD antenna ? Hope to catch you Wednesday for the crazy CB anniversary net.
It can be bud, but ive said to a few others I do enjoy tinkering also I have used the SSD 5/8 when I 1st came back to the hobby, but I wanted something more stable. Hoping ill be further down south on Wednesday, not sure where , but ill keep my ears open for you 🙂
Ah the trusty old dipole my very first antenna back in 1981/2 had contacts on only 4 watts from my home qth as far as Banbury and Northampton .anyway Al dipoles are ok but stick to what you know best bud
73s fella
Cheers I just really like experimenting and seeing how things differ, In my opinion everybody's location is different, but it is fun to find out what works best with some frustration thrown in at times.
First time I have viewed one of your vids - thank you. Why does a dipole have a Gamma Match, what if any benefits are there?
I think its just used for a good tune as far as I know, tbh that's as much as I know but its working really well so far.
i've been using the same antenna for a while and it works really good. anyway a charging cell phone will kick up your qrm by 2 or 3
Cheers, how did you seal up all the connections ? the amount of water ingress I had was not good, but I will try it again.
Can you get access to the roof? That would be the best place to mount it as you are directional that way. -73's
Im afraid im not allowed up there would be great if I could as I would, but if I went up there off my own back I would proberly lose my tenancy. Maybe hire a cherry picker, but not sure if I would get away with that either.
Hi Al try the liquid sealant tape for your pl plugs it’s absolutely brilliant
Thanks for that info bud , ive got some of that grease coming and I do have some amalgamating tape , we will keep trying bud Cheers.
No problem Al I’ve worn the tea shirt over the last 40years in radio😂..if you can summon up the energy try the dipole on the flat side so less chance of water getting in! Keep the chin up mate 73s Gm4zji-107at176 Chris
@@dxscotland5901 I will do bud.thank you.
Water can be a pain, but can be stopped.
More than a pain it certainly was ok for 2 days, but it found its way in. Cheers Bob.
Wouldn't be the same if things were too easy. Cool. 73's
Your not wrong Max and I do enjoy a challenge. Cheers.
I’m surprised you don’t use self amalgamating tape al?
Maybe just use a t2lt as you do mobile 👍
I used electrical tape as no amallgamating tape left. Well I've learnt me lesson there. I've had a tinker again with an antenna
Me podría pasar las medidas del gamma y de que material es, por favor.
The antenna is a Sirio SD-27 Dipole and is made of alumium , the Gamma match is adjustable
here is the manual, hope that helps www.sirioantenne.it/images/pdf/manuals/id-097_sd-dipole_10-09-2011.pdf Size of gamma match fully extended is 890mm
@@Al.26TC101El manual dice como debe ajustarse, Pero no da las medidas de los dos tubos ni del inserto de plástico.
@@llave25 I'm afraid i cant get to it to measure as its quite far away from the building and I cant reach it as it is, so sorry about that.
@@Al.26TC101¿ El interior del gamma o aislante que material es ?
I'm sorry that the dipole wasn't a success . I was listening in on the 19 today & apparently a radio operator in Brighton is in trouble with the council & Ofcom , from what I could gather from their conversation he's antenna was reported by his Neighbours , I don't know any of the details , there was another similar case two years ago , I would imagine stealth antennas would be the best way of going forward , the Sirio 26TC101 failure may of possibly been a blessing in some ways as in all fairness the antenna stuck out like a saw thumb against the building & it just may of been a matter of time before someone reporting the huge antenna ? , it's very unfair I know , the trouble is once Ofcom or the council have anyone on their radar & in their system their always on active monitoring .
All that being said I wish you every success with your radio communication & thank you for sharing your amazing videos .
Ive done an update and I dont have any problems here as im left to get on with my hobby. Cheerd
Take all the end caps of if water can get in you got to let it out
Cheers bud yeah disappointed at that side of build quality and took it down. Really difficult in the small area ive got on balcony to mess about with it to much, always need an extra pair of hands, health and safety wouldnt be happy how I do things here lol
How did you like this antenna
Great antenna, you cant beat a good old di-pole. It works well for me in my location.
@@Al.26TC101how low did you get your swr.I.got.mine down to 1.1 on 11 meter tried getting a 1.0 but 1.1 lowest I got
@ironhead320 yeah ive got 1:1 around 27.260 about 1:6 on UK FM ch40
@@Al.26TC101 ah ok yeah I tried to go for 1.0 but no go they started to go up
how much db gain is on this?
Its says in the manual its about 2.15 DB gain , but ive not noticed much difference to when i had the imax 2000 up.
Thx for the info
Sorry that antenna didn't twork out. The noise issue could be just one cheap Chinese charger/psu in the block. Ian m0fxs (I think) has a video on YT showing him tracking down the culprit of his interference. Psu in a neighbours garage but it was a fair distance.
Wow,ok I think the QRM is just a mash up of living in a city centre in a apartment block with another 50 people around oddly enough my noise is down again even on the imax 2000. Just need to get the dipole sealed really, but its just very awkward and tight here on the balcony. So might try again.
@@Al.26TC101 could be that moving/changing antennas has improved your earthing. Might be why you're noise level decreased. Obviously when everyone comes back from work then all the device's get powered up and noise will be worse. I've got interference from Internet provision to the street via copper and a neighbours TV. Interference starts down near 3.5mhz and goes up to 29.5. Some bands worse than others.
@@skysurferboy Got to admit I can get quite a few odd bits of QRM living here although I know some of it could be atmospherics.
The L1 thing is the same principle if you have ever used ome of sirios gamma matched beams.Seal it up and stick with it m8
I certainly will bud, once my grease comes. I quite liked the antenna and not too pricey, just a pain to put up and take down again all the time. Got to make sure I get it perfect. Cheers.
Can you put it on roof al ?
Nope im not allowed up there, if I could I would, its all off limits and I'd lose my tenancy if I went up there ive even asked but they told me its a big no which is a shame.
@@Al.26TC101 bruva. Is there 5g pilons& stuff on the roof? Is it a council block?
@@zukispur5493 No its owned by a housing association and no other stuff on the roof , just Tv antenna and sattalite dish for residents .
@@Al.26TC101 ok. The reason I ask is coz here in London councils rent out their tower block roofs to the phone people (virgin EE 3 ect to put their masks on. When they were doing mine I asked the guy if it would be ok to put mine up there? No problem he said. He actually got one of his lads to put it up for me🌚
Bikey time 😂😂😂😂
They were loud xxx
hi, greetings from north germany. ich schreibe weiter auf deutsch weil ich nicht so gut englisch spreche. die dipol von sirio ist echt gross. ich wollte mir die auch irgend wann kaufen. ich selber funke auch hier aus einer mietwohnung vom balkon. ich darf leider nichts fest an der mauer anbringen und im m oment habe ich die sirio boomerang 72 a im einsatz. sehr schönes video, ich lass dir mal ein abo hier. THX
Many Thanks. Freut mich, dass dir das Video gefallen hat. Von diesem Standort aus kann es schwierig sein. Ich hoffe, dass meine Nachricht an Sie in Ordnung übersetzt wurde. beste 73
Instead of cutting the antenna get an MFJ antenna tuner
Bit late for that now although the icom 7300 does have a tuner. I deffiantly had water ingress as swr went crazy.
like 35 bud...
Hey Steve cheers. Hope all is ok
Too bad.
will try again at some point , had a bit of a move around of antennas . and back on the imax 2000 which I have moved away from balcony and seems to be working a lot better than before another video up on that.