Wow after all these years of putting finials in radios that people that run this antenna i have told this very story to many people about this antenna and to use stainless hardware etc. Hat's off to someone who figured it out. Now you will have a antenna that tunes and works as it should. (cheers)
Awesome...I did the EXACT same things when I bought mine and was putting it together. As I was putting it all together, everything you pointed out (and then some) came to mind. When I assembled my Maco V58, I riveted, drilled and bolted, soldered, extra soldered...you name it, I did it...I even put a thick coat of some kind of clear sealant on all of the connections where metal met metal with rivets/bolts/solder. When I was finished with it, I used an MFJ digital antenna analyzer to set it, and once I got it set...that's where I nailed it down. I have been using that exact same antenna since 2001, and I have NEVER had ANY problems or issues with it. I've even taken it down a few times over the years just to check it out and make sure all the connections were still good, tight and solid...no problems since 2001. If you put the antenna together with some excessive overkill...it will last forever with very little maintenance...if any at all. As a matter of fact, I bought what's called the "Boomer Ground Plane Kit"....which is exactly the same ground plane kit that originally comes with the antenna, and added it to it...just bolted it just below the original one...two ground plane kits with a total of eight ground plane radials...not sure if it actually helps, I'm sure it does...more ground plane area...and it looks cool as hell...lol.
I put mine up per instructions over 10 years ago and have moved it several times since. About 2 years ago I ordered some new parts and replaced all the rusted bolts and nuts. It still works as it did new.
I used to have a maco v5/8 and swr maintained 1.1:1 or 1.12:1 across the band running a yaesu ft7b and it was a talking and listening beast. I'm really thinking on getting another one
I have almost perfect 1.1 ch8-40.. then from ch7 down to ch1 it slowly ramps up to 1.3 and when speaking it'll hit 1.4 on ch1.. I am fine with this (I talk ch30-40) But when it rains my swr goes to almost 2/1!!! I haven't used caulk on the wire and connector, nor the wire and ring. Did caulk help lower it when it rained? Did yours rise in the rain? 😊
That mod will work great man looks good on paper as well and I'm sure you will make it work no problem....As for the ground brackets that's a little over kill lol...I'd just run a ground wire to the U clamps...
I just finished putting up a Macon v5000 the antenna is so simple I'm going to copy it and make one out of all copper tubing .it can be made for around 250.$ and aluminum is 60% less contacted than copper.only gold is Better then copper.
That's not a tower mod, that's standard assembly procedure... Go look at just about any commercial service tower like a big cell tower, they have liberal amounts of ground strapping on them. Pop rivets on antennas are a BAD IDEA, use stainless self tapping screws at best and keep the hose clamp for support. Personally I would drill the brace and the mast out and use a long stainless or aluminum nuts, bolts with lock washers. Instead of an SO-239 on there I would put an "N" type bulkhead connector on it. Also I would try an use an aluminum tap wire if possible.. You want to keep corrosion down and different types of metals mixing will creates oxidation and corrosion, add RF energy and that process accelerates add moisture to this equation and the process accelerates even faster. Try and stick with all the same type of metal if possible, at best non rusting metals and use NOLOX liberally on screws
The ground straps are useless between the sections since the tower is already bolted together & it is steel.The antenna mods sound good but I have not found an update video for the finished product so I'll be looking for it.
I'ma thinkin tig. Less heat penetration over a large area. Too much heat at the joint and bendie or breakie it will...but rivets too = yes! Haven't decided yet, it's either gonna be a Maco v500 or a Hy-Gain Super Penetrator SPT500.
Never use 'POP rivets' with an antenna, you may need to disassemble for another cleaning in the future. Use non-rusting screws and a liberal amount of NOLOX, then use electrical tape over that.
I think it's a good antenna I talk to everybody I want to talk to you on that thing, tipping my 🎩 from the Wingnut radio down here in Panama City Florida standing by channel 38 (27.385) LSB
Sorry I didn't video 2nd part of video. Just put on a pole but the changes made to the antenna I haven't had any problems. Thanks and good luck with your's
Sorry no I didn't. Got busy putting it up and totally forgot. I was excited. But it works very well. Check out my skip shooting videos it an excellent skip talking antenna plus locals thing I'm running power when I'm not.
No prob in the rain. Thanks. I'll try to do an update on antenna. The biggest pole of the antenna has a slight bend in it. If I decide to replace it I'll do a follow-up
@@jamesaubrey1965 mine got a slight bend there as well in a hellacious thunderstorm with intense 70mph straightline wind gusts about a year ago. Soon to put it on a tower and mod/repair.
Wow after all these years of putting finials in radios that people that run this antenna i have told this very story to many people about this antenna and to use stainless hardware etc. Hat's off to someone who figured it out. Now you will have a antenna that tunes and works as it should. (cheers)
Awesome...I did the EXACT same things when I bought mine and was putting it together. As I was putting it all together, everything you pointed out (and then some) came to mind. When I assembled my Maco V58, I riveted, drilled and bolted, soldered, extra soldered...you name it, I did it...I even put a thick coat of some kind of clear sealant on all of the connections where metal met metal with rivets/bolts/solder. When I was finished with it, I used an MFJ digital antenna analyzer to set it, and once I got it set...that's where I nailed it down. I have been using that exact same antenna since 2001, and I have NEVER had ANY problems or issues with it. I've even taken it down a few times over the years just to check it out and make sure all the connections were still good, tight and solid...no problems since 2001. If you put the antenna together with some excessive overkill...it will last forever with very little maintenance...if any at all. As a matter of fact, I bought what's called the "Boomer Ground Plane Kit"....which is exactly the same ground plane kit that originally comes with the antenna, and added it to it...just bolted it just below the original one...two ground plane kits with a total of eight ground plane radials...not sure if it actually helps, I'm sure it does...more ground plane area...and it looks cool as hell...lol.
I put mine up per instructions over 10 years ago and have moved it several times since. About 2 years ago I ordered some new parts and replaced all the rusted bolts and nuts. It still works as it did new.
They are really good antennas.
great 👍 ideas 💡 my friend. Watching from Boone Co . Kentucky
Jefferson county KY myself. Thanks
I used to have a maco v5/8 and swr maintained 1.1:1 or 1.12:1 across the band running a yaesu ft7b and it was a talking and listening beast. I'm really thinking on getting another one
Thanks very much for the info.I am repairing one for a friend of mine.Noticed the crud when taking it apart.
Applying silicone caulk on the wire and covering it at the ring against rain water helps keep SWRs down
I have almost perfect 1.1 ch8-40.. then from ch7 down to ch1 it slowly ramps up to 1.3 and when speaking it'll hit 1.4 on ch1..
I am fine with this (I talk ch30-40)
But when it rains my swr goes to almost 2/1!!!
I haven't used caulk on the wire and connector, nor the wire and ring. Did caulk help lower it when it rained? Did yours rise in the rain? 😊
That mod will work great man looks good on paper as well and I'm sure you will make it work no problem....As for the ground brackets that's a little over kill lol...I'd just run a ground wire to the U clamps...
I just finished putting up a Macon v5000 the antenna is so simple I'm going to copy it and make one out of all copper tubing .it can be made for around 250.$ and aluminum is 60% less contacted than copper.only gold is Better then copper.
Nice please share your finished antenna.
to make it a 5,000 watt antenna change the wire to a solid 9 1/4in. wire I've put 3,800 watts on my antenna works just fine
Way to go ! Working on mine fighting the same war today.
Pop rivets! Best getting your blowtorch out and brazing the aluminium connections after you have pop riveted them.
That's not a tower mod, that's standard assembly procedure... Go look at just about any commercial service tower like a big cell tower, they have liberal amounts of ground strapping on them.
Pop rivets on antennas are a BAD IDEA, use stainless self tapping screws at best and keep the hose clamp for support. Personally I would drill the brace and the mast out and use a long stainless or aluminum nuts, bolts with lock washers.
Instead of an SO-239 on there I would put an "N" type bulkhead connector on it. Also I would try an use an aluminum tap wire if possible..
You want to keep corrosion down and different types of metals mixing will creates oxidation and corrosion, add RF energy and that process accelerates add moisture to this equation and the process accelerates even faster.
Try and stick with all the same type of metal if possible, at best non rusting metals and use NOLOX liberally on screws
I used the gamma match bracket for the clamp to the ring. Nice and tight. I will try to pop rivet the brackets of the rings.
The ground straps are useless between the sections since the tower is already bolted together & it is steel.The antenna mods sound good but I have not found an update video for the finished product so I'll be looking for it.
What happened to the follow-up video? How did your rebuild & installation turn out?
Did you ever get it done? Would love to see the improvements.
I'ma thinkin tig. Less heat penetration over a large area. Too much heat at the joint and bendie or breakie it will...but rivets too = yes! Haven't decided yet, it's either gonna be a Maco v500 or a Hy-Gain Super Penetrator SPT500.
Good luck. Keep me posted on the progress
good job let me know how she turned out i run a 5000 only diffrence i see is the wire is solid
Never use 'POP rivets' with an antenna, you may need to disassemble for another cleaning in the future. Use non-rusting screws and a liberal amount of NOLOX, then use electrical tape over that.
Even God uses NOLOX!
@@0ndrous what is nolox and where to find?
I think it's a good antenna I talk to everybody I want to talk to you on that thing, tipping my 🎩 from the Wingnut radio down here in Panama City Florida standing by channel 38 (27.385) LSB
can you make a small vid on your new PL upgrade
How did it work out ? Cant find the follow up video . Great idea tho may do my Alfa that way before I put it up .
Sorry I didn't video 2nd part of video. Just put on a pole but the changes made to the antenna I haven't had any problems. Thanks and good luck with your's
haven't seen the updated video yet.......
Did you ever do an end video on this one?
Looks interesting!
Sorry no I didn't. Got busy putting it up and totally forgot. I was excited. But it works very well. Check out my skip shooting videos it an excellent skip talking antenna plus locals thing I'm running power when I'm not.
@@jamesaubrey1965 Ok Ill check out the skip thanks.
Can you draw how you hook the center of it up that's what I like to see
I should have watched to the end :)
Did you get it up on the air?
Hi did you do a 2nd part to the Maco antenna modifications?
Sorry I didn't video tape it. But it worked great.. a skip talking son of a gun. Was too excited to get to talking totally forgot.
Looki here
Any issues with VSWR changing in the rain??
No prob in the rain. Thanks. I'll try to do an update on antenna. The biggest pole of the antenna has a slight bend in it. If I decide to replace it I'll do a follow-up
@@jamesaubrey1965 mine got a slight bend there as well in a hellacious thunderstorm with intense 70mph straightline wind gusts about a year ago. Soon to put it on a tower and mod/repair.
Cant braze aluminum
Wouldn't have one given me. Same goes for mfj pile of junk for over priced scrap.
upgrade to ss
stainless steel dude.... copper on Aluminum will be very susceptible to galvanic corrosion... worse then the steel hardware.
+Matt K even the bolts need replacing. look like galvanize, they rust over time.
Actually brass washers between copper & aluminium radically slows oxidation.