Turn your Antron 99 vertical into a DX big gun.
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- Decided to work the ARRL 10m contest last minute. So I home brewed a radial kit and pull out the old Antron 99 vertical. Always good to have both vertical and horizontal polarization. It was very cold this day when installed at about 20 degrees F.
Going to add more radials before the end of the contest and finish off with a bang. I'm not gonna take 1st place but I'm gonna have fun and give it Hell.
I hit over 100 countries from tikrit Iraq in late 2003 (active duty Army commo guy). Did it all with a small export mobile and A99 20 feet in the air mounted on a semi trailer (repair shop).
A99 with ground plane kit is a great talker.
Wow thats fantastic thanks so much for the info! And thank you for your service! Salute!
I laugh at everyone talking shit about an antron a99. They are a phenomenal antenna!!! I own 2, one is over 30 years old with fibreglass splinters everywhere, and a newer one. I still am using the real old one! Only up 20 feet from the ground, no ground plane and Normal conditions Im yappin 90 miles. When skips rolling, were blasting peurtorico and texas!!! I love my antron and youll never have a problem with this! Good luck with the imax aluminum antennas that corrode at every single connection, all hose clamped together like crap! A99 is a great antenna!!!
I have a 20 year old antron I use every day. I've talked all over the world on it.
They work, but I certainly wouldn't classify as phenomenal.
@@M70ACARRY It's all about elevation and perception. The A99 does what it's supposed to and best of all, it's durable and very easy to install. The bad part is QC on the outgoing units. Mine had solder clogging the threads on the second segment. I had to tap out the lead before I could get them screwed together.
my antron 99 got damaged but its still working fine as much as I now its prove of the durability!
My A99 is about 25-30 years old and is mounted on a fence post and is about 20 feet off the ground. I have worked many DX stations with it on my Kenwood TS140 with no tuner and 100 watts. 10, 12, 17 meters it has never been tuned and has very low SWR. 17 is almost 1:1.
👍🏼
I know this is an old video. but a feedline choke at the feed point greatly improves that set up. when adding a ground plane.
- Yes it would if I was running more than 10 watts, but I generally run QRP. Although I have ran my IC-7000 @ 100 watts and had zero R.F. So I haven’t had the need for a choke.
My understanding is that those Antrons, Solarcons etc.. aren't electrically truly a 5/8 wave but a .64 wave which on 10/11/12m is quite the bees knees when it comes to basic vertical radiators.
Thanks for sharing!
Kind regards Eric Dee
I'm a fan of the A99. I'm also tired of hearing how it's such a crappy antenna. I tried a MAX 2000 and sent it back. I'll be adding the Maco GPRK to the A99 this weekend. It's a real talker and easy to work with.
Louis Seaman
1 second ago
The Antron 99 and its Solarcon 99 replacement are 1/2 wave antennas. They get knocked for their construction, but after 30 years mine is still working. I don't know what the radials that this guy has installed are supposed to do, but the antenna is a Pi circuit matched, capacitively-coupled, antenna. Most people who learn this think there has to be a physical connection between the antenna radiator and the coax, but when the reactance of the coupling capacitor matches the impedance of the Pi circuit, it does exactly what it is supposed to do. The only thing you could complain about is that the power handling ability of the antenna is limited by the voltage rating of the capacitors and inductors...and so what? ...so is every other 1/2 wave vertical designed for a 50 ohm impedance!
There's a reason the A99 has been a staple for years. A little top quality selastic sealant on the joints. A little tuning with a decent analyzer and ground radials and yeah for sure you're going to have a decent setup. Even if you buried you radials and did a permanent setup in the back yard. You could try a 4:1 UNUN as well with an external tuner and you could probably tune up on just about every band. Probably a good setup for space challenged hams.
They work way better elevated
When I was a OTR trucker during my weekend layovers. I would clamp my a99 to my mirror and with the 2970n2 i talked all over the globe.
And from time to time, drop the hammer and smoke the truckstop. Haha...
The Antron 99 and its Solarcon 99 replacement are 1/2 wave antennas. They get knocked for their construction, but after 30 years mine is still working. I don't know what the radials that this guy has installed are supposed to do, but the antenna is a Pi circuit matched, capacitively-coupled, antenna. Most people who learn this think there has to be a physical connection between the antenna radiator and the coax, but when the reactance of the coupling capacitor matches the impedance of the Pi circuit, it does exactly what it is supposed to do. The only thing you could complain about is that the power handling ability of the antenna is limited by the voltage rating of the capacitors and inductors...and so what? ...so is every other 1/2 wave vertical designed for a 50 ohm impedance!
@@louisseaman8455 yep, Mine is still up and working great.
Appreciate your video here and it's good to share experiences and show visuals but for those more benighted, the math is simple:
(a) for a quarter-wave vertical (which the Antron is not) the length in feet is equal to 234 divided by the frequency in MHz.
(b) 20m = 16.8 feet
(c) 15m = 11.1 feet
(d) 10m = 8.4 feet
(e) etc.
(f) cut your radials (at least 4; 8 is better; more is terrific) the same length as your antenna.
(g) water the lawn or ground before you use the antenna.
(h) alternatively, have a beer bust and have your friends urinate around the antenna.
Low take-off angle and better DX than a dipole. There is no magic; only physics.
I'am Your Newest Subscriber Across In Florida I Love My Antron 99 Antenna I Just Got A Used Ground Plane Kit For My Antron 99 At The Hame Radio Fest 25.00 US
Thank you for subscribing. I plan on making some new interesting videos in the near future no one else is doing. The Antron is a good common antenna that’s been around a long time. Why not put it to use. It is true that a ground plane kit may not be quite needed as some other verticals of other designs, but it does still serve a good purpose. If you like your Antron 99 buy a 102” steel whip antenna. Replace the fiberglass whip with that 102” steel whip. Utilize an antenna tuner with it and have lots more fun. It’s a hoot. Tell me what you think afterwards.
The Antron is a capacitance loaded end fed half wave dipole which is best at low takeoff angle as you have it set up.
A-99 works just fine.
Dude,
I have worked the WORLD up to 18 mc on an A99! They ain't no hate here.
Nice setup.
Do you think you coulda got away with clamping your aerial to the chain link fence?
73
you are right the A99 I have 1 and it gets out great
Great Video!!! (exciting the wind noise). Love my A99!! With an autotunes I've worked 10m, 11m 15m and 17m. my antenna LOVES 17m!!! I've worked all over Western Europe as far as Italy, Greece, Bosnia, and twice into Egypt!!
KB5SLY/3
Scott
About the wind, yeah I'm no professional youtuber with high end video equipment. No matter the stupid comments from know it all people the Antron for what it is works well, but its capability's of operation isnt bad. As long as you can tune and get R.F. in the ionosphere you can work stations. Try putting a 102" steel whip on it. Works great!
Used an a99 for near 18yrs..worked the world on 10, 11 and 17..great antenna for the money...but wear gloves when handling the antenna as fibreglass in you hands tends to spoil your day.
Exactly! I love my 20 year old A99
I sanded and painted my a99 with Rust-Oleum appliance paint no more fiberglass splinters
y@@florencesears478 I had one up for over 30 years until a 155 cat 5 Michael decided to remodel our community, took down 17 large trees between my yard and the neighbor's that fell in my yard. It just cracked the middle element as the pole was blown down. I may repair it with a wrap product, but with everything else ahead of my Ham hobby haven't yet. Could ground mount it as shown in this video. The fact it has a matching design in the bottom like many end fed half wave antennas now very popular, one would think the haters that love to tell you it can't work would realize end-fed designs have proven them wrong.
Does the antenna have to be isolated from the ground radials ? Or is that all you had to use at the time??
Great video. I’d like to ask if the base was purchased or homebrew and the length of the ground radials thanks
Home brew
According to the 1988 Handbook, 12 radials of 1/8 wave is preferable to 6 radials of 1/4 wave
Chech out DX Commanders' many videos on radials. He has done very extensive field experiments on radials. I see QRP portable folks often using 2 or 3 radials and working plenty of stations. A99 doesn't actually need any radials because of the matching network in the bottom. We all think vertical and go into the need for radials frame of mind but end-feds radials use their matching networks to replace radials.
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A99 is a great dx antenna and a good local talker. Imax2k is a great local talker and a good dxer. Both need alot of ground radials from the base of the tower legs. Which is way better for dx...the kit you attach at the antenna improves local talk...at a slight decrease in dx. Regardless of antenna...the diffeences between antennas is measurable but potentially insignificant.
concur the wind noise, maybe some porous foam
Did you use the coil tuning ring at all? If so, what was your method/findings?
How can Antron claim that a vertical dipole like the A-99 has a "9 db" (or whatever) gain? A dipole is considered a unity gain antenna.
it is 9.9dbi over a centre fed di-pole but it's snake oil Dbi not Db..
i means isotropic as in free space in a world that does not exist..
the A-99 is a simpletons antenna end fed half wave colinear and ground planes doing nothing to it's performance..
bigpimp347 - as for the comment on a radial system is absolutely not true.
Upon testing the vertical with out and with radials made an absolute difference. Not only have I been on the transmitting side of this test I've also been on the receiving side and seen a difference. Book worms can always recite the information correctly, but the experimenters doing the research write the book for the book worm. This test has been done over and over time after time over the decades and has always proven you can change the angle of radiation, or lobe patterns based on reflection. A radial system is a reflector. It especially makes a difference where soil conductivity is poor. There are no disputing these facts. So to say that radio systems do not change the performance of a vertical is incorrect.
Excuse some of the typos. Siri doesn't sometimes get it right.
you're not stupid i can tell..
but you take apart am A-99.Imax or any other similar colinear type antenna and the bottom alloy part of the antenna is just for mounting,
the tube houses the coax feed from the SO-239 to the inductors of the antenna,
so adding wires, radials, GP kit to this type of antenna you're connecting it to a pole that's not actually part of the antenna..
it's an end fed colinear, not a ground plane antenna..
You are correct. It's impossible for an end fed half wave dipole to have gain over a dipole. Even comparing to the make believe isotropic radiator, it's will only have 2.1 dbi gain because it's just a damn dipole standing up on end! There is no magic in those antenna's, just wire inside of fiberglass with a little matching network at the base.
Best antenna I ever had back in the early 70s was a three element Astro beam wish I had another one
I have the remains of one, the boom and have been thinking of making a 2 element something using it and some 108 inch telescoping aluminum poles made to hold up tent flaps.
Good video very cool idea man the wind noise in your video tho haha but thanks for the great idea
Nice video :
I put a Antron 99 on the ground about 6' inches above ground on a 3ft pipe beat in ground I was specifically centered on 10m band performance w/o tuner only.
I tuned A99 at 29.000 MHz cut the top whip from 85" down to 65", with success I didn't use any ground plane wires at all.
Later I found out that 15m band was perfect without tuner.
With tuner 12m, 17m, 20m, and 40m tuned on tuner with excellent receive 40m works full power output while ground was wet perfect.75/80 m 75% RX only.
Ps# I put the A99 up at 25ft the tuneability dropped out only 10m w/o tuner, and 12m,17m,15 with tuner no 40 75m low receive
Seems like to me that you have good ground conductivity and the A99 down below took advantage of the ground being it’s counterpoise and getting the energy outward instead of being absorbed downward.
I know this is old. but . But how long are your counter poise ?
My initial reaction to these "studies" about radials is, "propagation conditions are something that cannot be accurately measured and are literally constantly in a state of change and have far greater impact on radio signals than any number of radials could ever have." Therefore, it is virtually impossible to "measure" the difference in actual gain based upon any number of radials compared to any other number of radials. Furthermore, there are other factors to be considered that are also widely variable, like the conductivity of the soil at the antenna site. Finally, I've worked sailboats around the world that are using ZERO radials and the salt water upon which they are floating gives them an ideal ground plane, resulting in outstanding results - that are still unmeasurable because of the inability to accurately measure propagation conditions.
The best anyone can do is have a "feeling" that their signal is getting out better or worse due to the ground plane system they have in place. So, in the end, as long as you're making contacts and having fun, it just doesn't matter how many radials you have.
As for my own vertical antennas, I use four 1/4 wave radials equally spaced that are resonant on each of the bands I intend to work with the antenna and I use an elevated feed point, even if it is only a few feet above the ground. Remember, a vertical antenna is really just a dipole oriented vertically, instead of horizontally, and dipoles work just fine without ANY radials, including vertical dipoles with the feed point in the center and the ground leg just hanging straight down.
Appreciate your comments Richard and duly noted. Except, I’m going to have to disagree with you to an extent. You are correct on a few points, but since this video I’ve learned quite a bit more about verticals between the various types and instillations as well as locations. Everything from the shores of Caribbean islands to hills, pitched ground and poor soil of the Catskill mountains and Hudson Valleys of NY. Now this is my assessment and experimental evaluations.
Near by salt water no question is an amazing location to run verticals. If you watch couple of other videos that I have I use a ICOM AH4 vertical that’s only three feet in length and working DX all day into the sunset on beach’s to the hills of Westchester county bush crafting during a poor cycle. I’ve shown multiple times an A & B comparison between a 3el portable yagi beam and that Antron vertical. Time and time again I show there are many times the vertical can beat that yagi under certain conditions. So if the operation calls for it identical in comparison there is no refuting what you see between the two.
I currently own a home brew 40m band mono wire vertical that is raised 3 1/2 meters above a pitched ground with not the best soil and concrete surrounding it in a typical suburban community with hills. I do have several radials raised 90° at the feed point from the vertical wire. I use web SDR receivers located around the world to monitor the difference in signal between antennas that are operated remotely from my shack. Consistently nine times out of ten the vertical is beating my dipole at longer distant stations such as for example Hawaii and the Ukraine at its current Height of 8 meters above ground by 1-2 s-units sometimes as much as 3 s-units with QSB pushing it on peaks. The further the station I can see an S-9 on the dipole and a s9+10 on the vertical. Of course there are many times where other stations will say there was no difference to very slight difference. It’s all relative to the hop in signal versus distance on that low angle take off between me and other stations including factoring in what antenna the other station is using. During poor conditions on 40m when local signals are down the vertical beats it hands down just about every time, or at least 9/10 consistently. Observations and theory are okay, but if you’re not actually operating multiple times under various circumstances collecting data and matching that with solar conditions and propagation then It’s just theoretical observations and nothing more.
As I played around with configurations at first I thought the vertical was a waste of time if I had a dipole and was going to abandon having both. Guess what I wound up doing?
@@N2RRAny Oh, no doubt the vertical is typically going to have a lower angle of radiation - especially, on a band like 40m where getting a dipole up at least one half wavelength is going to be a challenge. And, you would have to have a dipole up at a full wavelength above ground, or higher, before it would approach the low angle of radiation of a vertical, including Yagi beams. So, for long distance on HF DX a vertical often cannot be beat.
All of my comments were in reference to simple vertical omnidirectional antennas and their associated ground systems. Once you start comparing with horizontal antennas, it's a whole other matter involving distance, antenna heights above ground, etc.
By far, the most impressive antenna farm I have ever seen belongs to W8JI here in Georgia. He has a large parcel of land with multiple towers, and even has an eight direction Four Square vertical array for 160m - simply amazing. With the flick of a few switches, he can have a vertical beam on 160m pointed just about wherever he wants. He's one of the most brilliant Hams you will ever encounter. Just do a search on W8JI and check out his setup. It's to die for!
LOL! why....I believe it does in a dumb bell radiation pattern. You heard me then you should've called. That's a point dude! Thanks for the comments Homie.
Does this work for antena that are up in the air as well, or do they need to be lower to the ground similar to your video
Yes, it will work elevated. For low angle take off radials elevated a minimum of 1ft. Off the ground, or 10ft. Off the ground improves efficiency greatly. I learned a lot since this video. Just four radials elevated is equivalent to 120 radials laid out on the ground. That’s just the facts. All though it wasn’t really necessary for this type of antenna due to its high impedance matching network and coax used as a counterpoise that would been sufficient additional radials do help weather some want to believe it, or not.
@@N2RRAnyGood information!
The A99 is a beast on 10 meters.
Pretty good on 17 meters as well. I use a ground mounted A99 on 10/12 and 17meters.
I stumbled on a formula or calculator on how to optimise a ground plane for a set length of available wire in the past, but I can't seem to find it now. In other words, if you have a roll of wire you can find the number of radials versus the length (any length for non elevated ground radials) to make the most out of it. If anyone has this formula or an online calculator, please share.
Does the antenna radiate off the dumbbell? LOL
Great job...by the way, heard you calling a station while I was down in Queens - S9!
Love the video's...Keep them coming!
Tony N2XJS
The wind unscrews them and wears the threads away over a period of time. They bring in lots of crap in the rain. They crack letting water in. There just not very good !
How long are the radials?
longer the better
Nice video but you should stay under the wind while recording because sometimes we don't hear what you say. Other than that, good info. Thanks for sharing.
Нормальный, рабочий вертикал.
An a-99, i was told it's a 1/2 wave over a 1/4. Is that true. If so, it would equal a j-pole. But a j-pole is a metal antenna. I will build one someday.
The A99 is metal to, there is a wire inside the glass
Antron not that bad. Go buy a spool of electric fence wire and use every foot for radials. It will really help.
73 es good DX
jstrunck - I'm sure it will. I installed this antenna at a local town ball park as portable operation. It's easier to roll up electrical wire than it is a wire fence. 73
good usage of parts around the shack u r lucky 2 have some backyard kg6mn
Thanks, but that's not my back yard. That's the little ball park field that belongs to a school. Lol
It was a Sunday which is used very little so I take the opportunity to set my verticals and portable yagis to operate. It is a community park to be used and no specific ways it's to be used in. The vertical and radial plate is built to be used portable. I just take the time to lay out the verticals properly if I want proper performance. SO, pick a park and enjoy. 73!
How long are the radials?
great video what length did you use for the radials regards Adi G7MUY
+adigonearoving It doesn't matter as the ground detunes them. If the antenna was elevated they want to be a quarter wavelength for the frequency being used.
Made the radials ruffle around 16.5 - 17ft.
thanks for the info regards Adi G7MUY
Absolutely not entirely true!
A perfect example with out explaining each antenna is my portable ICOM AH-703 multi and HF vertical. The radial length is made 1/4 wave for its lowest band which is 40m. When I ground mount it for certain bands I have to adjust the telescoping whip to tune and sometimes that's not good enough with out having to roll up the ground radials till I get a proper tune. I have 25yrs experience and plenty of hours under my belt to know the difference. It's helped every time using a analyzer, or SWR meter on rig with fail. As for the Antron the tuning rings help and for the length of radials for its design showed to help tune better for 12meters. Every vertical design is different along with location where it's mounted due to soil contents.
Oh by the way in reference to the AH-703 that 1/4 wave length is per factory design.
What can you drive into it
Ground radials on a groundless antenna?
I and others have experimented and I can confirm as another testimony I can direct you to a link has experimented and the results were positive with radials below it. Yes, the A 99 is an end fed antenna in which you would not necessarily need radials, but will it hurt it to have them? No. Will it benefit to have me? Yes. If you are erecting the A99 a ground plane system will reduce TVI. The same way a ground plane would reduce TVI A ground plane system will perform the same on the ground. An End-fed vertical antenna with high impedance circuit does not necessarily need an elaborate radial system unless it has a good ground, or at least one good radial wire, but one with a low impedance level will have more energy at the feed point needing a much more elaborate radials system,, but any radiation pattern absorbed by the ground is no good so if you can reduce any and all of that absorption the better it will work. There is another West Coast Ham that also in his experimentation showed reduced TV when he had his antenna erected off the ground. He also took signal strength levels and showed an improvement in signal strength at further distances. Forget the modeling program. That works too, but real world results are better. Every environment is different and software modeling just hypothesizes.
How long is the horizontal wire????
Well, that base plate is for another project which requires those radials to be about 33ft. (11m). Technically, for 10m band only need to be 8 1/2ft. long. Although, some say the Antron does not require radials, because of the tuning network it has. I believe it’s always good to lay radials anyway for a couple reasons. Not so much for Tuning in the Antrons case, but of course deflection. Plus, I had the base so why not use it. I will say that on that day running QRP 5 watts a racked up about 260 QSO’s. Not bad for a few hours of operating.
Very good idea for extending the ground-plane if you have the space - I dont.
I have my mast erected right against the house and earthed directly to its tin roof and she puts out big time.
Grab yourself a tin roof :)
Thanks for the video! Good job!!
@WA2JSG - thanks :)
It's actually a 1/2 antenna, most of those people that say "it ain't a 1/2." Are full of shit.
It's bull shit my a-99 works from 20 meters though 6-meter with a tuner with no problem
Would work way better up high
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣 It's a halfway antenna. The radials are unnecessary.
And the A-99 is a total pos.
A 5/8 wave antenna is dependent upon a good ground/radial system.
Um, antenna`s work better high in the sky, not close to the ground
Antenna work best when placed where the frequencies are. That's not always hi in the sky.
@@Rusted_Link Bro, Have you been drinking again? You just say random words
wind in the mic ruined parts of your video!
- yes I know. I apologize. For 2020 I’ll be doing new videos with new projects and will be using a more professional recording setup. Stay tuned! Thanks
The ground counterpoise you made does absoulutlly nothing on the A99. Not gonna get into here but trust me it does nothing. The A 99 is not designed that way. Frankly there are many better antennas on the market.
Just buy a sirio gainmaster and talk over the top of the antron and imax boys hahaha
Man this sucks. Looks like junk to me. No test?
Look for my 10m dx contest video, or another I made switching between the Antron and another antenna showing signal difference.
Yes its true the antron is a serious smelly piece of turd