I've decided it's past time to get the dipole out of the attic and set up a new antenna and could use a little advice.

While I have the room, I don't have trees in "the right places" to set up a nice dipole or loop and have decided to try a GAP vertical.

I've narrowed it down (I think) to either the Challenger or Eagle model. My questions are:

1. Which one did you choose and why.
2. If you had it to do over would you still choose the model you have?

Thanks in advance!
Jon

Personally, I love my FT-450.

Oh you did have to go and crank it up a NOTCH.
That one was really reaching up the LADDER line.
I know right now my antenna is just a DIAMOND in the rough.
Wonder if ICOM think up something else...... I bet KENWOOD.

"No sweat! We'll just bring that old 300 ft AT&T Long-Lines microwave tower that is not being used in Statham, Ga., over and park it in your back yard. "

My mind's eye just snapped shut
lol

HAHAHAHA
Ok
Thanks for the replies!

I don't need to worry about a stealth antenna (no restrictions) but my trees are all in the wrong places and I'm FAR to impatient to plant more and wait for them to become decent supports. :-D

Cal.... you best be careful or I'm likely to take you up on that! As for .550 consequences... bring it on- I'm ready. LOL

73
Jon
N4BRJ

Hello all.
I'm using a 40m shortened (trapped) dipole mounted in the attic space above my garage. It's oriented almost due North and South and it's run as high up along the rafters as possible and is almost flat (slight drop at both ends).

Why then, if it's running North and South, is it most responsive to stations to my North and South and not to my West (and East)?

This seems to contradict what I know about dipoles.

I know it's not in the best location, but I hope to install a new antenna out in the clear later on.

Thanks in advance
Jon
N4BRJ

According to mods.dk

"By pressing and holding the following keys while powering on the radio you will gain access to the hidden menu of the Yaesu FT-450.

Press and hold ATT/IPO, NB and AGC buttons at the same time and press the power button and power on radio while still holding in these buttons, and to change the setting you simply use the DSP control (rotary) to select the item you want to change and use the main VFO knob to alter the independant settings of your choice.

(to change the color of your screen, change the settings of LEDINT1 LEDINT2 and LEDINT3, will do most colors. To exit the hidden menu simply press (F) function key. In some radios the radio might also do a full reset."

Thanks to the Blairsville GA radio club, and their volunteer examiners who generously gave up their Saturday morning for a testing session, I'm now a General.

I have no idea why it took me so long to upgrade... chalk it up to life getting in the way I suppose.

I have to admit it was quite exciting making my first HF contact, K1WCC, a gentleman on Cape Cod, and with power only set to 30W.

I think it's going to be a fun ride.

73
Jon
N4BRJ/AG

I'd like to put a 2m rig in my 97 SAAB 900 but I need some antenna ideas.
Here's what I'm running into.

1. Large moonroof that slides into the roof eliminates the possibility of a through-the-roof mount.

2. Almost zero clearance between the hatch and the body makes a trunk lip mount difficult but not impossible. However, I tried a piece of coax between the body and the hatch and sprayed the area with a garden hose.... yup... the coax didn't allow the hatch to seal when closed.

SO I'm considering a glass mount but all is not a bed of roses there either. Rear wiper sweeps most of the back glass except for the passenger side top corner which is very curved. Other locations on the back glass would interfere with the defroster grid. Windshield has a coating on the inside around the edge and extending inward an inch or so to block the sun in areas where the visors can't reach. I don't know if this coating is metallic or not, but it's slightly textured so I'm not sure if the inside half of the glass mount would adhere to it.

Ideas???

73
N4BRJ
Jon
Atlanta

Personally I'd suggest either 2000 or XP Pro. Both are extremely stable as far as Microsoft goes.
Windows ME is a disaster. It has "memory leaks" that MS is aware of but has never done anything about.
Good hardware choices btw... with your setup you'll be very pleased.
73
N4BRJ

I bought the 6N2 and ended up returning it the same week.
Maybe I just got a "dud", I dunno, because their tech support department didn't seem to interested in discussing it <shrug>. Mine was really deaf on 2M FM.
Also note that if you ever plan on needing to send DTMF tones (echo-link, phonepatch, etc) forget about it, no-can-do.