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Author Topic: DX Engineering  (Read 1311 times)

N2SR

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2022, 11:03:15 AM »


I have their ground radial base and the Omni-Tilt on my 5BTV. All the machining is top notch.


That may be, but there are much cheaper ways to make radial connections than an $80 piece of aluminum and some bolts.

I assume you meant Stainless Steel vs Aluminum for the radial plate and the hardware?  Unless you have a full blown fabrication shop, you can't  come close to duplicating the quality of this product at home.

How pretty does it have to look exactly?  Are the stations you work going to know the difference?   Is the performance going to be any better than a piece of surplus/scrap aluminum sheet that you can find at a surplus metal warehouse?   

It's a piece of metal that you place on the ground. 

I can do the same thing with a piece of scrap aluminum from a junkyard.  Drill some holes in it.  Done. 

Take some 1/4" copper tubing and make a ring.   Solder the radials to it.   Done.

And you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.  I will stick with the $80.00 radial plate.

If I had your money, I'd burn mine. 
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K7JQ

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #16 on: January 04, 2022, 11:03:30 AM »

You can use a simple U-bolt (or more) with extended threads around a pipe driven into the ground to attach as many radials as you want. Solder eye-connectors on each radial and stack them on the threads, secured with a nut. A couple of bucks for the same performance.

Now Bob, don't go talking good sense and economy here!.  :)

That's right, James ;). It's $80 just for the flat plate and some small hardware. Then they nickel and dime you to death for necessary accessories like saddle clamps, SO-239 connector, extra connectors, etc. You're well over $100 by then. I've been using what I described for the last 15 years with no degradation and the same performance as using the "radial plate". But, not as pretty ::)
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N2SR

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #17 on: January 04, 2022, 11:44:56 AM »

You can use a simple U-bolt (or more) with extended threads around a pipe driven into the ground to attach as many radials as you want. Solder eye-connectors on each radial and stack them on the threads, secured with a nut. A couple of bucks for the same performance.

Now Bob, don't go talking good sense and economy here!.  :)

That's right, James ;). It's $80 just for the flat plate and some small hardware. Then they nickel and dime you to death for necessary accessories like saddle clamps, SO-239 connector, extra connectors, etc. You're well over $100 by then. I've been using what I described for the last 15 years with no degradation and the same performance as using the "radial plate". But, not as pretty ::)

Exactly my point.  But some people can't figure that out. 

Pretty is nice for displaying in your shack.   

Quality is used when it's necessary to avoid failure   I use Amphenol PL-259 connectors and adapters to avoid failures.   

If someone wants to use an $80 piece of aluminum, it's their money.   
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KG4RUL

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2022, 08:25:41 AM »

You can use a simple U-bolt (or more) with extended threads around a pipe driven into the ground to attach as many radials as you want. Solder eye-connectors on each radial and stack them on the threads, secured with a nut. A couple of bucks for the same performance.

Now Bob, don't go talking good sense and economy here!.  :)

That's right, James ;). It's $80 just for the flat plate and some small hardware. Then they nickel and dime you to death for necessary accessories like saddle clamps, SO-239 connector, extra connectors, etc. You're well over $100 by then. I've been using what I described for the last 15 years with no degradation and the same performance as using the "radial plate". But, not as pretty ::)

Exactly my point.  But some people can't figure that out. 

Pretty is nice for displaying in your shack.   

Quality is used when it's necessary to avoid failure   I use Amphenol PL-259 connectors and adapters to avoid failures.   

If someone wants to use an $80 piece of aluminum, it's their money.

It is made of stainless steel NOT aluminum!  :o
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N2SR

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #19 on: January 05, 2022, 11:39:06 AM »


It is made of stainless steel NOT aluminum!  :o

1] Who the hell cares?   It's still an $80 piece of metal.   I can still go find a cheaper piece of aluminum, excuse me, stainless steel at my local surplus store. 

2] Who the hell cares?   Several cheaper and equivalent solutions to connecting radials to coax ground have been mentioned.  And I'll bet there are additional solutions.   

3] Who the hell cares?   Aluminum is a better conductor than steel.   

4] Who the hell cares?   Are you planning on displaying it in your living room?   

 :o ::) :-*


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N8YX

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #20 on: January 05, 2022, 12:16:43 PM »

Some people don't possess the skills or the tools to hand-craft a tilt mount. Some of us do. Some of us can also craft an entire -BTV or trapped Yagi from scratch, in addition to homebrewing a large portion (if not all) of our station equipment.

There's room in the hobby for all, and room for businesses to support all.
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K1KIM

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Re: DX Engineering
« Reply #21 on: January 05, 2022, 12:29:58 PM »

I have a complete machine shop in my basement. What I don't have sometimes is the time to buy the raw material, shape it, drill it, etc. though I certainly have the capability.

Sometimes it's money well spent to have someone else do the work.

That's what make the world go 'round as they say.

Who cares what anybody spends or doesn't.......Just get on the air and have fun.
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