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Author Topic: Gap Antenna???  (Read 4910 times)

KD5MAW

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Gap Antenna???
« on: April 30, 2001, 02:48:59 PM »

I have been strongly considering the purchase of a Gap vertical and had some questions on how this particular antenna is effected by the proximity of stuccoed structures with the underlying "chicken wire" mesh. I have sent two e-mails in as many weeks asking if they have any data on this subject since it may effect how I design the mount system. No response . . . not a peep. Is it normal for these folks to ignore e-mails unless from paying customers? Maybe the question is too stupid for them to bother with, but they might at least send me a "go buy an antenna book" type answer.
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WB2WIK

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Gap Antenna???
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2001, 11:58:12 AM »

I doubt they are intentionally ignoring you.  Many amateur equipment vendors, including GAP, are very small operations and have nobody actually checking their e-mails except perhaps once a week, if they have time.

I've owned GAP vertical antennas as well as others, and they are "all" affected in a similar manner by the presence of metallic objects close by.  Best situation is, if you can locate the antenna so that it's at least 20 feet from the stucco, you'll be far better off.  I had a GAP Challenger DX-VI (31-1/2' tall, 80-10m) vertical installed about ten feet from a wrought iron fence (only 5' high) and it was rather horrible and non-resonant in any of the ham bands, until I tried moving it another 10' farther away (now 20' from the same fence).  What a difference!  Night and day.  Works fine, perfectly resonant, no tuning required.

Based on this experience, I'd say it's obvious, "the farther, the better" when it comes to proximity to anything, especially anything metallic such as the wire lathe in stucco.

73 de Steve WB2WIK/6
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KD5MAW

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Gap Antenna???
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2001, 08:27:35 PM »

Thanks for sharing your experience Steve. As it turns out, I was probably shooting from the hip with respect to Gap. I finally got an e-mail back saying they never received the first e-mail. Having seen servers eat e-mails before without coughing up an error message, I believe them.

Got pretty much the same story from them on distance from metallic objects. However, they did say the Titan would not "see" the wire mesh under the stucco as long as the antenna was mounted to place the counterpoise assembly (radials) 3 or 4 feet DIRECTLY ABOVE the side of the house. I have no reason to doubt them, so I'll try it and see how things tune up. Thanks again.
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