Like many folks, I thought working DX on 40 was an occasional thing (I remember when my brother--now an ex-ham--worked Sicily on 40 CW in the early 60s: to him it was like working the moon). Likewise I considered DX on 80 to be the realm of the specialist--the guys with gargantuan quads or Yagis on massive rotating towers.
Then, several years ago I saw the GAP Voyager DX-IV towering above the main hall at Dayton and thought, "If I ever have a decent backyard, I want one of those". Well, I got the backyard, and for the past two-and-a-half years I've had the Voyager, and now I know the thrill of working the Pacific and Asia on 80, of rag-chewing with the Middle East and Europe on 40, of cracking low-band pile-ups with a single call.
The Voyager is constructed of first-rate materials and although there are lots of parts, assembly is basically straightforward (but you do have to carefully follow the instructions). Erecting this beast is not for the faint of heart, though: as you (and several of your pals!) hoist the antenna up, the top-hat might seem to want to stay earth-bound and the length of the Voyager will form a great arc--like a sapling in a gale--and just before your heart stops (you're sure the antenna's going to snap!), the GAP will swing proudly into position.
I have my Voyager set up in the corner of my yard, guyed in three directions instead of the recommended four. Using dacron rope as guys, the antenna has wobbled and swayed through tropical storm winds (and a near brush by Hurricane Georges) with no problems. I put the three 57 foot counterpoise wires into slits which I cut with my edger; they're right below the turf-line and out of the way of the mower.
As for performance, on 80 and 40, the Voyager kicks butt! It only took a few months to work all states on 75 M phone, and on the same band I've had QSOs with JA, ZK, C56, T31, all over Europe, and even into Antarctica. If you thought this band was all about hillbillies, bigots, and conspiracy-theorists, you haven't had the simple thrill of a QSO with Alaska, Hawaii or Paris on 75 M.
On 40, I've worked KH8, ZL, JA, TY, VK, 4X4, and again, all over Europe. During the '97 CQWW SSB test, 40 M was my main base of operations and I handily worked all continents with the Voyager. On 40 CW, I've had the pleasure of working a bunch of DXpeditions I never would've attempted without the Voyager. Basically, if I can hear 'em, I can work 'em!
160 M performance is not horrible, but it is a compromise. Nonetheless, I've had no trouble working into the Caribbean, KL7, CY9, XE, and lots of stateside. It won't compete with the big boys, but it will allow you on top-band!
On 20 M I've had excellent results with the Voyager and have probably worked DXCC with it. Again, it won't always compete with the pile-up studs, but it will work. With the addition of my tower and Yagi a year ago, the GAP doesn't see as much 20 M duty as it used to, but I still call upon it as a "listening stick" from time to time.
In on-air conversations I have noticed there seem to be two extremes of opinions about GAP antennas: love 'em or hate 'em. The naysayers will go on at length about the GAP's poor performance (many times not based on first-hand experience). Although I haven't used GAP products other than the Voyager, I'm convinced--based on the Voyager's stellar showing--that there's more to the story. GAP antennas tend to be complicated beasties and perhaps some folks aren't following the assembly instructions, or maybe their expectations are unrealistic. This I know: The Voyager FAR exceeded my expectations. In 30+ years as a ham, I've had lots of different sorts of antennas; the GAP Voyager IV--in workmanship AND in performance--is truly the kicker! |