Which Base Antenna? - Windy location

[disgwylfa]

OK, we've all seen the World's Most Common Question, "Which antenna should I get?", but I have a slight variation on it...

I plan to put up a Homebase antenna but my location is on a hilltop and is, quite often, subject to some fairly strong winds. It'd break my heart to buy a halfway decent aerial and then lose it the first time it blows a bit hard. I recently turned down the offer of a used, but good nick, Sirio Vector 4000 as I'd read that they're a bit susceptible to wind damage - but I'm now thinking maybe I should have taken the offer

I'm also a bit wary of paying out a vast sum for an aerial as (based on what I can hear on my rigs via a little Solarcon mag. mount) there doesn't seem to be a lot of traffic around here. We get a few of the “I’ve got a one-channel-Muppet-band-with-a-200w-burner” types enjoying their scintillating Tourettes-inspired conversations on the Muppet one-nine, and they're punctuated by "WunNineForraRoger" calls from time to time, but 19-Mids (27.185) is deadly quiet and, so far, I’ve heard no traffic at all on the “triple five”. So convincing her-indoors that I NEED to splash-out the price of, say, a Sirio 827 wouldn’t be too easy.

So the question is this: can anyone recommend a good DX antenna that can withstand a bit of a blow and, preferably, has a bit of Gain to it? Or do I just get a nice reasonable-price 1/2 wave or 5/8 (Silver Rod type) and simply write it off / replace it if it gets wind damaged?

[porky.69]

hi steve well the only antenna for what you say has got to be THE ANTRON 99 ANTENNA its made from fibreglass wich bends with the wind
i live high up and other antennas have snaped in the wind ..but this baby still keeps going wind ..rain ..sun..snow ..frost lol and yes they get
out well to !!!!

[stampman]

yes the antron is very good in winds

[FISH]

So is my kite.

[hotmetal1000]

And what db gain do you have on your kite?

I'd reflect what has been said about the 99, I have the big brother to it, the I-max 2000 which is longer and so far it has stood up to a cyclone and summer storms.

[Offplanet]

Steve,

If you are on top of a hill near Cardiff then you should get out really well using a good homebase install - Bristol, Glos, Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall should be within range.

I know the "Tourettes-inspired conversations" you refer to

It'd be nice to get a net of decent opertors running on an EU block channel during the evening.

Talking of Cardiff - I can see the Wenvoe transmitter out of my window

Regards

[marsh phantom]

i use the antron 99, got 2 one for static mobile and one at the home qth in kent on the sea front so would recommend.

i may look at stashing a wire antenna in the trees out side my building then i will join in your net, if i can nearly get to you on my magic springer then a wire outside should be pretty good lol

as for cardif hmm not sure think there is some big old hills in the way

[killer cam]

a99

[porky.69]

ive always wanted to try a long wire antenna ..

[disgwylfa]

Must confess that I've toyed with the idea of an original Long Wire Antenna from time to time too, and it’d be pretty much the ultimate safe-from-wind solution for my homebase. But I’m convinced that stringing 27 metres / 90 feet of wire, and making sure there’s appropriate insulation and so forth, is enough of a nightmare to put me off.

I have visions of things coming adrift and finding the Missus or one of the dogs (or the neighbour’s horses/sheep/chickens) roped by co-ax or aerial wire sometime.

Hmmmm, perhaps I could strap on a 400W burner and maybe any trussed chicken could be pre-cooked after a reasonable Sunday of DXing.

[porky.69]

hi steve i would love to try the long wire antenna but like you say its just my luck to find the kids swinging of it lol
but i also need a much bigger garden !! so its just the antron 99 for now but i live high up so the antron is very good
in very bad weather ive had fences blown down and roof tiles fly off but my a 99 still stands up to bad weather
and it around 45 ft with t & k brackets ..