Red Wave Radio

Hi All,

I recently upgraded my license and I am wondering what antenna I should get.
I have been looking at Cushcraft's new MA5B and wondered if anyone has had
any experience with this antenna, good or bad.

Thanks in advance!

73 Dan / N7WPD

http://www.cushcraft.com/support/pdf/MA5B.pdf contains the
complete MA5B manual.

I would never put up a trapped beam, just too many compromises
and points of potential failure.  Cushcraft also suffers from a poor
reputation for customer service and quality in their Amateur line
(at least from what I have read online, I cannot address those
issues directly from personal experience).

Have you looked at the Force 12, Tennadyne and KMA offerings?
All avoid traps.  Force 12 uses a multi-mono design stacked on a single
boom.  Tennadyne and KMA offer log periodics.

http://www.qth.com/force12/
http://www.qsl.net/w4kma/
http://www.tennadyne.com/

- 73, DavidC  K1YP
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May all have a blessed and thanks-filled holiday!  K1YP
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I feel the same way about traps. I have one in the kitchen that keeps stopping up.
Now back to reality, please list all of the compromises and points of potential
failure in a trapped beam, and also include reliable sources of your information.
I believe there must be a trap *** going on and has been for many years and
we are just now being made aware of it! I am glad to learn there are no points of
potential failure in a log periodic, etc... I guess I was lucky with my Hygain
TH6-DXX that was in the air for 11 years with no problem. Must have been
extraordinary band conditions also considering all of the DX I worked!. Sure glad
I switched to wire antennas when I did. Oh no!, one of these has traps in it!
Dave-KA4CNH

Quote:

> I would never put up a trapped beam, just too many compromises
> and points of potential failure.  Cushcraft also suffers from a

Hi Guys,

IMHO, tribanders have always been about compromise. Traps are
just one of those compromises. If you want directionality and a
horizontally polarized antenna in a reduced size multiband
antenna, well traps are just going to be a part of the package.
If you have the space and money, monobanders will work better.
The more practical comparison here is "mini-beam" vs. true
tribander. There are real differences here too. I chose a Mosley
Mini-33 tribander (mini beam) because it's only 10 lbs. The MA5B
is HEAVY and the elements are visibly thicker (reduced visibility
of the antenna was also one of my requirments). Mini beams are
also a major feat to tune, I don't care whose you buy. Size,
visibility, weight, cost, gain. Choose your best solution!

73 de WB8YQJ/6

I had little lack with shortened beams. With decreased size comes smaller
range of SWR, gain and good F/B. Thus a very small beam may have a good
SWR and F/B over 10 db over a range of 100 KHz only on 20m, and only if it
is well tuned. If the antenna is located close to objects, there may be
major retuning necessary.

With a bit more space, short log-periodic are likely to perform as good or
better with much less hassle and no more expense. If low turning radius
and good tuning are desired, a 3 or 5 band 2-el quad may be the answer.

Ignacy, NO9E