Chuck,
You
are correct, you use what you like the best. I use the DB-224/410 antennas
because I have never seen one turned into expensive toothpicks unlike my
lightning experience with fiberglass antennas. I was the field engineering
manager for a nationwide paging company, I knew before that not to use
fiberglass antennas except where we had to. Do I have fiberglass antennas
on my 500 foot tower? Yes but only on 800 and 900 MHz equipment and all of
them are "sort of" protected on top of my tower because the DB antennas are so
much taller.
Paul
It's kind of like which is better - a Ford or a
Chevy (I don't like either). Point being, what you've had good luck with
you'll stick with and swear by.
Personally, I wouldn't install a fiberglass
collinear antenna for a repeater if it was free. Yet there are others who
would likely say the same thing of the folded dipole arrays (my favorite). I
do use a Comet dual band fiberglass antenna at home, but it is installed
safely inside my attic.
Chuck
WB2EDV
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:27
AM
Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re:
Decibel Products DB-224 Antenna & Noise
Doug,
For two meter operation a DB-224 in the only way to go but please
read my privious post about fixing new antennas before installing
them.
Paul
Russ brought up the point that some techs really shy
away from the DB-224 because of the potential noise problem. I've
been scared of the fiberglass collinears because of the element solder
joint crack issue and it's resultant noise problems.
What's the commercial 'antenna of choice' for two-meter
repeater operation here at Repeater-Builder?
One more tid bit of information. Our noise began
when the tower was shortened from 440' to 360'. And a tower crew
left a steel winch line tied off for several weeks very near our
DB-224. That hints towards possible element damage or structural
(i.e. loose / disturbed hardware) problems.
--- And a huge thanks for all of the
excellent observations and advice to date!
Doug
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