Jazzsinger has been banned...

can we get back on topic though please...

Much to Jazzsingers dismay i too use the A99, there are positives and negatives to them.

They stand up to a battering from the weather if you get it bad But there build quality can be questionable in some cases.

I spent a lot of time on the install of mine and also added the Fireup Stick to the top which effectivly turns it into a 5/8 wave I'm told.

I RX & TX quite well with it and have compared to the 5/8 Silver Rod i have as a spare, and the differnce is not very noticable within the bounds of my setup.

As long as you install it well it will last a lot longer than some of the better performers out there like the 827 but only if the 827 is going to get a battering from the weather too, in which case you may find it bent in 2 or serioulsy damaged.

i don't think you will do too bad with it to be honest.

Finally without straining the prospect of a warning email or a ban myself, I feel some what dismayed by the news of Jazzy's banning, to be honest i always feel this way when a prolific poster of some respect seems to get the long arm of the Law.

Admining is not an easy Job to do for nothing and is often done without much thanks, however there are clear cases for Banning usually kept to advertisers and general crap meaningless postings or outright trolling. i think personally in my own opinion that is not the case with Jazzy.

and i do believe that is my tuppence worth on that.

So A99 not as bad as people may make out but pay attention to the installation and all should be fine.

Let us know how you get on Micky, post some pics!

great idea

id be grateful of an A99 myself right now.
had a few in the past and can honestly say they perform as well as any other antenna and better than some in certain installations.

all the best with it.

my a99 has taken some serious winds here, It's still standing like the day it was put up.

My imax 2000 has cracked in the winds, The gears on the rotator my moxon was on have stripped and it's very light.

Just to clarify my thoughts on A99's - I've had two. One using the additional fire-up stick. They worked really well BUT were the source of a lot of interference on my own and neighbours equipment. Maybe groundplanes would have cured it - but it was terrible. TX & RX were good, but anything over 12 watts TX led to audio buzzing on home cinema equipment, freezing out computer keyboards... all sorts. Cured a lot of it with an ugly balun - but by that time I'd got fed up with the A99's and bought a used Sirio 827. Boy was that a better aerial! Better RX Better TX ... no TVI even at 100 watts... all round a better antenna. So if anyone asks me now what aerial to go for - I answer Sirio 827 every time.

i have an a99 on t&k's on a 15' mast on the gable end of the house, i have the groundplane kit fitted and i cant say i've had any problems with tvi even at 200watts, im very glad of its ability to cope with the harsh weather too, i myself would say get it up and get it up as high as you can.

Personally I'd try to get an old Shakespeare Super Bigstick - great antenna. I had one that survived winds of up to 110mph in Glasgow, it was up for over 3 years before I took it down to move house.

I can't comment on the Antron/Solarcon as I've never had one, but fibreglass is generally going to be better than el cheapo silver rods for winter storm survival.

a99 i do love them but im on silver rod for now and love it and at the silly low cost i just bought 2 one for spares

I had an A99 on a gable end mounted on a 15ft mast, firestik top section. It performed 9/10
QSO's into 43 division. On the downside more often than not If my neighbour 2 doors down was out and I
key up with 100w his house alarm threw a fit, along with occastional TVI
I eventually had Mr. d.t.i. at the door and that was that as they say. As advised previously.
think about and take your time with install ,Extra coax . A balun is going to be needed.
Good Luck and enjoy.

Ill be using a George at the CT meet, May QSO you on it then mate!

Excellent rigs!

The A99...

I use one for static mobile and do really well with it, works just as good as an imax 2000 at my QTH

here's a pic of my A99 being used



George & A99 is a good combo - stick a decent 200w boot with for groundwave contacts it and you'll be sorted! An Air-Choke is a good idea too!

cheers

picctures of my imax mobile setup here...

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=6647&p=84789&hilit=carter+bar#p84789

:-)

Need to head bak up there soon enough!!