Sorry to interrupt the WAVE-PARTICLE Duality seminar but...

Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?

It's a sort of maxed-out Moxon such that the director and reflector
elements are bent toward the center of the antenna.

Apparently it is frequently used on DXpeditions.

There is a version for home use...a kit and the elements are wires.

Anyone using one or care to comment?

(My understanding is that it can send and receive both waves and particles.)

73

John
AB8O

On Feb 4, 7:14 pm, jawod wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the WAVE-PARTICLE Duality seminar but...

Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?


See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.


It's a sort of maxed-out Moxon such that the director and reflector
elements are bent toward the center of the antenna.

Apparently it is frequently used on DXpeditions.

There is a version for home use...a kit and the elements are wires.

Anyone using one or care to comment?

(My understanding is that it can send and receive both waves and particles.)

73

John
AB8O

Brian w3rv

Brian Kelly wrote:
Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?


See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.

Wrong product - that's the HexBeam!

Try www.spiderbeam.net

There are eight different models, each covering three or more bands from
30m up to 10m, and starting from $500 for a kit. Instructions are also
freely available to build it yourself from local materials.

The Spiderbeam was originally designed as a highly portable multiband
yagi. It uses full-length interlaced elements, and the design has been
computer optimized for maximum performance within the boundaries of the
cross-braced "diamond" shape - 10 metres (33 feet) from corner to
corner. That computer design has then been translated with unusual care
into detailed practical assembly instructions.

Be aware that the Spiderbeam was originally developed as a lightweight
beam for portable operation on a push-up mast. For these applications it
really shines - many DXpeditions out of Europe have used Spiderbeams
with great success. With practice it can even be erected single-handed.

But the cord-and-wire braced construction is not suitable for every
home-station site (Spiderbeams and trees make a very bad combination)
and even the heavy-duty version may not be suitable for year-round
survival in every kind of climate. Also, the Spiderbeam needs to be
fully assembled on the ground - with is fine for the original concept of
a push-up mast, but it can cause installation problems for tower owners.

What you'll see on the *correct* Spiderbeam review page at eham.net
(http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3688)
is the expected mixture of "5/5" reviews from people whose locations are
Spiderbeam-friendly... and lower ratings from people whose locations are
not.


[For the record, my own relationship with Spiderbeam is that I bought
one for use at a new home, but ran into zoning/planning problems about
cutting back the trees. Reluctantly I sold the beam to a DXpedition
group, where I'm sure it will do very well.]


--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
Brian Kelly wrote:
Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?


See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No thanks.

Wrong product - that's the HexBeam!

Try www.spiderbeam.net

There are eight different models, each covering three or more bands from
30m up to 10m, and starting from $500 for a kit. Instructions are also
freely available to build it yourself from local materials.

The Spiderbeam was originally designed as a highly portable multiband
yagi. It uses full-length interlaced elements, and the design has been
computer optimized for maximum performance within the boundaries of the
cross-braced "diamond" shape - 10 metres (33 feet) from corner to
corner. That computer design has then been translated with unusual care
into detailed practical assembly instructions.

Be aware that the Spiderbeam was originally developed as a lightweight
beam for portable operation on a push-up mast. For these applications it
really shines - many DXpeditions out of Europe have used Spiderbeams
with great success. With practice it can even be erected single-handed.

But the cord-and-wire braced construction is not suitable for every
home-station site (Spiderbeams and trees make a very bad combination)
and even the heavy-duty version may not be suitable for year-round
survival in every kind of climate. Also, the Spiderbeam needs to be
fully assembled on the ground - with is fine for the original concept of
a push-up mast, but it can cause installation problems for tower owners.

What you'll see on the *correct* Spiderbeam review page at eham.net
(http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3688)
is the expected mixture of "5/5" reviews from people whose locations are
Spiderbeam-friendly... and lower ratings from people whose locations are
not.


[For the record, my own relationship with Spiderbeam is that I bought
one for use at a new home, but ran into zoning/planning problems about
cutting back the trees. Reluctantly I sold the beam to a DXpedition
group, where I'm sure it will do very well.]


Ian,
Thank you for your insights. I read the eham reviews and think I will
give it a miss. nice design, though.

73

John
AB8O

On Feb 6, 4:04 am, Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
Brian Kelly wrote:
Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?

Seehttp://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.

Wrong product - that's the HexBeam!

Trywww.spiderbeam.net

Oh bother . . Yes, I blew it Ian. TNX.

I fail to understand why anybody who knows what's up would buy a
Spiderbeam when a light-duty cubical quad would have a considerably
smaller footprint and marginally better performance. Beyond the fact
that nobody I know about is selling light-duty "expedition quality"
quads off the shelf.


There are eight different models, each covering three or more bands from
30m up to 10m, and starting from $500 for a kit. Instructions are also
freely available to build it yourself from local materials.

The Spiderbeam was originally designed as a highly portable multiband
yagi. It uses full-length interlaced elements, and the design has been
computer optimized for maximum performance within the boundaries of the
cross-braced "diamond" shape - 10 metres (33 feet) from corner to
corner. That computer design has then been translated with unusual care
into detailed practical assembly instructions.

Be aware that the Spiderbeam was originally developed as a lightweight
beam for portable operation on a push-up mast. For these applications it
really shines - many DXpeditions out of Europe have used Spiderbeams
with great success. With practice it can even be erected single-handed.

But the cord-and-wire braced construction is not suitable for every
home-station site (Spiderbeams and trees make a very bad combination)
and even the heavy-duty version may not be suitable for year-round
survival in every kind of climate. Also, the Spiderbeam needs to be
fully assembled on the ground - with is fine for the original concept of
a push-up mast, but it can cause installation problems for tower owners.

What you'll see on the *correct* Spiderbeam review page at eham.net
(http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3688)
is the expected mixture of "5/5" reviews from people whose locations are
Spiderbeam-friendly... and lower ratings from people whose locations are
not.

[For the record, my own relationship with Spiderbeam is that I bought
one for use at a new home, but ran into zoning/planning problems about
cutting back the trees. Reluctantly I sold the beam to a DXpedition
group, where I'm sure it will do very well.]

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Brian w3rv

Brian Kelly wrote:
On Feb 4, 7:14 pm, jawod wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the WAVE-PARTICLE Duality seminar but...

Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?


See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.


It's a sort of maxed-out Moxon such that the director and reflector
elements are bent toward the center of the antenna.

Apparently it is frequently used on DXpeditions.

There is a version for home use...a kit and the elements are wires.

Anyone using one or care to comment?

(My understanding is that it can send and receive both waves and particles.)

73

John
AB8O

Brian w3rv
Brian

I think the cost is just north of $600 but I agree.

John
AB8O

On Feb 6, 10:41 am, john Wiener wrote:
Brian Kelly wrote:
On Feb 4, 7:14 pm, jawod wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the WAVE-PARTICLE Duality seminar but...

Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?

Seehttp://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.

It's a sort of maxed-out Moxon such that the director and reflector
elements are bent toward the center of the antenna.

Apparently it is frequently used on DXpeditions.

There is a version for home use...a kit and the elements are wires.

Anyone using one or care to comment?

(My understanding is that it can send and receive both waves and particles.)

73

John
AB8O

Brian w3rv

Brian

I think the cost is just north of $600 but I agree.

http://www.hexbeam.com/pricelist.shtml

The way I read it the 5-band HX5Bi is 1129 Yankee bucks. Or we're
talking about different versions.

John
AB8O

w3rv

Brian
The antenna being asked about is the Spiderbeam not the Hexbeam.
--
Tom Horne, W3TDH


On Feb 6, 8:05 pm, Brian Kelly wrote:
On Feb 6, 10:41 am, john Wiener wrote:



Brian Kelly wrote:
On Feb 4, 7:14 pm, jawod wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the WAVE-PARTICLE Duality seminar but...

Any comments on the SpiderBeam antenna?

Seehttp://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/860

$1100 for six fiberglass poles, some wire and a center plate. No
thanks.

It's a sort of maxed-out Moxon such that the director and reflector
elements are bent toward the center of the antenna.

Apparently it is frequently used on DXpeditions.

There is a version for home use...a kit and the elements are wires.

Anyone using one or care to comment?

(My understanding is that it can send and receive both waves and particles.)

73

John
AB8O

Brian w3rv

Brian

I think the cost is just north of $600 but I agree.

http://www.hexbeam.com/pricelist.shtml

The way I read it the 5-band HX5Bi is 1129 Yankee bucks. Or we're
talking about different versions.

John
AB8O

w3rv

On Feb 8, 10:06 pm, Tom Horne wrote:
Brian
The antenna being asked about is the Spiderbeam not the Hexbeam.
--
Tom Horne, W3TDH

Agreed but see my post of Feb 6, 4:04 am in response to one of Ian
White's posts. on the subject.

w3rv