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SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
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 |
SpiderBeam
Brian
You have my undivided attention on this one. Can you steer me to a design for the Cubical Quad that you were referring to? I have all of the parts for a three element quad out in my shed. It came to me from the clean off of an antenna tower removal. I'm unfamiliar with the merits of that antenna but I am interested. The Forty Two Foot Tower will probably end up at field day this year if I don't sell or trade it but that will have the tribander three element beam on it. I am planning to have a forty eight foot mast comprised of 1/4" wall thickness two inch tubing and I was looking at the Spiderbeam as one possible choice for the antenna on it. The original plan was to use the mast for stacked VHF UHF array to go after the extra points available by working those bands without changing our class. This because a VHF / UHF station's contacts count but the transceiver does not count as a station for class. The reason I was looking at the possibility of another beam was that our GOTA station will need a directional antenna that it does not have to share with the Two HF Stations. That begs the question of what will I mount the VHF / UHF stuff on but I digress. -- Tom On Feb 8, 10:14 pm, Brian Kelly wrote: 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 |
SpiderBeam
On Feb 8, 10:40 pm, Tom Horne wrote:
Brian You have my undivided attention on this one. Can you steer me to a design for the Cubical Quad that you were referring to? Oops. There's some confusion here but I don't know which one of us is confused Tom. Maybe both of us. I wasn't referring to a specific quad. My point was that any properly tuned unnamed generic quad should be a better-performing antenna than a Spiderbeam. However the usual HF quad is not a lightweight antenna, they're designed/built to take a beating out in the weather for the long run and as you know fiberglass ain't feathers. However for applications like dxpeditions, Field Day and other temporary locations where weight matters one should be able to design/ build a very lightweight quad by using small diameter spreaders which would not be acceptable for use in permanent antennas. If done right a "portable quad" ought to be able to compete with the Spiderbeam as far as weight is concerned. QSL? Miles and miles of spreaders: http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-tube-rod.htm Brian w3rv |
SpiderBeam
Brian Kelly wrote:
On Feb 8, 10:40 pm, Tom Horne wrote: Brian You have my undivided attention on this one. Can you steer me to a design for the Cubical Quad that you were referring to? Oops. There's some confusion here but I don't know which one of us is confused Tom. Maybe both of us. I wasn't referring to a specific quad. My point was that any properly tuned unnamed generic quad should be a better-performing antenna than a Spiderbeam. However the usual HF quad is not a lightweight antenna, they're designed/built to take a beating out in the weather for the long run and as you know fiberglass ain't feathers. However for applications like dxpeditions, Field Day and other temporary locations where weight matters one should be able to design/ build a very lightweight quad by using small diameter spreaders which would not be acceptable for use in permanent antennas. If done right a "portable quad" ought to be able to compete with the Spiderbeam as far as weight is concerned. QSL? Miles and miles of spreaders: http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-tube-rod.htm Brian w3rv Brian I'm afraid that I'm the one that was confused I was hoping that you had a specific design in mind. I have all of the parts for the one that was on the site of the clean off that I got a forty two foot tower from but I got it disassembled. It just needs a plan for reassembly. I guess I will have to ask around at the club and find an antenna Elmer that would be willing to help with guiding the reassembly so that we can test it well before field day. I've forgotten so much in the thirty years I have been out of Radio that it is almost like starting over. Thank you very much for that link. I'm sure that will come in mighty handy as field day plans go forward. -- Tom Horne "This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous for general use." Thomas Alva Edison |
SpiderBeam
My point was that any properly tuned unnamed generic quad should be a better-performing antenna than a Spiderbeam. However the usual HF quad free space NEC calculations for both: Spiderbeam (from www.spiderbeam.net) 20: 6.7 dBi gain 15: 6.9 dBi gain 10: 7.1 dBi gain full-size 2 el quad (from www.cebik.com) 6.8-7.2 dBi (at freq where f/B is peak, also depends on boom length) I'd say in practice they are pretty much equal...the quad being three- dimensional will be much harder for one or two people person to put up. Tor N4OGW |
SpiderBeam
I'd say in practice they are pretty much equal...the quad being three-
dimensional will be much harder for one or two people to put up. Tor N4OGW |
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