"Glenn Ziolkowski" wrote in message
...
Amateur grade antennas do not have the mechanical durability to
withstand typical repeater service. Likely what you have is
wind-induced stress at some internal mechanical connections that
manifests itself as the crackling noises.

Have you ever taken apart a Station Master or Phelps Dodge commercial
antenna? Neither one of them is internally very different from my $79.95
Workman brand knock-off of a Comet or Diamond. Antennas are antennas,
whether they are being used for a police dept. repeater or seldom used
amateur packet station.

I agree on your assessment however. The culprit is either loose joints or
water. I'd dismantle the thing and braze every union in place and then
waterproof the casing joints with Seal Tight upon reassembly.

Don't think you ever took one apart either. I have 4 of them running ,
there is NO COMPARISON to a "knock off". The station master (144 Mhz) is
a 4 Inch Raydome , 26 foot long with 1/2" tubular dipoles that are
brazed to a center 1/2 trans. It wiegh's almost 40 pounds and is rated
for 90 MPH. It is also a DIRECT GROUND , unlike other claims like
diamond / comet or workman which are DC ground through a capacitor that
"blows apart" on strikes...Get your facts right...

N4ATS

Paul Vanasse wrote:
"Glenn Ziolkowski" wrote in message
...

Amateur grade antennas do not have the mechanical durability to
withstand typical repeater service. Likely what you have is
wind-induced stress at some internal mechanical connections that
manifests itself as the crackling noises.


Have you ever taken apart a Station Master or Phelps Dodge commercial
antenna? Neither one of them is internally very different from my $79.95
Workman brand knock-off of a Comet or Diamond. Antennas are antennas,
whether they are being used for a police dept. repeater or seldom used
amateur packet station.

I agree on your assessment however. The culprit is either loose joints or
water. I'd dismantle the thing and braze every union in place and then
waterproof the casing joints with Seal Tight upon reassembly.

Don't think you ever took one apart either. I have 4 of them running
, there is NO COMPARISON to a "knock off". The station master (144
Mhz) is a 4 Inch Raydome , 26 foot long with 1/2" tubular dipoles
that are brazed to a center 1/2 trans. It wiegh's almost 40 pounds
and is rated for 90 MPH. It is also a DIRECT GROUND , unlike other
claims like diamond / comet or workman which are DC ground through a
capacitor that "blows apart" on strikes...Get your facts right...

N4ATS


Thanks for the (above) clarification, N4ATS. I was about to make the
same comment to the original poster before you beat me to it. There is
little physical comparison between top-notch commercially constructed
antennas and ham stuff!


Ed WB6SAT

"N4ATS" wrote in message newse5Fb.2687 unlike other
claims like
diamond / comet or workman which are DC ground through a capacitor that
"blows apart" on strikes...Get your facts right...

OK Mr. Facts. Explain how does your commercial Station Master resonate
"better" than any other amateur antenna? 1st off your direct ground means
squat when it comes to VHF/UHF antenna performance, all it does is provide a
lower resistance path for discharges (which is terrible for the radio unless
all the grounds are tied together).

On VHF/UHF a sealed brazed piece of #12 copper wire is just as durable as
your 1/2" tubular aluminum (not to mention electrically superior). You must
be one of those guys that actually believes that because an antenna is $500,
it actually performs better................NOT.

PS: My "knockoff" antenna has been servicing a repeater superbly for the
past three years (its also on the highest communications tower in the state
of RI).

No one said it resonates better. Hopeless to try to argue with you...You
obviously have no clue to what you are talking about...You win....

N4ATS

Paul Vanasse wrote:

"N4ATS" wrote in message newse5Fb.2687 unlike other
claims like

diamond / comet or workman which are DC ground through a capacitor that
"blows apart" on strikes...Get your facts right...


OK Mr. Facts. Explain how does your commercial Station Master resonate
"better" than any other amateur antenna? 1st off your direct ground means
squat when it comes to VHF/UHF antenna performance, all it does is provide a
lower resistance path for discharges (which is terrible for the radio unless
all the grounds are tied together).

On VHF/UHF a sealed brazed piece of #12 copper wire is just as durable as
your 1/2" tubular aluminum (not to mention electrically superior). You must
be one of those guys that actually believes that because an antenna is $500,
it actually performs better................NOT.

PS: My "knockoff" antenna has been servicing a repeater superbly for the
past three years (its also on the highest communications tower in the state
of RI).

No one said it resonates better. Hopeless to try to argue with
you...You obviously have no clue to what you are talking about...You
win....


.... don't sweat it. Just remember that someone has to be at the
bottom of the Bell Curve.




Ed WB6SAT

"N4ATS" wrote in message
ink.net...
No one said it resonates better

An antenna is an antenna, nothing more, nothing less.

Hopeless to try to argue with you...You
obviously have no clue to what you are talking about...You win....

Thank you.

PS: If you actually want to debate the real facts and fantasies of antennas,
Ill be happy to engage anytime.

Have a Merry Xmas