Wow after all these years of putting finials in radios that people that run this antenna i have told this very story to many people about this antenna and to use stainless hardware etc. Hat's off to someone who figured it out. Now you will have a antenna that tunes and works as it should. (cheers)
I put mine up per instructions over 10 years ago and have moved it several times since. About 2 years ago I ordered some new parts and replaced all the rusted bolts and nuts. It still works as it did new.
Awesome...I did the EXACT same things when I bought mine and was putting it together. As I was putting it all together, everything you pointed out (and then some) came to mind. When I assembled my Maco V58, I riveted, drilled and bolted, soldered, extra soldered...you name it, I did it...I even put a thick coat of some kind of clear sealant on all of the connections where metal met metal with rivets/bolts/solder. When I was finished with it, I used an MFJ digital antenna analyzer to set it, and once I got it set...that's where I nailed it down. I have been using that exact same antenna since 2001, and I have NEVER had ANY problems or issues with it. I've even taken it down a few times over the years just to check it out and make sure all the connections were still good, tight and solid...no problems since 2001. If you put the antenna together with some excessive overkill...it will last forever with very little maintenance...if any at all. As a matter of fact, I bought what's called the "Boomer Ground Plane Kit"....which is exactly the same ground plane kit that originally comes with the antenna, and added it to it...just bolted it just below the original one...two ground plane kits with a total of eight ground plane radials...not sure if it actually helps, I'm sure it does...more ground plane area...and it looks cool as hell...lol.
I used to have a maco v5/8 and swr maintained 1.1:1 or 1.12:1 across the band running a yaesu ft7b and it was a talking and listening beast. I'm really thinking on getting another one
I have almost perfect 1.1 ch8-40.. then from ch7 down to ch1 it slowly ramps up to 1.3 and when speaking it'll hit 1.4 on ch1.. I am fine with this (I talk ch30-40) But when it rains my swr goes to almost 2/1!!! I haven't used caulk on the wire and connector, nor the wire and ring. Did caulk help lower it when it rained? Did yours rise in the rain? 😊
That mod will work great man looks good on paper as well and I'm sure you will make it work no problem....As for the ground brackets that's a little over kill lol...I'd just run a ground wire to the U clamps...
I just finished putting up a Macon v5000 the antenna is so simple I'm going to copy it and make one out of all copper tubing .it can be made for around 250.$ and aluminum is 60% less contacted than copper.only gold is Better then copper.
That's not a tower mod, that's standard assembly procedure... Go look at just about any commercial service tower like a big cell tower, they have liberal amounts of ground strapping on them. Pop rivets on antennas are a BAD IDEA, use stainless self tapping screws at best and keep the hose clamp for support. Personally I would drill the brace and the mast out and use a long stainless or aluminum nuts, bolts with lock washers. Instead of an SO-239 on there I would put an "N" type bulkhead connector on it. Also I would try an use an aluminum tap wire if possible.. You want to keep corrosion down and different types of metals mixing will creates oxidation and corrosion, add RF energy and that process accelerates add moisture to this equation and the process accelerates even faster. Try and stick with all the same type of metal if possible, at best non rusting metals and use NOLOX liberally on screws
The ground straps are useless between the sections since the tower is already bolted together & it is steel.The antenna mods sound good but I have not found an update video for the finished product so I'll be looking for it.
I'ma thinkin tig. Less heat penetration over a large area. Too much heat at the joint and bendie or breakie it will...but rivets too = yes! Haven't decided yet, it's either gonna be a Maco v500 or a Hy-Gain Super Penetrator SPT500.
Never use 'POP rivets' with an antenna, you may need to disassemble for another cleaning in the future. Use non-rusting screws and a liberal amount of NOLOX, then use electrical tape over that.
I think it's a good antenna I talk to everybody I want to talk to you on that thing, tipping my 🎩 from the Wingnut radio down here in Panama City Florida standing by channel 38 (27.385) LSB
Sorry I didn't video 2nd part of video. Just put on a pole but the changes made to the antenna I haven't had any problems. Thanks and good luck with your's
Sorry no I didn't. Got busy putting it up and totally forgot. I was excited. But it works very well. Check out my skip shooting videos it an excellent skip talking antenna plus locals thing I'm running power when I'm not.
No prob in the rain. Thanks. I'll try to do an update on antenna. The biggest pole of the antenna has a slight bend in it. If I decide to replace it I'll do a follow-up
@@jamesaubrey1965 mine got a slight bend there as well in a hellacious thunderstorm with intense 70mph straightline wind gusts about a year ago. Soon to put it on a tower and mod/repair.
