Base antenna, proton or antron?

[Nagant]

Another observation....most of the guys I know have A99 antennas. I talk to a lot of guys all over when dxing who are using A99 antennas. I would be willing to bet I talk to more A99s than all other antennas combined. From this I can draw a couple of conclusions. First, the A99 must work reasonably well or I wouldn't hear so many people who are using them. Second, the A99 is a very popular antenna for cb base stations for whatever combination of reasons. From my observations I could reasonably extrapolate that the A99 is one of the most popular cb base antennas in North America. Armed with this information would it not seem reasonable that more A99s would be struck by lightening than other less popular antennas? If for no other reason than sheer volume in the marketplace.

Paul

All very true but there are some basic reasons for it's popularity and large numbers in my opinion.

1. The A99 has been around since the late 1980's.
2. It always been inexpensive and produced in large numbers leading to it's wide availability.
3. It can be easily and quickly put together.
4. It's easy to mount and tune.

Therefore I feel all those conveniences over function has a lot to do with the huge numbers of them being used. They work OK but there are definitely better performing antennas available. I agree the huge numbers would contribute to the large numbers of reported lightening strikes. However there are a large number of operators in my three state area that run aluminum ground planes as well and reports of strikes by them are rare. In contrast to the large number of strikes reported by locals using fiberglass antennas. It would be interesting to see some real research done comparing frequency of strikes of aluminum and fiberglass antennas but I doubt any will ever be conducted.

[Ronin]

Well I have searched the WORLD WIDE WEB & checked the feedback & review pages & have decide a PROTON 99 base antenna is about to be installled at my house this week.I see CBradios PLUS ad for ony $59.99 so I guess I'll send the wife after one for me.Hope it works OK with my COBRA 148GTL & ASTATIC "GOLDEN EAGLE" D-104 BAREFOOT? }:>) Maybe I can get across the county line anyway with it at about 40 ft? We will see VERY SOON!

73,
SIX-SHOOTER
UNIT 66
NORTH FLORIDA

At 40 ft. you should do just fine. Once you have it up, let us all know what you think of it.

I had an A-99 up for about 13 years and it was a good performer. I did swap it out for an Imax 2000 (same mast, mount, and coax) and saw about a 1 to 1.5 S-unit improvement using the Imax. I do believe that a little of that improvement was the antenna, but possibly most of it was due to the A-99's age and the fact that it was starting to get some hairline cracks in the fibreglass (maybe a little moisture in there....maybe a little corrosion). My A-99 was up 20 ft. and I could usually talk to bases about 35 - 40 miles away (no amp and vertical antenna to vertical antenna). Anyway, good luck with the new antenna and the instalation! Keep us posted!

[Slim Pickins]

Another observation....most of the guys I know have A99 antennas. I talk to a lot of guys all over when dxing who are using A99 antennas. I would be willing to bet I talk to more A99s than all other antennas combined. From this I can draw a couple of conclusions. First, the A99 must work reasonably well or I wouldn't hear so many people who are using them. Second, the A99 is a very popular antenna for cb base stations for whatever combination of reasons. From my observations I could reasonably extrapolate that the A99 is one of the most popular cb base antennas in North America. Armed with this information would it not seem reasonable that more A99s would be struck by lightening than other less popular antennas? If for no other reason than sheer volume in the marketplace.

Paul

All very true but there are some basic reasons for it's popularity and large numbers in my opinion.

1. The A99 has been around since the late 1980's.
2. It always been inexpensive and produced in large numbers leading to it's wide availability.
3. It can be easily and quickly put together.
4. It's easy to mount and tune.

Therefore I feel all those conveniences over function has a lot to do with the huge numbers of them being used. They work OK but there are definitely better performing antennas available. I agree the huge numbers would contribute to the large numbers of reported lightening strikes. However there are a large number of operators in my three state area that run aluminum ground planes as well and reports of strikes by them are rare. In contrast to the large number of strikes reported by locals using fiberglass antennas. It would be interesting to see some real research done comparing frequency of strikes of aluminum and fiberglass antennas but I doubt any will ever be conducted.

I agree, some real research would be good to see. I have also often considered that perhaps some of the reason for the high occurance of lightening strikes to A99s are because of installation. Maybe a large number of users who buy the A99 do so because first of all it is very economical. This leads me to think that some purchasers are trying to get on the air for as little as possible. Perhaps corners are cut; like, proper grounding for lightening protection. Also I have noticed that while working with my son's A99 it tends to build a static charge similar to a ballon rubbed in your hair. When I sanded the antenna to paint it I could feel the hairs on my arm stand up. Wind blowing past it would create the same effect, right? Without proper grounding a strike is all but guaranteed. The question is, how do you ground the fiberglass without affecting the antenna's radiation? Not really sure where I'm going with this, kinda thinking out loud.

73s
Paul

[293]

Another observation....most of the guys I know have A99 antennas. I talk to a lot of guys all over when dxing who are using A99 antennas. I would be willing to bet I talk to more A99s than all other antennas combined. From this I can draw a couple of conclusions. First, the A99 must work reasonably well or I wouldn't hear so many people who are using them. Second, the A99 is a very popular antenna for cb base stations for whatever combination of reasons. From my observations I could reasonably extrapolate that the A99 is one of the most popular cb base antennas in North America. Armed with this information would it not seem reasonable that more A99s would be struck by lightening than other less popular antennas? If for no other reason than sheer volume in the marketplace.

Paul

Would someone explain to me how a fiberglass antenna works better than a metal one that has ground plane radials?

[Slim Pickins]

Another observation....most of the guys I know have A99 antennas. I talk to a lot of guys all over when dxing who are using A99 antennas. I would be willing to bet I talk to more A99s than all other antennas combined. From this I can draw a couple of conclusions. First, the A99 must work reasonably well or I wouldn't hear so many people who are using them. Second, the A99 is a very popular antenna for cb base stations for whatever combination of reasons. From my observations I could reasonably extrapolate that the A99 is one of the most popular cb base antennas in North America. Armed with this information would it not seem reasonable that more A99s would be struck by lightening than other less popular antennas? If for no other reason than sheer volume in the marketplace.

Paul

Would someone explain to me how a fiberglass antenna works better than a metal one that has ground plane radials?

I didn't say a fiberglass antenna works better than a metal one. In fact I would testify that my all aluminum .64 wavelength groundplane antenna works much better on tx and rx on the same antenna support in the same location as my son's A99 does. I have tried both. I said the A99 "works reasonably well". I feel that I hear so many people who use them based on volume in the cb arena. I am neither trashing nor advocating the A99 antenna. I am only saying that there are a lot of them out there, which partially explains why a lot of A99s get hit by lightening, and why I hear of so many on the air.

73s
Paul

[Nagant]

I've notice the high static electricity build up on them as well. When I ran one for a little while back in the 1990's I remember that static electricity build up showing on receive once it built up high enough. Same with a three piece Big Stick I ran for a while back then as well.

[SIX-SHOOTER]

Well I made the call & my wife is picking up the PROTON 99 tomorrow for me.I SHOULD have it in the air by Wednesday night so MAYBE I'll get a chance to give it a REAL workout over the weekend if not before.If 11 meters is NOT open I'll hook it to my ICOM 756 PROII or ICOM 746 PRO & see how it plays on 10 or 12 meters with the AMERITRON kicking it in the butt! }:>) The PORK is because I'm also a HAM.hehehaha

SIX-SHOOTER
UNIT 66
NORTH FLORIDA

[SIX-SHOOTER]

Well I put the NEW PROTON 99 up Wednesday afternoon & the SWR is VERY LOW.It's up at 21 ft for now & I'm working all over North America this morning(Saturday)with about 25 watts out on SSB from my NEW UNIDEN "WASHINGTON" base radio my wife bought me Thursday for an EARLY birthday present.Running a COBRA CA-72 desk microphone(came with the radio) until my 5 pin to 4 pin microphone adapter gets here monday then I will be running the ASTATIC "GOLDEN EAGLE" D-104 on it.ONLY gave $50 for the WASHINGTON & COBRA desk microphone so I think I did OK?Hope we can work SOON!

God bless,
SIX-SHOOTER
UNIT 66
North Florida