Gainmaster 5/8th Wave .. Pivotal Point For Guying The Antenna.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- #Gainmaster #CbRadio #SirioAntennas
Over the past six months I have been lowering my Gainmaster when the storms roll in and there have been some storms recently which have caused structural damage to properties, so I have been playing it safe and lowering my highest antenna the Gainmaster as it's height is 72 feet above the ground when sitting in it's usual position.
Rather than continuously lowering it I have decided to guy the antenna as well as the pole to give it added security and strength when the wind gets strong.. I have seen other stations which have guyed their antennas but never seen a Gainmaster antenna itself guyed.. I have also been around the forums and seen mixed comments on the optimal point at which a Gainmaster is best guyed..
Any help and information would be greatly appreciated. thank you.
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I will be doing a short video very soon with an update on where to guy the actual antenna.. Sirio have returned my email with instructions and a diagram on where to add guy ropes to the antenna.
Id buy a 20ft piece of Carbon fiber mast and slip it right over the Gainmaster, but be willing to drop about $250.00 dollars.
My Farher used Diawa deep Sea fishing pole blanks from the factory and coated the fiberglass rods in two part epoxy when he built his 20 meter half wave cubical quad, the fiberglass poles were used as spreaders to hold the 6 Awg 100% Copper stranded Mil-Spec radiator, reflecting and directing elements, the two part epoxy was mixed in a one gallon paint bucket and brushed on just like paint. It worked extremely well, and prevented the Suns U.V. rays from deteriorating the fiberglass, the antenna was built back in 75' and over the course of about 20 years, He only had a couple of cracked fiberglass spreaders.
Keep in mind, you do want some flexibility otherwise the mast will break.
Another idea, there are commercial antenna manufactures that use a spray paint for weatherization, and YES, contrary to popular beliefs, you can paint an antenna without hampering its performance, just not sure how expensive the commercial paints would cost?.
I had a Shakespeare antenna years ago which splintered in places, I rubbed it down and painted it with a self leveling boat marine paint, I'm not sure if it was lead based but it never really worked the same again, although that was a time I never used a swr meter back in the very early days lol
Awesome video that pole does look high up and look like some heavy winds could take that out
But I don't really know anything. Great job. Can't wait for next video.... Sharing you out
Awe bless you Rebby, I hope you are in a better place and taking time out, we all need to step back once in a while, it's a shame others cannot see that, big hugs ❤️❤️
The antenna will be just fine but with it being mounted so high I was looking for extra strength, I'm sure I will work it out they are some great peeps here with lots of good advice and I will take it all on board.. much love xx
@@DeltaXray444 I am in better place thanks to Zara my wife and Sarah they all gave me good advice
My best guess is to use Military 7 strand 550 parachord and guy the antenna about 3/4 the way up from the antenna load. You can get a few hundred foot spool of Military parachord at a fairly reasonable price, make sure its genuine Nylon 550 (7) strand chord, there are cheap Chinese "Military STYLE" Parachord dealers out there, so be cautious.
Anchor the parachord to Earth with galvanized turnbuckles, that way you can add tension to each Guy accordingly...IDK? just my two cents.🤓👍
I did find out where to guy it, in some early manuals that come with the antenna it shows you where and in some it doesn't.. it's at the top of the second section, I bought some UV resistant cord a long time ago and never used it so it should be good to go.
@@DeltaXray444 Thats good to hear. Post a video of the finished product results when you get around to tackling the project, i'd be interested in seeing how it worked out.
Take care my Friend. 73's for now!✌
I did do a follow up video but I never put it on public, take a look at this link th-cam.com/video/8SgXbtQ_XH0/w-d-xo.html
We have some bad winds around Costal S.C. as well. Thanks for the information on the Gainmaster,
No worries, I'll be uploading a short video soon with where to guy the antenna.
Hi Glen with the high winds we get down here in Cornwall a lot of the gms snap or crack on the bottom section and I know a few stations here have guyed them at the top of the second section with good results. I am using one myself now with great results. Hope you are keeping well mate.
Hi Steve, ive been in hospital with blood poisoning and only been out a day or so.. so im still in recovery.. ive not heard of any Gainmaster snapping these ways but have seen four videos on TH-cam that show imax's snapping at the first segment..
Yes that is the perfect spot for guying the gm, i have done a very short update video on it but with being in hospital ive not had chance to put it up.. i find the gm for me works better than any other 5/8th wave ive tried but again getting it in the clear and environment makes a big difference with the gm. Hope you are in good health yourself my friend.
@@DeltaXray444 Sorry to hear you have been unwell Glen and I hope you are getting over it mate.I have several friends down here that have had several breaks and they will not buy another one. others have guyed as I have and they have been ok right through the bad storms last few weeks
Those storms have been crazy with one rolling in after the other.. im at the base of the Pennines so the wind cuts across with force, i think the bottom of the Pennines channel's the the winds through and hits us hard.. health-wise im much better than i was but still a bit sore from the operation but im getting there.. if my gm snapped id certainly buy another, i guess if an antenna works well for me id give it a second chance.. after all any antenna regardless of make can break under extreme weather conditions. Its what works best that is important for each of us, and those wind conditions have been bad too.
Good job darling!! That pole looks mighty attractive to lightning 🌩, it looks so high up!
It's been lowered at the moment Tara for maintenance, it goes much higher when fully up ❤️❤️
I have the Imax 2000 on the 8th-floor balcony, which apparently can take up to 100mph wind speed, it is a worry for me when the storms come in and I've watched it do a merry dance, but it seems to hold well. bit difficult for me to actually get to it as well. but good luck and sorry i don't have any answers, but hopefully, you will get some help from the radio community. Best 73 bud :-)
Crikey Al I forgot about your antenna being that high, tbh way up there if the wind blew it would seriously keep me awake at night.. we must be nuts eh buddy lol. Thanks pal, I'm sure there is someone out there who still has the paperwork for theirs.. here's hoping.
@@DeltaXray444 Why dont you look on the internet for instructions must be out there somewhere. Apologies if you already tried.
@@Al.26TC101 I have looked but all you get are the build for antenna and performance stats, I may have overlooked the guy part and read as much as I could see and looked at various sites, I've emailed Sirio so I may get some input from them, here's hoping.
I remember the old Shakespeare Super Big Stick never broke in storms.
Yes they were very strong, the one I owned had two rods screwed together, they were a marine band antenna if memory serves me right.. I could never get mine to swr, not without a tuner anyway. A friend of mine still has one up on T-K brackets and it a right mess it's all shredded, all the top coat enamel has eroded.
@@DeltaXray444 I had the 3 piece version in the early 1990's. I know a few people who had the 2 piece version.
Ahh ok, ive just been reading up about them on WorldwideDX forum, some say there were 2-3-4 piece variants, also some say they were a halfwave and others a 5/8thbwave, i think mine was a halfwave, back then the performance didn't really matter to me as i just spoke to locals, although i did have a few unexpected skip contacts on AM.
Well friend, What can I say. I have never had to guy the antenna itself. The wind is fierce and your elevation is way lower than mine but I am not up as tall. I am about one band length or close. I will say that antenna takes a good beating for sure. Between the elements and that fierce wind that seems to blow one way, I would be like me and admit the lifespan. I have a new unopened Siro A-400 in the radio room this is spare or next to go one. LOL So far 3 years and the original is still holding up but the wind can end it all in a quick second. I have heard your signal and you kick. So you have got the right setup etc. Buy a spare LOL. What can I say? glad to see you on the tube. Say hello to Zara for me my friend Best wishes to both of you. NY202 USA Drew
Hey ole timer, who let you out the institution lol.. those stardusters are a solid antenna for sure, also I've seen the weather by you and those blizzards and ice storms haven't shaken your antenna so far, which is a detriment to just how hardy the A-400 is.. if memory serves me right I'm sure they are a 5/8th wave.. I have one and also ran one many years ago, they are one of the best low angle antennas on the market and breeze the skip..
Your regards are passed onto Zara and she wishes you a swift recovery brother, take care now and if you behave the nurse just might give you your teddy bear back 😂😂
@@DeltaXray444 Thank you and the A-400 I have is 1/2 wave but I always remembered them as bigger etc. You know back in the day when the Dead Sea became Ill. A-4oo would never handle the power that you run. Probably melt. LOL. I barely run any extra power so I am safe. if I ever get one of those amp or linear things I probably have to get a different Antenna. Just Saying.
@@cbradioghosttalk1986 ohh a half wave, umm who would have thought..
I only use radio power like 4 watts you are mistaken I would never break the rules 🤷🏼♂️ lol
But I have spied multiple foot warmers on your bench . Are they like ornaments just for show 😂😂
@@DeltaXray444 Oh my you mean they aren't audio amps, etc. I have a few that hook to each other. My audio does sound better with them. I better check but I think they are 10-watt audio amps.
@@cbradioghosttalk1986 hook together lol, now you're speaking to me now Sheriff we've all seen that 1k you have under the bench, stop changing the subject and putting things back on me.. I've heard things about the power grid going down in your area 😜
My idea is to try a Half Wave gain master. Is 2 meters lower and it seems to me that is less weak for winds and bad weather. I'll talk about it with my antenne installer
One thing you must know is the 5/8th wave transmits further up the antenna so gives the output signal more height.. I have tried both the GM's their is more Rx and TX on the 5/8th wave, and enough to make a difference on those faint contacts especially on ground wave, I cannot say for sure about propagation because the incoming signal is always on the move, but in saying that all reports from stations and manufacturers will tell you that a 5/8th will always out perform a half wave..
As for the height of the GM 5/8th wave yes it bends more simply because of its height at 24 feet but mine have weathered the worst storms and always stands perfect without issues..
We had some terrible storms around a year ago and the antenna I seen snapping was the Imax's I never heard of any GM's breaking.. anywhere.
Also remember the fibreglass is not the antenna the wire which is inside is, the fibreglass is only the rod that keeps the wire upright, unlike other fibreglass antennas and the fibreglass can easily be mended.
Evening Glen , I never guyed my gainmaster what I did was got a alloy pole too attach the gainmaster 5/8 too flex in the wind and never had any issues in high winds , only issue I had was a ran to much power and damaged the internal wireing but did repair and is now as a standby antenna or for going out portable , If my memory is correct didn’t the manual that comes with the gainmaster show best Guying points ! Or may have been another antenna, As you say about the fibreglass it does break down through time , also can’t mind what’s the name of the formula that protects fibreglass! Maybe someone else knows here !
Great video Glen 👍
Hi pal, yes it was most definitely in the Gainmaster's paperwork where to guy it, but I've lost it.. it did give a reference but for the life of me I cannot remember if it was the pivotal point or just a reference for safety, I did email Sirio a while back from an online link I found but haven't received anything back from them thus far.
You make a good point about running another pole along side and I did think about that but also reading up on some forums some people said they had issues with reflection..
I've burnt the capacitor out on two other Gainmaster's, one I have put back in the box and the other I soldered in a higher rated capacitor which should give it more scope, the online video says for the upgrade states upto 1500 watts but I've not tested it as yet.. I'm being more careful with the switcher box these days and running more watts through the IMAX or testing with a dummy load..
I don't think the antenna would break in the wind as it's rated at 160kph, it's just the visible aspect of it whipping back and forth and looking like it has a 50lb carp on it every time the wind gets up lol. I know others swear by other antennas and how well they work and I've tried other antennas but the Gainmaster works better for me compared to others in my location with much less noise..
Thanks for your input it's always appreciated.
🤘🎼🎵🎶🔥🏴☠️🍺
I live on the east coast of N.Ireland and I've lost 2 GMs to high winds but they're the best performing verticals I've used in 40+ years. I've an Imax 2000 up at present and I'm just not impressed. My antenna is fixed to my end gable wall and the bottom it 38ft off the ground. Currently considering another if guying is possible but if not I'll go for a Maco V58 or SPT 500 because nothing seems to last here during the stormy season.
There's something about a GM that works at my QTH.
Im on my forth GM but none lost to the wind.. it's due to putting too many watts up them and frying the capacitor, i keep forgetting to switch between the quarter wave on the switcher box.. if the GM has one issue its it lack of not handling power.. they say its 500 watts but ive blown them doing around 2-300 hundred, but i agree with you the GM does work extremely well, i have put it up against a imax, silver rod, 827, and a 2016, all 5/8 th waves the GM out performed them all on DX and ground wave contacts, for RX there wasn't much difference between any of them except with the GM the lack of noise from RF, and general static was much lower with my needle on the noisiest days only being around a S-3..
Also i think with the GM like any other antenna for there location our local environment makes all the difference.. for me in my honest opinion the GM is also the best antenna i have used.
I have a lemm 5/8th wave ill be trying out in the summer so it'll be interesting to see the comparison.. but so far the GM for my location is definitely the best antenna ive used bar none.
I am currently recovering from an operation and haven't had much time for social media but i did do a follow up video to this one showing where Sirio state where the pivotal point is for guying.. its only a short video and i will add it to the end of my next video upload, thanks.
Are you trying to guy the antenna whip itself? Cheers good sir!!
Yes.. Sirio Antennas who make it have written back via my enquiry through email.. they have given me instructions where to guy the actual antenna.. they do tell you in the instructions that come with the Gainmaster but i have lost them.. i will do an update video showing where to do it with the diagram they sent.
"Fully erected" hmmm 🤔 can't say I can help you with your "ultimate point" Glenn lol
I knew you would be lurking in the background just waiting to pounce on anything I say lol . Now shoo shoo Madame Mel or it's the slipper for you, hush now before I release the hounds 😂😂❤️❤️
@@DeltaXray444 you shoosh Glenn lol
@@melsholeparody remind me again.. who are you 😂😂
@@DeltaXray444 your worst nightmare muwhahaha lol
@@melsholeparody 😯😯😯😂🤣🤣
Change that antenna for aluminum antenna
Using any aluminium antenna was my issue, all of those I tried brought in too much noise, the GM brought in the least noise, I think it's about environmental factors that cause the incoming noise on my signal meter..
Another thing to understand is that the GM is a copper wire antenna inside a fibre glass cover, so the misconceptions about the GM is wrong when people say fibre glass antennas are rubbish the GM is copper which is actually much better than aluminium.