Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Rayburn" les@highnoonfilm.com To: "AMSAT Mailing List" amsat-bb@amsat.org; starcom-bb@star-com.net Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 4:18 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
Hi Les,N1LF from Domenico, i8CVS
1) I have used the A144-10T since 1973 and compared to modern type it works no so well because the phasing harness to switch polarizations uses crimped PL connectors and you get water and humidity into it.
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
2) To switch between RHCP and LHCP you must screw and unscrew by hand the phasing harness connectors and since the antenna is not equipped with a polarization switching relay you have not the time to switch polarization while operating the satellite.
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
3) Do not use the above Cushcraft A144-20 T for the above reason. Buy a modern model of crossed yagi with polarization switching relay between RHCP to LHCP possibly from 2M
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
I understand a good price because it is a old model of antenna wich designe is almost back 30 yars ago. BTW the aluminum is a good quality and witstand on the environment for many years.
-- 73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
73" de i8CVS Domenico
I have a Cushcraft A144-20T. Twice as many elements in each plane than yours. I run both a vertical and horizontal coax to my shack and use a crossover coax switch with phasing and impedance matching coax to generate switchable circular polarization in the shack. Works great for me. The polarization change makes a big difference at times on the satellites..
I can also run just vertical or horizontal polarization by changing the coax configuration in the shack. In fact, you can use the same crossover switch as a SPDT to experiment with changing between horizontal and vertical polarization. I do this during VHF contests sometimes. I have also worked meteor scatter with it.
I have been using this antenna for 25 years with no problems. I used it with AO10, AO13 and AO40 with no problems. The low orbit birds are really loud compared to the high orbits birds.
73, Bill NJ1H
On 10/3/2013 10:18 PM, Les Rayburn wrote:
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
I had a buddy take his and slightly modify it. He took the vertical set and optimized it higher in the band. So he had a Horizontal for SSB & CW SWR great at the bottom of the band, and a Vertical resonant higher for FM work, and Circular for sats, and the slight mismatch diddn't seem to hurt it any.
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 10/3/2013 11:22 PM, Bill Bordy, NJ1H wrote:
I have a Cushcraft A144-20T. Twice as many elements in each plane than yours. I run both a vertical and horizontal coax to my shack and use a crossover coax switch with phasing and impedance matching coax to generate switchable circular polarization in the shack. Works great for me. The polarization change makes a big difference at times on the satellites..
I can also run just vertical or horizontal polarization by changing the coax configuration in the shack. In fact, you can use the same crossover switch as a SPDT to experiment with changing between horizontal and vertical polarization. I do this during VHF contests sometimes. I have also worked meteor scatter with it.
I have been using this antenna for 25 years with no problems. I used it with AO10, AO13 and AO40 with no problems. The low orbit birds are really loud compared to the high orbits birds.
73, Bill NJ1H
On 10/3/2013 10:18 PM, Les Rayburn wrote:
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
To make a long story short.
Try it before you spend more money. It probably will be a good antenna for your attic. No water issues at that location. Set it up for LHCP and with the current satellites it will work most of the times just fine.
Why pay big bucks for a "newer" one if this will work for you.
73, Stefan VE4NSA
On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 8:14 AM, Joe nss@mwt.net wrote:
I had a buddy take his and slightly modify it. He took the vertical set and optimized it higher in the band. So he had a Horizontal for SSB & CW SWR great at the bottom of the band, and a Vertical resonant higher for FM work, and Circular for sats, and the slight mismatch diddn't seem to hurt it any.
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 10/3/2013 11:22 PM, Bill Bordy, NJ1H wrote:
I have a Cushcraft A144-20T. Twice as many elements in each plane than yours. I run both a vertical and horizontal coax to my shack and use a crossover coax switch with phasing and impedance matching coax to generate switchable circular polarization in the shack. Works great for me. The polarization change makes a big difference at times on the satellites..
I can also run just vertical or horizontal polarization by changing the coax configuration in the shack. In fact, you can use the same crossover switch as a SPDT to experiment with changing between horizontal and vertical polarization. I do this during VHF contests sometimes. I have also worked meteor scatter with it.
I have been using this antenna for 25 years with no problems. I used it with AO10, AO13 and AO40 with no problems. The low orbit birds are really loud compared to the high orbits birds.
73, Bill NJ1H
On 10/3/2013 10:18 PM, Les Rayburn wrote:
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
______________________________**_________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
______________________________**_________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Someone gave me an old but new-in-box version of the same antenna a few years ago. I did a shoot out between it and the three element Arrow. I used a ten degree AO-7 and a two degree VO-52 pass for comparison between mode B satellites.
My tests showed the Cushcraft in RHCP did not perform better than the Arrow. In fixed horizontal configuration, I saw a slight improvement with the Cushcraft. In both antenna setups, I had the antennas fixed at the horizon.
This was a crude test and I didn't use any formal measurements in my assessment.
Overall I would not recommend this antenna for circular polarity satellite use. For terrestrial vertical / horizontal operating I'm sure it's okay.
73 Clayton W5PFG On Oct 3, 2013 9:38 PM, "Les Rayburn" les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous:
1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs?
2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization?
3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for?
Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too.
--
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484
Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
______________________________**_________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (6)
-
Bill Bordy, NJ1H -
Clayton Coleman -
i8cvs -
Joe -
Les Rayburn -
Stefan Wagener