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Old 6th Mar 2014, 12:33 pm   #21
HamishBoxer
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Please keep us posted re the outcome.
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Old 7th Mar 2014, 1:10 pm   #22
Peter.N.
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

I will. So far I have asked to return it as it doesn't meet specification but have been ignored.

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Old 7th Mar 2014, 1:27 pm   #23
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Trades description here you come I think.
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 11:58 am   #24
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

That's what I was thinking but how do I prove it. Tried running a new feeder yesterday, found a redundant length of UR67 with an 'N' plug on it, it wasn't until I got on to the roof and tried to connect it I discovered it was another female.

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Old 8th Mar 2014, 6:19 pm   #25
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Just reject it as not fit for purpose, distance selling regulations may also help.
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 7:04 pm   #26
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

This is another good reason for buying stuff using a credit-card rather than cash/cheque/debit-card.

If you end up in a dispute with the supplier, provided you are 'timely' in lodging the claim you can reject the item and get a chargeback with your CC company.

The issue then becomes a matter for them to take up with the supplier.

The precise definition of 'timely' is open to some legal wrangling. I've never failed to get a chargeback when doing this.
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 7:39 pm   #27
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Only for goods over £100 i think protection with credit card.
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 7:54 pm   #28
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Probably depends on your credit-card: I've scored a chargeback for a £75 camera-battery which was definitely nowhere near the vendor's claimed capacity. I also did a chargeback for a £55 overnight stay in a Travelodge in which sleeping was entirely impossible because of the nocturnal-noisy antics of other guests in the corridors outside my room.
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 8:47 pm   #29
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Dylan Thomas knew how to turn a word.

I've got a Comet 2m/70cm co-linear up on the apex of the house and it does what it says on the tin. Gain seems about what I expected. It's also got an N-connector which is an awful lot better than SO239. Comet seem dependable.

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Old 8th Mar 2014, 9:55 pm   #30
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

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Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
I've got a Comet 2m/70cm co-linear up on the apex of the house and it does what it says on the tin. Gain seems about what I expected. It's also got an N-connector which is an awful lot better than SO239. Comet seem dependable.
++ on Comet stuff - alas when I moved from my last abode it just wasn't cost-effective to recover the Comet dual-5/8-wave collinear on the chimney that had worked perfectly for a decade-and-a-half.

As well as Comet, I also recommend Italian "Sirio" antennas - I've a few hundred vehicles running round with their spring-based VHF-whips:

[which intriguingly also can be cut to work both as a base-loaded 1/4-wave for 50MHz and a 5/8-wave for 2-metres].
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 10:05 pm   #31
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

It seems to me that the new antennas elements are probably cut for the high end of the band and the matching has been adjusted for the mid portion. This should cause a downward tilt of the radiation pattern and all the useful gain is being wasted unless you live on top of a mountain.

John G4IJD
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Old 8th Mar 2014, 10:39 pm   #32
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

We live at 500' asl with the ground dropping away on three sides and have a clear view of about 15 miles to the east, used to be able to work FM in to Holland, when there were people on it.

I paid via Paypal, don't know if I have any redress from them, and yes, it was over £100.00. I checked my ebay messages and can find no trace of the last two I sent so have contacted them again. I can open a dispute with them via ebay but don't know how effective that would be.

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Old 9th Mar 2014, 4:52 pm   #33
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

I have had success with dispute resolution via eBay/PayPal. Try it!
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Old 9th Mar 2014, 7:51 pm   #34
Peter.N.
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

OK thanks. I have today replaced the feeder with some low loss air spaced UR67 or similar and the performance is actually worse, weak stations audible on the loft antenna can now not be heard at all on the collinear.

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Old 9th Mar 2014, 8:02 pm   #35
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Ebay/PayPal are first class in any dispute.
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Old 9th Mar 2014, 10:33 pm   #36
Chris G0EYO
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Is the loft aerial any higher than the moonraker colinear. Even a few feet at 2m/70cms will make a difference.
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Old 10th Mar 2014, 12:14 am   #37
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Hi Chris

No, the Moonraker was about 20 feet higher, its lower since I fitted the new feeder, the bottom is about level with the top of the indoor one, I will try the effect of winding the tower back up again tomorrow.

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Old 11th Mar 2014, 1:08 pm   #38
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

My opinion of Moonraker has substantially improved this morning, after checking the SWR with another newer meter I found it was in fact around the 1.5 mark on all frequencies but the fact remains that it is well down on gain compared with my loft antenna, I told them this and have received a full refund.

They said they had sold hundreds and never had a problem so either mine has a fault or no one has done a direct comparison before.

In view of the excellent performance of my loft aerial which is a 2m/70cm about 6' long with a splitter at the bottom, I think I will put that up on the mast.

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Old 11th Mar 2014, 1:19 pm   #39
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Good result, iI admit iI have used Moonraker before and found the service excellent.
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Old 8th Jul 2014, 4:45 pm   #40
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Default Re: Disappointment with my new 2M antenna

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter.N. View Post
My beam blew down in the storms so I decided to fit a high gain vertical instead. I duly purchased a Moonraker 3x5/8 colinear. I fitted it at the weekend and it sounded OK at first until I compared it with the 2m/70cm antenna in my loft and found it generally to be down by about one 'S' point.
Hi OM Peter,

The problem could be that you are at sea level and the stations you received at a much higher altitude.

Under such conditions the collinear, with its low angle of radiation, is at a disadvantage when compared to a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna with its high radiation angle.

I have observed this behaviour with a J-pole antenna. The signal from a distant repeater located on a hill is always stronger at my location while using a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna.

On the other hand stations at my altitude are stronger while using the J-pole.The effect is more pronounced with signals from mobile stations at my altitude.

I suppose your loft antenna has a high angle of radiation (even if it's not a 1/4 wave ground plane!).

73,

Nandu.
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