Comments on GAP Antennas, Anyone?
sand...@yvax.byu.edu
Challenger DX-VIII? Would appreciate any comments. My current antenna only
goes to 40M and I would like to go to 80.
Thanks,
Mi...@amlibs.com
W8JI Tom
and have had a chance to compare them. The GAP is a very poor performer on
the low bands, and a low dipole beats it badly-nearly two S units at DX.
So does the Butternut but it has a large radial system.
I don't think they've changed the design technoligy in the antenna, so I
expect they still are poor antennas (especially for low bands), as most
short stub loaded minimal ground verticals are. On the other hand they do
radiate better than no antenna at all!
73 Tom
Grant Youngman
I use a DX-VIII, and find it quite satisfactory on 40 meters and up. 75/80 meter
performance is not great -- I wouldn't say lousy, but if you have the space, I'd
suggest a dipole (even a low one).
On 80 meters, the GAP is at best a meager compromise -- but, hey, I use mine
there quite frequently because a compromise is all I can get in the air at the
moment. The bandwidth is narrow, and you can't run high power (anything over
basic transceiver levels) outside the 2:1 range without risking damage to the
small mica caps used in the matching network.
Overall, though, I'm quite happy with it - it meets most of my needs (not that I
wouldn't rather have a full size 80 meter 3 or 4 element beam at a couple hundred
feet in the air) :-)
Grant/NQ5T
Unknown
>Wonder if anyone has any experience with GAP antennas; specifically the
>Challenger DX-VIII? Would appreciate any comments. My current antenna only
>goes to 40M and I would like to go to 80.
>Thanks,
>Mi...@amlibs.com
I use the DX Titan and think it's great! No complaints/
Bud
Gregory Knapp
>
> Wonder if anyone has any experience with GAP antennas; specifically the
> Challenger DX-VIII? Would appreciate any comments. My current antenna only
> goes to 40M and I would like to go to 80.
I have had the Gap Voyager in the field behind my home and it works
GREAT! I got it for 160M DX, and found that it allowed me to work DX
that couldn't hear me on my full size 160M dipoles (only 30 feet up).
But to my surprise, it really EXCELs on 80! I used to have trouble
working the east coast from here during contests on my 80 meter dipole
and it would often take 3 to 5 calls to get a response. With the Voyager
it is unusual if I don't get them the FIRST call! On 40, it's about
on par with the Hustler Vertical in A/B tests (the Hustler is about
100 feet closer to the shack--the Voyager is about 250 feet away!), but
sometimes it wins, sometimes the Hustler wins, and sometimes the dipole
wins...depending on how close the stations are (the dipole's usually best
for 400 miles and closer). Remember, verticals generally have lower angles
of radiation and often on 75 I hear the east coast pounding in and
have to switch to the low 75 dipole to hear the guys within 400 miles
or so (they jump up about 2-3 S units and they East Coast drops by at
least that on the TS-440S s-meter).
The SWR claims of 100 kc wide of 160 are true, and no problem on any
of the other bands it's designed for. Wish I could tell you about the
Challenger, but I've never used that model.
73,
Greg, N6GK (the "Galloping Kangaroo!")
Morgan Hill, CA
Roderick Hart
both dipoles under normal circumstances. The Windom is probably the
quietest and most pleasant to listen to, however the top loading of the
GAP must work because there is no comparison on transmit. I really wish
I knew how the GAP works.
Runrobin
While it did match the feedline with a reasonable SWR, it was consistently
outperformed by a R5 vertical at the higher bands and by a 40 mtr dipole
(30 feet up) on 40/80 mtrs - I used open wire and a tuner.
I was not able to mount it very much in the clear - as some articles
recommend. My situation required that it be mounted in some woods and
possibly too close to some trees. I hear that it performs better in an
open field type of environment.
Bottom line - I would not recommend one, based upon my experience!
John Fleming
"Don't it always seem to go,
that you don't know what you've got
till it's gone?"
I used to have a GAP Challenger, and I got out almost
every day, in Chicago area, QRP!
Now, I hardly ever make a contact.
But, as they say, your mileage may vary....
John N9NDH
Rick Blank
>John N9NDH
I have had a Gap Challenger for almost 4 years now and while it is not
as good as some antennas mounted higher on bands higher than 20m ,
i.e., an R-7 at 50 feet, it is definately a decent antenna...if I can
hear them, I can work them....
20meters is a good band with it, DX and stateside contacts work well,
40m DX is great, 75m not-so-great. On 40 meters, the Gap is better
to Las Vegas than the 40/75m Unadilla trapped dipole, anything closer
and the dipole is better. I worked a bunch of European DX right after
I installed the antenna and running 100 watts got excellent reports
with at least an S-9 signal into Spain and Sweeden.....
I really consider the antenna a really GOOD 20 and 40 meter antenna
for working DX or long distance steside contacts,and it is a great SWL
antenna to boot. If you are interested in 75 and 40m contacts in
close, then a dipole or full wave loop will outperform the GAP but
they lose when compared to the low angle of radiation the GAP exhibits
on longer paths.....
Just my 2cents worth,
Rick, KI5SL
James Barnes
I have a daily sked with 3 friends in various parts of the country and
2 of them on 40 meters use it also with excellent results.Works very
well for me on dx as well.I highly reccomend it.Good luck de kc4vw 73.
PaulS90212
countries with 100 watts. The GAP works better on most (but not all
bands) than the Butternut did up in the air with zillions of radials.
However, the Butternut was much better at working all of the TVs in the
neighborhood. There is something about the GAPs ballanced (more or less)
design.
- Paul, N6DN
Fred Moore
I have also used both antenna's along with the Hi-gain, and cushcraft's
the GAP wins hands down.. One comment they are serious about keeping
the antenna away from other nearby objects. BTW the 3 25 foot ground
radials are for tuning of the 40 meter section, changing the length allows
you to tune 40 meters without effecting the other bands. cheers
Grant H Youngman
>I have also used both antenna's along with the Hi-gain, and cushcraft's
>the GAP wins hands down.. One comment they are serious about keeping
>the antenna away from other nearby objects. BTW the 3 25 foot ground
>radials are for tuning of the 40 meter section, changing the length allows
>you to tune 40 meters without effecting the other bands. cheers
>
The GAP takes an undeserved bad rap many times. I have found it to be
an excellent antenna on 40 and up, though 80 meter performance leaves
something to be desired -- but that's a minor nit on an otherwise good
multiband vertical.
I have my counterpoise shortened to 22' to achieve a good match across
40 meters and also had to add about 6" to the 20 meter lower tuning
rod
I've used the Butternut (a good antenna) and the R-5, and for my needs
and lack of ability to install a proper radial system for the Butternut,
the GAP Challenger has proven to be an excellent choice.
Grant/NQ5T
Dan and Carol Clark
adjustment is the shortening and lenthening of a wire on the bottom of
the antenna for forty meters.
When I first installed the antenna the 20 meters SWR was high. I
called the factory. They were polite and very helpfull. I was told to
cut 1/2 inch off a small rod. This took 5 minutes. The SWR is now
perfect.
Eighty meters is as advertized. You will have to choose between the CW
portion and the SSB for eighty. You can change a small cap on the end
of the antenna if you want to change which area on eighty you want to
work, but the antenna must come down to reach the end of it. It is a
tall antenna.
I am very pleased with it. Is it a 4 element mono bander? No, but it
meets my needs very well, I receive very nice signal reports and I hear
well.
Good DX, Dan
mlaz...@delphi.com
Bottom line:
R5 - worked very well for me. Easy to assemble and put up.
Butternuts - also worked very well if you put a *good* radial system under
them...a LOT of work. It does pay off, however.
Voyager IV (GAP) - by far the best vertical I've ever used. It's a beast,
and can be a real pain to put up (and keep up) but the effort is worth
it. It takes three to four people to erect it safely and it *must*
be guyed a lot better than the mfr recommends if you expect to keep it
up in anything more than a 20mph wind. However, there is no better
vertical for working 80 and 40 DX. I made hundreds of contacts
with mine and am looking forward to putting it up again at my new QTH
(almost an acre with *no CC&Rs!*).
Have fun,
73, Mike KB3RG
Dan and Carol Clark
I have a Gap "Titan", a no radial antenna. It works just as advertized.
It is not a four element yagi, but it works great. It was easy to put
up, and is is also very tall. It's on my patio cover in a city.
Dan.
