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Call Sign : 163-CT-350 / Gasman Posts : 21 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2023-08-22 QTH or Location : South Wales, Pontypridd Equipment Used : Harrier cbx, ss6900v, thunderpole t800, team euro 3100 Age : 48
Subject: Antron 99 upgrades? Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:11 pm
Hi guys, another post from me I'm afraid.
I installed the antron, very pleased with it, 1.3 swr throughout the whole band, can't get it any lower, must be the location of the antenna.
I see there's ground plane kit and top upgrades available to separately purchase, are they any use? Is it worth adding to the a99?
Cheers dudes
Razz229 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26 CT 2290 & 26 CI 2290 Posts : 761 Times Thanked : 28 Join date : 2019-07-01 QTH or Location : Kent Equipment Used : On 11m a Anytone 6666, Solarcon A99 vertical antenna or a Sirio 4000. On PMR a CRT Space U, a 1/4 wave GPA, homemade mag mount & sometimes a 8 element beam. Age : 56
Subject: Re: Antron 99 upgrades? Tue Dec 19, 2023 11:36 am
Hi Mike
When you say "across the band" do you mean the 40 channels of UK CB or the whole Euro/UK allocation and the bit in-between?
If so 1:3 is more than acceptable. When I use my Solarcon/Antron for portable/net days, I have used it anywhere from 1:1 to 1:5 at about 20 watts.
As for the ground plane kit and top section upgrade. Reading around the Interweb, the ground plane kit doesn't seem to do anything, but the top section upgrade does see a improvement on both RX and TX.
Hope this is some help
Revo Mikey likes this post
Revo Mikey New Member
Call Sign : 163-CT-350 / Gasman Posts : 21 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2023-08-22 QTH or Location : South Wales, Pontypridd Equipment Used : Harrier cbx, ss6900v, thunderpole t800, team euro 3100 Age : 48
Call Sign : 26 CT 2290 & 26 CI 2290 Posts : 761 Times Thanked : 28 Join date : 2019-07-01 QTH or Location : Kent Equipment Used : On 11m a Anytone 6666, Solarcon A99 vertical antenna or a Sirio 4000. On PMR a CRT Space U, a 1/4 wave GPA, homemade mag mount & sometimes a 8 element beam. Age : 56
Subject: Re: Antron 99 upgrades? Sat Dec 23, 2023 2:15 pm
karelgol wrote:
Top section: That would be the Firestick upgrade?
Hi Karel
Yes that's right, the firestick or fire up top section replacement
Revo Mikey New Member
Call Sign : 163-CT-350 / Gasman Posts : 21 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2023-08-22 QTH or Location : South Wales, Pontypridd Equipment Used : Harrier cbx, ss6900v, thunderpole t800, team euro 3100 Age : 48
Subject: Re: Antron 99 upgrades? Sat Dec 23, 2023 10:14 pm
Has anyone tried the fire stick upgrade? Worth it?
Northern Crusader Major contributor
Call Sign : M0GVZ / 26CT1760 Posts : 531 Times Thanked : 35 Join date : 2019-11-13 QTH or Location : IO94SA Equipment Used : Icom 7300, TS480, President McKinley, Albrecht AE6110, CRT Mike Age : 53
Subject: Re: Antron 99 upgrades? Sun Dec 24, 2023 10:08 am
Firestik upgrade isn't worth it. The groundplane kit is and whilst you may not think it does anything it actually is doing a lot, you just may not notice on the S meter.
karelgol Senior contributor
Call Sign : 19-CT-024 / PD0GOL Posts : 139 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2020-05-21 QTH or Location : Steenwijk, JO32bs Equipment Used : Dynascan AT5555,Yaesu FT-897, W3EDP junior, MFJ-925 Age : 65
Subject: Re: Antron 99 upgrades? Sun Dec 24, 2023 12:09 pm
Suppose it depends on the surroundings. I live in an urban environment, my son on the countryside. For me the radials didn't do much, he noticed some improvement. For the firestick upgrade it was just the other way around.
Today at 9:23 am by Razz229
Subject: Antron 99 upgrades? 
