New homebase antenna for FM and SSB Dxing

Hi All

I have and been using a Antron A99 for a number of years (about 10) with Good results over the years, but the noise level can be high, so time's.. but I think time to buy a new antenna for the new year, I don't think aerial's mature with age.. like wire.. 

So new A99 or thunder pole 5 which looks good to me, also I have read some good results lately about the thunder pole as it may have less noise levels..  any help please.. 

Cheers ALL 

Have a great and safe Christmas..

Andy (26CT231)

My last antenna was an Antron 99 with the ground plane kit and for all it was a great ariel when it rained it became very noisy and since trying out fibreglass co-linears on other bands it strikes me that it is the fibreglass antennas can be a little noisy with poor weather.

The Sirio antenna base 2016/827 have a fantastic reputation but I couldn't get away with all those ground planes as it is far too eye-catching and I have a neighbour who lives to complain about others it seems so I am working with a Ringo half-wave vertical at the moment it is almost identical to the Cushcraft AR10 apart from it was only around half the price.

The full aluminium construction is clearly quieter during the bad weather which was my main gripe really with Fibreglass antennas and the bandwidth is very good as well allowing me down to 26.285 or well up into ten metres without a tuner.

I am interested in doing some side by side comparisons between the half-wave and a five-eighths wave so have picked up a fibreglass fishing pole and a Hawkins Thunderbolt five eights wave wire antenna and once fully extended it should be around the same height as the half-wave and the fact it is only temporary means I can put it up and down with no planning permission or complaints from busybody neighbours with a bee in their bonnet.

No real answers there I am afraid, but that is the fun of the hobby isn't it, trying it out for yourself and seeing how it works out for you?



73's


Alan