HOT NEWS
It’s not very often that one reads one’s own
website, but having spoken yesterday to quite a few “readers” of
same at the Magnum Rally in Irvine, I decided it was time to have a
look myself, only to be reminded yet again how times flies – I was
indeed shaken to see that the last “HOT NEWS”, which described the
SCOTIA “Traveller” and
“Islander” antennas, was dated
February 2007! It was clearly time to up-date…
Sadly, the Italian makers of the lovely little12-section fishing
rod, ceased production, and as most SCOTIA followers will know, we
had to follow suit and abandon the fantastic little
“Traveller” – “little” in that
it telescoped to under 16” (~40cm) and yet its 12 sections extended
to 11’10” (~3m.60). We have been unable to find anything
similar….Being centre-loaded as well, its radiation resistance on
14.175 MHz computed to about 23Ω, compared to about 4.7Ω for the
ubiquitous base-loaded 8-foot whip and only 1.3Ω for the much
vaunted High Sierra “Side-Kick” (assuming base-loading). If we
assume a “good” ground (etc.) loss resistance of say 10Ω in each
case, these figures equate to an efficiency of some 70% for the
“Traveller” (compared to a full
¼-wave vertical), around 32% for the 8-foot whip and about 11% for
the afore said “Side-Kick”. (N.B. Some (unreported!) computational
errors crept into the 2007 figures, but the general interpretation
was the same).
However…the big brother “Islander”,
an up-to-date version of the incredibly successful SCOTIA island
multi-band vertical, has continues to be available. Being about 40%
longer than the “Traveller”, its
basic radiation resistance is 40% higher, and this is increased
further by a – not quite at the centre – raised loading coil, giving
increased efficiency – which is ultimately what matters. Currently,
there only TWO full kits left, at a P&P inclusive price of £65.
In view of what some outlets are charging (e.g. £410 for the “tiny”
High Sierra so-called “Side-Kick”), which radiation-wise is much
inferior to the “Islander” –
O.K., it uses a wee motor to stop you getting wet when changing
bands in the rain, but so what?!), we have had to reconsider
matters. I am very happy to make more
“Islanders”, but I would need to order more “blanks” and
other necessary hardware. Making a complete kit is quite
time-intensive, resulting in an hourly labour rate to me of
something like 50p!! Some will say “AH!…but it keeps you busy in
your old age”!.....but the last thing I need is to be “kept busy” –
my biggest problem is figuring out how to live to 150 to complete
all the projects (that’s assuming I don’t come up with any new ones
in the meantime!)…
So…I am happy to take orders for
“Islanders” but it has to be cash up front, and with the
acceptance of a reasonable delivery delay (hopefully of 2 to 3 weeks
maximum), and an increased all-inclusive cost of £70 (to reflect
both the raw materials costs and yet again increased Royal Mail
charges). Clearly also, these costs apply to the U.K. only. Please
contact me if you are in the E.U. or outside Europe.
Incidentally, the “Islander” is
very easily adapted to mount on a vehicle (/M is possible but not
really recommended). I wonder how well the “Side-Kick” would perform
if mounted on the ground!
I should perhaps also point out that fellow SCOTIA team-member Alex
GM0DHZ is currently looking into the possibility of producing some
multi-band wire antennas. Please contact him directly by e-mail at
aa8yh@btinternet.com
Please also note that I still have four “Poor Man’s Antenna
Analyser”s (for details, see elsewhere on this site, under
“Equipment”). These are still £65 (inc.P&P).
Please feel free to e-mail at any time on any subject (reply not
guaranteed!)…In the meantime, vy 73 de André & the SCOTIA team.
25th
May 2009
|
