Good to see the site still going strong...

[KB9YCO]

Hey, I got a reminder that I hadn't been here in quite awhile. Nice to see that the site is still doing well. I really haven't been doing much amateur radio these days (I'm slackin'!) but I'm glad to see that there's at least one amateur radio forum that remains interesting. Keep up the good work. Greetings from snowy SE WI (23.5 inches and another 2-4 today).

[KG4CGC]

Good to see you. Drop by more often!
Check out the Island Schedule section. I'll be home later to get on the air if anyone wants to. I can cover everything except 60/30 and 6m.
Hopefully, if your wires are still up we can get together with more Islanders for an IOMH After The Super Bowl Net.
Obviously, I've been busy slinging wires into the air.

[kc7jty]

OMG! Look what the cat dragged in. Have you slid any to the right in your extended absence?

[WX7P]

Hope you got your med issues straightened out, Brett.

Welcome back. Your timing is good.

[KB9YCO]

I lean to the left, but I try to remain as objective as is humanly possible. I mean come on, I'm a former moderator at QRZ.com, it doesn't get more objective than that! [Ducking now]

[KB9YCO]

Hope you got your med issues straightened out, Brett.

Welcome back. Your timing is good.

I still have some issues with my back and my neck from the cancer surgery, but it could always be worse, I'm soldiering on! Thanks for asking, I'll try to stop by a little more often.

[n6hcm]

I still have some issues with my back and my neck from the cancer surgery, but it could always be worse, I'm soldiering on! Thanks for asking, I'll try to stop by a little more often.

so you're a survivor, then. good news!

[X-Rated]

I lean to the left, but I try to remain as objective as is humanly possible. I mean come on, I'm a former moderator at QRZ.com, it doesn't get more objective than that! [Ducking now]

I am trying to get a decent antenna up on 2m. Need to make a contact with SE Wis.

[kc7jty]

Comet gp-9 kicks azz for a omni vertical. There is a clone of it for much less money but forget the name/manufacturer. You're just talkin through your hat anyway.

[W3WN]

I lean to the left, but I try to remain as objective as is humanly possible. I mean come on, I'm a former moderator at QRZ.com, it doesn't get more objective than that! [Ducking now]
Congratulations on your escape. Or did you get an early release due to good behavior?

[N8YX]

Welcome back, Brett. How 'bout dem Packers? :dance:

[KC2UGV]

I lean to the left, but I try to remain as objective as is humanly possible. I mean come on, I'm a former moderator at QRZ.com, it doesn't get more objective than that! [Ducking now]

ZING!

You dodged that one :lol:

[X-Rated]

Comet gp-9 kicks azz for a omni vertical. There is a clone of it for much less money but forget the name/manufacturer. You're just talkin through your hat anyway.

Looks like it would be a 4 element phased vertical encapsulated inside a fiberglass pole. Do you know if that is what that is? I was thinking about building one of those.

Edit, on second thought, probably not since it is dual band.

[NQ6U]

I built a 2m co-linear J-pole that actually has some gain to it for about $20 worth of copper plumbing pipe and an hour of time. Cheap and works great.

Nice to meet you, Brett. I'm relatively new to the Island and I believe you went on hiatus shortly before my arrival.

[W3MIV]

Welcome, Prodigal. Glad to see you posting and even happier to hear you are on the mend.

[kc7jty]

Looks like it would be a 4 element phased vertical encapsulated inside a fiberglass pole. Do you know if that is what that is? I was thinking about building one of those.

Edit, on second thought, probably not since it is dual band.
I think it's 3 co linear 5/8 wave elements inside the fiberglass.

GP-9 (with SO-239 Conn) GP-9N (with N-Conn)
DualBand 146/446MHz
Gain & Wave:
146MHz 8.5dBi 5⁄8 wave x 3
446MHz 11.9dBi 5⁄8 wave x 8
VSWR: 1.5:1 or less
Max Power: 200 watts
Length: 16' 9"
Weight: 5 lbs. 11 oz.
Mounting to Mast Size: 1 1⁄4 - 2 1⁄2"
Connector: SO-239 or Female N-type
Construction: Heavy-duty fiberglass, 3 sections

It's only rated 100 watts FM, 200 ssb.

[X-Rated]

I think it's 3 co linear 5/8 wave elements inside the fiberglass.

GP-9 (with SO-239 Conn) GP-9N (with N-Conn)
DualBand 146/446MHz
Gain & Wave:
146MHz 8.5dBi 5⁄8 wave x 3
446MHz 11.9dBi 5⁄8 wave x 8
VSWR: 1.5:1 or less
Max Power: 200 watts
Length: 16' 9"
Weight: 5 lbs. 11 oz.
Mounting to Mast Size: 1 1⁄4 - 2 1⁄2"
Connector: SO-239 or Female N-type
Construction: Heavy-duty fiberglass, 3 sections

It's only rated 100 watts FM, 200 ssb.

Those specs are extremely fantastic. I am trying to envision how they stacked 3 (ignoring the 440 aspect) 5/8 wavelength verticals and there is only one ground plane at the bottom. I was wondering how they counterpoise the upper 5/8 wave elements. I see these fiberglass antennas out on houses and I just never knew what they were.

[W4RLR]

I lean to the left, but I try to remain as objective as is humanly possible. I mean come on, I'm a former moderator at QRZ.com, it doesn't get more objective than that! [Ducking now]They banned me twice over there. I was nominated and I accepted a moderator job here.

I wonder if the banning there was a requirement for the job?:mrgreen:

[NA4BH]

What part of WI do you live in? I'm too lazy to look you up. :lol: