Ground plane kit for Antron 99

[38Special]

I'm thinking about adding a ground plane kit for my Antron 99. They claim 30db's of gain, can anyone out there make any comments as to wether this is true or false? Is it worth the effort installing on my antenna 30 feet up? Will this help or hinder my ability to shoot skip with my little setup?

[231]

I think 30 db is stretching the truth quite a bit. Besides, I doubt seriously if they are referring to dbi...which most do.

Nevertheless, I've used my A99 both with and without before. I tend to use the GP kit simply from the radiation pattern with it. When I ran it at about 40' to the base (which is the lowest I've run it) I really couldn't tell much difference in local and didn't shoot much DX at the time. However, when I had it almost 100' to the base, I could certainly see some difference. At only 30' I'm not sure you'd see much difference...although it might help some on the DX-ing to help get the signal more toward the horizon.

If you consider raising it up some more, I'd highly recommend it though.

Just my $.02

[38Special]

Thanks, I suspected that's what I might hear. Sounds like I'd be better off spending the money on another section of pipe.

[Phaze91460]

I think Bob Ostro tried one and if I remember correctly he didnt see much differencs and his antenna is only a little over his roof.

[Big Guns]

I hate to tell you, but your not the smalest station in the nation. I dont even have a base station, so that would make me the smallest.

[Looney]

i had the ground plan could not tell anything from normal antenna maybe you will.

[BobOstro61]

Right. My A-99 is at 25' to the base right now. I still have the Gp kit on it. I guess I'm too lazy to take it off. I couldn't tell any difference when I added it so its really up to you. Like 231 said, if you get it up high you'd probably notice something.

[Looney]

Well I saw one one time in rogers I'm in fayetteville this a99 with ground plan had to be 80 foot tower no joke, you could hear this guy all in rogers but when you got just a little ways out he fades away so maybe it was a little radio but I don't know about the ground plan for them but I do have an idea get 102 whips to replace them ears and I know you will ear some thing hahah!!! what I did... no one has ever tried that ;] so shh and keep it on the low

[BobOstro61]

What's that? You're replacing the radials on the GPK with 102" whips???

[Falkon MX-5]

That's how I read i. that's not a bad idea. Radials are supposed to be 1/4 wave, and 102" whip is 1/4 wave, so why not?

[Looney]

yes 102' whips

[Phaze91460]

expensive ground plane kit !

Someone needs to try it and let me know how it works !

[BigBubbaBD]

Where can you order a GroundPlane kit for the A99?

Ive seen the antenna on alot of sites but never see a listing for the Groundplane kit.

[Looney]

102' whips and a-99 = fun about 60 foot my friend has it like this its just more ears little db