PACIFICON HAMFEST [Archive]

KA7RRA

10-21-2005, 01:26 AM

Hey did anybody go to the pacificon ham convention, last weekend?

I thought it was ok I liked the antenna forum #that they had on Friday but I did get mad at the FORCE 12 guy who SAID that the GAP antenna'S sucks . I have a GAP and it works just fine and the ARRL forum and the forum they had on scams..

I was disappointed in the flea market. it took me only 15 mins to cover. There was a lot of non-amateur stuff at the flea market.. #

the flea market would have been better if it had been on a #Friday and Saturday #instead of just Sunday only I heard that a lot of people weren't happy with that, and some did not want to stay for 2 days just for a 1 day flea market.
I may go next year I like the Sanfransisco area and I do other stuff, like treasure hunting and sight seeing
but I think they need to do better on the flea market
Dave
KA7RRA

ka5s

10-21-2005, 02:49 AM

Quote[/b] (KA7RRA @ Oct. 20 2005,18:26)]Hey did anybody go to the pacificon ham convention, last weekend?

I thought it was ok I liked the antenna forum #that they had on Friday but I did get mad at the FORCE 12 guy who told me that the GAP antenna sucks . I have a GAP and it works just fine and the ARRL forum and the forum they had on scams..

I was disappointed in the flea market. it took me only 15 mins to cover. There was a lot of non-amateur stuff at the flea market.. #

the flea market would have been better if it had been on a #Friday and Saturday #instead of just Sunday only I heard that a lot of people weren't happy with that, and some did not want to stay for 2 days just for a 1 day flea market.
I may go next year I like the Sanfransisco area and I do other stuff, like treasure hunting and sight seeing
but I think they need to do better on the flea market
Hi, Dave!

I went. Been to a few of 'em, as it's only a couple of hours down the road. #WRT the Flea Market: There's hardly any room in the Marriott parking lot. #In Concord they could use part of the aircraft parking area at the airport (behind the hotel). #At the Marriot? Hard enough to find a parking spot normally! When I went a couple of years ago, the Flea Market took up the last four rows -- and parking got really interesting. #

Antennas etc:
When we compare antennas (or just about anything else) we Amateurs usually don't have the ability to test product A against product B, and we're often offended when someone who does lets us know we have less than we could have gotten. #"Sucks" is not a professional appraisal, and I hope that's not the word they used, but many verticals suffer if not installed very carefully. We who use them may still think everything is fine, because we can work anyone we can hear. #Later, after we get something that works better, we are ecstatic about the improvement -- which IMO beats being depressed over all the contacts we missed.

To put things into perspective -- yes, I know their talk impressed you deficiently but look anyway -- look at the paper entitled Why Force 12 antennas work so well (http://force12inc.com/F12-why-r1-3.htm), which compares some of their designs with others, a few of which (including GAP verticals) are mentioned by name. #For what it's worth, the paper doesn't come close to saying GAP verticals "suck." Indeed it is rather complimentary about their performance in part of the spectrum.

Tom Schiller, N6BT, president of Force 12, had an article called "Everything Works" in the July 2000 QST. #From the Web site above: "In that article, the range of antennas runs from -18dBd (-18dB over a full size dipole) to +8dBd. The -18dBd is a lightbulb on 10 meters and the +8dBd is a world record capable system..." He worked all continents using a lightbulb on a fence post! Everything does work. But the enjoyment we get out of making it work depends to a large extent how much effort we put into making our antennas work better. #

Wish I could afford a few Force 12's! Wire in the trees will have to do. It’s time to put it higher.

Disclaimer: I have NO financial or other interest in Force 12 -- or any other antenna company.

Cheers!

Cortland
KA5S