Solarcon A99 Antenna

[M0EEB]

Hi Guys
I've bought a Solarcon A99 Antenna for 10meters but I've read somewhere that it will tune down to 20 meters with an ATU, question is do the tuning rings have to be removed first.....yet again I'm sure I have read this aswell.
Any info will be appricated.
Thanks.
M0EEB

[N8FGB]

I have one for 10 meter. Leave the rings alone at first and snip 6 inches off the top for ten meter. Will work fair on 15, and 17 meter, and somewhat on 20 meter.
Rich

[WJ5O]

EEB,
20 meters is really "iffy" even with a good tuner...... I can tune to 17 pretty well but, on 20 most of the power is consumed enroute to the antenna.
Rings all the way to the top.....didn't remove them....

[K1WJ]

Tune rings to get the lowest SWR on 28.400. I think that may be - all the way up - not quite 100% sure.

If still, SWR is too high for 10m, you will have to cut element until SWR is 1.5-1 or less - should be no problem.

If you are using a tuner & plan on using the A99 on other bands - dont cut it shorter - because all the other bands will like a longer element.

This antenna will be best on 10m then 12m, 12m will most likely need tuner.

Fair on 15 & 17m with tuner

Junk on 20m with a tuner.

Any 1/2w dipole at a reasonable height for the band selected will blow away the A99 on 15m & below.

The A99 works fairly well on 10m. Everything else is a compromise. The lower in freq. you go, the antenna becomes more & more LESS effective.

73 K1WJ David

[K4UUG]

Hi Guys
I've bought a Solarcon A99 Antenna for 10meters but I've read somewhere that it will tune down to 20 meters with an ATU, question is do the tuning rings have to be removed first.....yet again I'm sure I have read this aswell.
Any info will be appricated.
Thanks.
M0EEB

I hope this will help you

The A99 features the Solarcon Twin Ring Adjust-A-Match tuning making it possible to tune the input to the antenna and obtain the optimum S.W.R. over a range of frequencies. Raising the rings raises the frequency and lowering the rings lowers the frequency.

Operates 10 thru 17 Meters with Tuner.
Covers far above and below the traditional C.B. channels for export, commercial and 10 meter ham band use, input 2000 watts P.E.P.
The A99 is a half wave over a quarter wave variable mutual transductance tuned antenna
Comes in three sections, Easy to assemble
Entire antenna radiates - 9.9 DBI Gain
Each antenna individually tested
Meets U.S. Government CPSC shocks hazard standards. Protects up to 14,500 volts
Lightning protected, D.C. grounded. No lightning arrestor or static discharge unit is needed!
2,000 Watt Rated
18-29 MHz Optimal Range
Female UHF Coax Connection
Height: 17.5' Feet Tall
No Ground Needed

[W9GB]

Meets U.S. Government CPSC shocks hazard standards. Protects up to 14,500 volts.

NEVER believe statements such as these, UNLESS an independent laboratory has verified (e.g. Underwriter Labs, CA Labs).
Lest we forget that 2 Kansas City amateurs died of electrocution in past 24 months.

w9gb

[KD8GFC]

If you cut 11 inches off the a99 whip you will have a near perfect SWR on 28.400 no need to move the rings they dont adjust that much anyway. Make sure you no longer want to use the chicken band with it because your SWR will not be the best.

[N3JPB]

VERY interesting discussion.

Several Hams in my area have removed the top "screw-in" fiberglass section of their A-99's and screwed in a standard 102 inch stainless steel whip in its place. When used with a tuner this gives them even more "range" although I have never heard how lower in frequency this lets them go.

Regards, John (N3JPB)

[N8YX]

I ran one of the '99s on 10M for years. Recently replaced it with a resonant antenna for 10-11/12/15/17M; no tuner required...max power transfer on all bands.

For single-band operation they're a decent antenna. I worked a lot of DX on 28MHz with mine.

[N3JPB]

John,

May I ask what resonant antenna you replaced you A-99 with? I too would like to add an antenna to cover those bands, especially if it is not too obtrusive.

Regards, John (N3JPB)