Militay antennas

[zguy1243]

Looking to see what experience others have had with mil surplus antennas. Post some pics of what you have used and what you thought about them. Here are a few I use. First the AS-1405, This one a 9db gain directional antenna that was a accessory to the PRC 41, 225-400Mhz manpack radio. I have not received this antenna yet, just bought it on ebay. The second is a common 197gr 225-400Mhz Discone. This discone seems to have a edge on the rat shack discone,Just in the 225-400mhz range. The third is a antenna is the AS 1604/g. A nice wide band log periodic that really smokes across the 100-500Mhz range.

Jody

 

[prcguy]

The AS-1405 is more like 4dBD gain, not 9dB.
prcguy

Looking to see what experience others have had with mil surplus antennas. Post some pics of what you have used and what you thought about them. Here are a few I use. First the AS-1405, This one a 9db gain directional antenna that was a accessory to the PRC 41, 225-400Mhz manpack radio. I have not received this antenna yet, just bought it on ebay. The second is a common 197gr 225-400Mhz Discone. This discone seems to have a edge on the rat shack discone,Just in the 225-400mhz range. The third is a antenna is the AS 1604/g. A nice wide band log periodic that really smokes across the 100-500Mhz range.

Jody

 

[zguy1243]

The AS-1405 is more like 4dBD gain, not 9dB.
prcguy

Ok, I had read online somewhere about it measuring at about 9db in some areas of the band. I am sure they could be wrong. 4-5db sounds about right though for this kind of antenna. I have not received it yet in the mail to test with it. Have you ever used to one to compare it to any other antennas for this band?

Jody

 

[prcguy]

I've had one for about 25yrs and it does work better than a Discone and most other omni antennas but its not well suited for permanent installation. I would consider selling mine with tilt adapter and molded carrying case for $125 if anyone is interested.
prcguy

Ok, I had read online somewhere about it measuring at about 9db in some areas of the band. I am sure they could be wrong. 4-5db sounds about right though for this kind of antenna. I have not received it yet in the mail to test with it. Have you ever used to one to compare it to any other antennas for this band?

Jody

 

[prcguy]

Here is a really nice 100MHz to 800MHz portable military Discone sold by Harris. The aluminum parts are dipped in gold alyodyne and then what looks like black power coat. I wish all Discones were made this nice.
prcguy

 

[prcguy]

Here is another rare beast, a portable hand held or clamp to mast 140 to 200MHz log periodic. These were sold by Transcrypt International to 3 letter agencies for use with their VHF frequency hopping hand helds. The antenna folds up and stores in a long holster that hangs on your belt.
prcguy

 

[DPD1]

Here is another rare beast, a portable hand held or clamp to mast 140 to 200MHz log periodic. These were sold by Transcrypt International to 3 letter agencies for use with their VHF frequency hopping hand helds. The antenna folds up and stores in a long holster that hangs on your belt.
prcguy

How exactly did they design the element to fold on the boom? Just curious. I was working on something like that and hadn't really come up with anything that I was happy with.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[hoser147]

Looks like very nicely built antenna's thanks for sharing the pics..................Hoser

 

[comsec1]

harris discone

the harris discone that is pictured above looks just like the ones built by kreco, they are much better built then any of name brand ones

 

[prcguy]

Here is a closeup pic of the element attachment. There is a notch for the wire element to drop into when folded out and a tapered ramp leading to the notch.
The other pics are of an 11ft long 225 to 400MHz full band 6dBD omni, the best I have ever found for mil air scanning. I have an Angle Linear 225-400 high level pre-amp and band pass filter that will eventually mount in an outdoor box at the base of the antenna. The green whip is a current issue military vehicle whip that covers 30 to 512MHz continuous. I removed a diplexer in the base that breaks out 30-90 and 100 to 512MHz on separate connectors. Possibly more pics to come if I clean out the garage.
prcguy

How exactly did they design the element to fold on the boom? Just curious. I was working on something like that and hadn't really come up with anything that I was happy with.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[tonsoffun]

Thanks for the pics prcguy. Keep them coming and I would love that discone, if you would like to ship that to me that would be great.

 

[zguy1243]

I've had one for about 25yrs and it does work better than a Discone and most other omni antennas but its not well suited for permanent installation. I would consider selling mine with tilt adapter and molded carrying case for $125 if anyone is interested.
prcguy

Just paid 200$ on ebay for one. dang. The one I got on ebay came with the adapter and the telescoping mast and was new in the shipping crate, so maybe I didnt do too bad. Now that discone I would for sure buy..

 

[prcguy]

Another rare one, a Harris military RF-9070 Bicone that has some gain across 90 to 470MHz. A 100 to 800MHz and AT-197 Discone are shown for size comparison. Mose of these are too nice to leave up around here where the salt air will take its toll.
prcguy

 

[tonsoffun]

Here is a little info on the Harris military RF-9070 Bicone, looks great prcguy.
http://www.rfcomm.harris.com/products/antennas-accessories/rf-9070.pdf

 

[prcguy]

VHF low band always gets neglected, so here are some military Discones that cover below 30MHz to about 200MHz. These are big, about 9ft high and the hubs are massive. The weather is a bit cold here and I didn't feel like assembling them for the pics, sorry.
prcguy

 

[zguy1243]

dude im droolin...

 

[tonsoffun]

Hey prcguy, if you don't mind me asking how much do the discones cost from Harris.
Take care

 

[prcguy]

Oh that's not drool material, check the bottom pic of this old post #22 for some of my UHF mil satcom antennas.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36798&page=2

dude im droolin...

 

[prcguy]

I don't know exactly but would estimate $1200 to $1500 for the black Discone and closer to $2000 for the Bicone. Motorola (now General Dynamics) sells a similar black Discone for their URC-200/URC-500 series transceivers and the price is in that range. I picked up these used in perfect condition for a good price.
prcguy

Hey prcguy, if you don't mind me asking how much do the discones cost from Harris.
Take care

 

[kc8gpd]

VHF low band always gets neglected, so here are some military Discones that cover below 30MHz to about 200MHz. These are big, about 9ft high and the hubs are massive. The weather is a bit cold here and I didn't feel like assembling them for the pics, sorry.
prcguy

I have one exactly like that one. it covers 30-90 MHz. I have never found out from any one who has tried it, if it will go down to 26 MHz.

I need something that will do 6m, 10m , and 11m in a single antenna.