Sirio Starduster

[ke6ats]

Curious if anyone has used a Sirio Starduster. For reference, I have zero interest in skip. Just looking to be able to make contacts with friends within a range of 5-20 miles. Thoughts?

 

[K6GBW]

The Sirio Starduster is basically a quarter wave ground plane. It is a very simple antenna and works very well. But as a quarter wave ground plane it doesn't have much gain. If you want to use your CB radio for local contacts then an antenna with more gain would give you better performance. Understand that 5-12 miles is a more realistic range for ground wave on a CB radio. An antenna like a 5/8 wave, such as the Maco or one of the Solarcon Max Optimizer or even the A99 would give you better performance. That said, if you do decide to go with the Star Duster you won't be disappointed. It's a good antenna with a simple design. I've found that simple designs can be a real bonus. There's less to go wrong over time.

 

[prcguy]

The Starduster design sort of approaches a coaxial sleeve dipole when the radials are angled down that far and it may behave more like a dipole than a ground plane, which has a little less gain. If you want to stick with Sirio I’ve installed a version similar to their newer Blizzard 2700 and was impressed with its construction and performance. The 2700 will work better than the Starduster.

 

[slowmover]

BLIZZARD 2700

5/8 λ ground plane, Omnidirectional, 26 ... 28 MHz Tunable, Systems: 10m-HAM

www.sirioantenne.it

 

[slowmover]

Curious if anyone has used a Sirio Starduster. For reference, I have zero interest in skip. Just looking to be able to make contacts with friends within a range of 5-20 miles. Thoughts?

Substitute Skip for War. It can be a bear.



Think of SSB as where it’s fun try for long-distance contacts. Or extending local radius.

Was leaving ABQ one morning up into the Sandia Mtns on IH40. One of my fellows back in town still getting unloaded. We were fine on AM till about 9-miles. Switched to Sideband and stayed in contact for nearly 30-miles.

.

 

[ke6ats]

Thanks for the input y'all. (And for some reason I completely forgot about SSB).

 

[Blackswan73]

Stardusters are a low radiation antenna. Not as good for skip as the Big Stick, A99, Workman and similar style antennas. On SSB I could regularly talk out to 35-40 miles with my starduster. My A99 would never talk that far on ground wave. For a mobile I never found an antenna that worked better for me than a Hustler HQ-27. Truckers used to run Hustlers in a dual configuration. Hams also liked the ham version of the Hustler center loaded
antenna
If you wanted a base antenna that would reach out and touch someone, most of the big operators ran the Moonraker by AS, or the “Big Gun”. I don’t remember who made that one

B.S.

 

[MissouriRebel]

Stardusters are a low radiation antenna. Not as good for skip as the Big Stick, A99, Workman and similar style antennas. On SSB I could regularly talk out to 35-40 miles with my starduster. My A99 would never talk that far on ground wave. For a mobile I never found an antenna that worked better for me than a Hustler HQ-27. Truckers used to run Hustlers in a dual configuration. Hams also liked the ham version of the Hustler center loaded
antenna
If you wanted a base antenna that would reach out and touch someone, most of the big operators ran the Moonraker by AS, or the “Big Gun”. I don’t remember who made that one

B.S.

I think it was made by Hygain , because there was also a Big Gun II. CBTricks can tell you in their antenna section .

 

[FPR1981]

Stardusters are a low radiation antenna. Not as good for skip as the Big Stick, A99, Workman and similar style antennas. On SSB I could regularly talk out to 35-40 miles with my starduster. My A99 would never talk that far on ground wave. For a mobile I never found an antenna that worked better for me than a Hustler HQ-27. Truckers used to run Hustlers in a dual configuration. Hams also liked the ham version of the Hustler center loaded
antenna
If you wanted a base antenna that would reach out and touch someone, most of the big operators ran the Moonraker by AS, or the “Big Gun”. I don’t remember who made that one

B.S.

Theoretically, one might think they wouldn't talk as well for skip, but I gifted one to a former CBer in town whose wife died and he was left alone. He successfully makes skip contacts as much or more than anyone in town on 5/8-wave ground planes and A99's. The amount of skip contacts he makes is astonishing.

Another guy in town has a 1/4-wave vertical with wire radials coming off it, and that guy lands skip contacts like a fool also. I've yet to find anyone with a 1/4-wave ground plane in town who isn't killing it on skip. For what that's worth.

And that's why I put one up as well. I've never been overly excited about talking skip, but I never have any issues with mine. Mine also does wonderful for local.

 

[mrweather]

That's the benefit of a 1/4 wave vertical antenna: higher signal takeoff angle.

 

[prcguy]

I think it was made by Hygain , because there was also a Big Gun II. CBTricks can tell you in their antenna section .

The Starduster was originally made by Antenna Specialists.

That's the benefit of a 1/4 wave vertical antenna: higher signal takeoff angle

The height above ground will probably have more to do with the takeoff angle than the type of vertical antenna like 1/4 wave ground plane vs 5/8, etc. A 1/4 wave ground plane with the feed point at 18 or 36ft off the ground should easily outperform a 1/2 wave or 5/8 wave where the current max is 10ft or 25ft off the ground. And a Starduster is not a 1/4 wave antenna, its a center fed half wave.

 

[lamarrsy]

Way back in my CB days, I had an M-400 (similar to the now Sirio Starduster), and I concur what Blackswan73 said, as I had strong and far reach local signal with that antenna ! (Wasn’t interested in skip).
Later I replaced it with a « Big Stick » 18ft version, placed on the same mast, and gee have I regretted the change ! I was getting full skip and my local coverage vanished.

I am thinking of getting a Sirio Starduster, just to experience again that sweet local / regional coverage !

 

[robertwbob]

i got a sirio 2008 at 30 feet ground to base of antenna. using my stryker sr 955 hp i talk 48 miles to friends in springfield mo. and its took some harsh winds too. had it down this spring to ins[ect after last real bad storm we had.all parts are still tight.
i like this antenna well.not as noisy as my A99 and recives great too

 

[kg4ehv]

The M-400 (Starduster) was an awesome antenna back in the day.

 

[robertwbob]

Stardusters are a low radiation antenna. Not as good for skip as the Big Stick, A99, Workman and similar style antennas. On SSB I could regularly talk out to 35-40 miles with my starduster. My A99 would never talk that far on ground wave. For a mobile I never found an antenna that worked better for me than a Hustler HQ-27. Truckers used to run Hustlers in a dual configuration. Hams also liked the ham version of the Hustler center loaded
antenna
If you wanted a base antenna that would reach out and touch someone, most of the big operators ran the Moonraker by AS, or the “Big Gun”. I don’t remember who made that one

B.S.

yes hustler is a great mobile antenna. mx 210 on my pickup.talks long range on 2 meters from kenwood g 707
and blue center coil hustler for 11 meters on same pickup