Outbacker vs. buddipole etc.

[Michael Babineau]

[hidden email] wrote :

> The tripod mounting system is nice too because it can be folded up and
> put back in the house, RV etc. and thus can be used anywhere and it
> should provide a descent ground counterpoise and a mounting system all
> in one.  I plan on purchasing one of these systems soon so I'll let
> you know when I get it on the air.
>

I have one of the Alpha Delta Outpost tripod systems and it works very
well. It is portable, but at 15 lbs a bit hefty to lug around other
than
in the trunk of a car. I often use it with a Jumbo Buddistick (~14 ft
tall)  and I get very good results.

Note that the Outpost will not work unless it is at ground level (ie it
is not suited for use on a balcony).
The product is a bit pricey, but it is made from heavy duty aluminum
with stainless steel hardware so it
will certainly last a lifetime.

One other antenna option worth considering is one of the better
Screwdriver-type mobile antennas and an Outpost mount.
I think this combination would make an excellent antenna for
low-profile home use as well as car portable operations, and
would be convenient as the antenna could be tuned remotely.

Michael VE3WMB

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[Mike Morrow-3]

Michael wrote:

>I have one of the Alpha Delta Outpost tripod systems

It is my very great misfortune to have one too.

>and it works very well.

Have you compared its performance at the same location and time with a simple $2 dipole?  I have many times at several locations, and it is an **extremely** poor performer compared to the dipole.  In that respect its just like nearly all "portable" verticals, except that the AD/Outbacker folks try to hype the tripod base as some sort of magical capacitive coupling system to ground.  Like all snake oil pitches, this seems to have a ring of plausability.  But in truth it doesn't really work in most places.  Maybe it would on a saltwater beach, though.  Too bad that's about 500 miles away from me.

>...it is made from heavy duty aluminum with stainless steel
>hardware so it will certainly last a lifetime.

I'll concede that.  It is mechanically very well made.  More's the pity that its price-to-performance ratio approaches infinity.  One can easily sink more than $500 into the Outbacker Outpost abomination combination.

Portable vertical HF antennas with poor ground systems at best show that it is often possible to make contacts with the poorest of antennas.   TANSTAAFL!

73,
Mike / KK5F
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[Michael Babineau]

On 2-Jul-05, at 10:47 AM, Paul Gates wrote:

> Why is it not suited on a deck?
> Paul
>

Because it relies on capacitive coupling to ground to form the
other half of your antenna.  It could be used on a deck simply
as a mount but then you would have to attach some sort of
tuned counterpoise to it.

When mounted on the ground no radials are necessary.

Michael VE3WMB

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