Midland MXTA11 6db Antenna

[taco6513]

I have had several of the load coils melt on this antenna. I guess I need to find a different antenna. Would like to have

another 6 db gain antenna but I can't find one. The best nest one I could find was 5.5db. I Think it was a Tram antenna.

Has anyone else had trouble with the load coil melting? What are your suggestions for a high gain replacement?

Thanks

WRCW870

PS Just driving with 40W radios

[kidphc]

Not sure what is going on with your antenna. Maybe a short in the coax or bad nmo. What does your SWR look like, only reason I ask is because the antenna is supposably rated for 120w. Could just be a cheap chinese antenna, knowing Midland probably is. 

 

As far as the DBI goes I wouldn't strain to much on that. You probably wouldn't even notice the difference between the 6dbi and 5.5 dbi.

 

What power level are you running at?

[Jones]

Those Midland antennas are junk.  Tram these days isn't too much better (and I say that as a Tram Dealer!).

 

Look for Maxrad, Larsen, or Laird antennas, and don't pay too much attention to gain ratings. Most of them are misleading advertisement exaggerations, or just flat-out lies to sell you something.

[berkinet]

...As far as the DBI goes I wouldn't strain to much on that. You probably wouldn't even notice the difference between the 6dbi and 5.5 dbi....

The Effective Radiated Power of 40 watts into a 6db gain antenna is 160 watts (If the antenna is really working as specified). A 5.5 db gain antenna would have an ERP of 142 watts. The effective difference is ~0.

I have had several of the load coils melt on this antenna.

If you are really melting anything inside the antenna, you have something very wrong in your station setup. The Midland antenna may not be high quality, but it should definitely not melt when fed 40 watts. If this has happened with more than one antenna, I'd take a close look at the radios and power supply.

[taco6513]

The repeater melted one, The M1225 Motorola on John's truck melted one and the one on the MXT 400 at the base is leaning over. That's three on three different radios.