I've actually seen a CAWG member using the Bob Miller antenna in a SAREX with his MK4. Since I didn't actually observe it during a hunt, nor did I have a chance to compare it to the other antennas, I am not in position to judge it's usefulness. However, the product exists and is definitely not vaporware. BTW, I first learned about Bob Miller's antenna from the MK4 web-site.

Not knocking the antenna nor Bob Miller, simply stating as Major Lord did that we seem to be getting a lot of "newbie" posts that all point back to people pushing the FireStorm product. Let me also be clear, I am not against the Tigerstrike product, in fact I am for any tool that makes it easier to locate ELT's, I just prefer for people to be upfront and honest about who they represent.

AL

Guess you better check your facts on the company...... We are not is suspense.. Now I know why I stopped posting here, by the way we are using the Tigerstrike at the SAREX this weekend in Group 5 in Riverside, why dont you drive down and see it for your self. Bob will let you test it after the class. We will post the results after the weekend.  We are actively seeking other SAREXs to attend to get feedback on the interface and usability. Let me know if there is an interest.

Murray

Quote from: caprescue on February 18, 2011, 06:03:43 PM
AL

Guess you better check your facts on the company...... We are not is suspense.. Now I know why I stopped posting here, by the way we are using the Tigerstrike at the SAREX this weekend in Group 5 in Riverside, why dont you drive down and see it for your self. Bob will let you test it after the class. We will post the results after the weekend.  We are actively seeking other SAREXs to attend to get feedback on the interface and usability. Let me know if there is an interest.

Murray

You must had meant CAWG Group 3 SAREX. The mission base is at SQ5 HQ at the Riverside Airport. Mission base opens at 8:00 am on Saturday 19 FEB 2011. Flight operations were cancelled due to weather but ground teams will press on. Hopefully someone who is impartial and has expertise in the area from CAP will be there to evaluate the unit.

Please make sure to post the results, if any, of the Tigerstrike. I would love to drive all the way to RIV if it wasn't for the CAWG Group 7 SAREX next weekend. I am sure we will be talking to SQ5 in the near  future and learn first hand about the new tools and its claims.

Quote from: caprescue on February 18, 2011, 06:03:43 PM
AL

Guess you better check your facts on the company...... We are not is suspense.. Now I know why I stopped posting here, by the way we are using the Tigerstrike at the SAREX this weekend in Group 5 in Riverside, why dont you drive down and see it for your self. Bob will let you test it after the class. We will post the results after the weekend.  We are actively seeking other SAREXs to attend to get feedback on the interface and usability. Let me know if there is an interest.

Murray

Heads up thats the Group 3 SAREX at Riverside Airport. I'll be there working so I'll take a look at it if I get a chance!

Mark

Bob Miller makes a very nice hand-held folding Yagi antenna, and he has a great reputation. I was not aware that he was selling the MK4, and I am glad that there is a local distributor. Bob Miller is also  the President of Firestorm, a Nevada Corporation which is no longer in suspense. I regret that I won't be able to travel to lovely Riverside in a major rainstorm, but I hope that someone reading this gets a chance to go and take a look. How I envy you! Riverside in winter, sweet!

Major Lord

I guess I should not be surprised at the comments after my post.

I am sorry that I even spoke up at this point. If someone new about this Mr. Miller guy, why was nothing mentioned about his equipment. Just because he allegedly works for the Firestorm (I don't know if he does or not) he makes a great product for whomever to use. If you want a contact in the US to buy the MK4 then you know how to contact him.

You all indicate you want to be fair and none judgmental to other people or a company according to so many postings, but yet you judge in a very harsh manor and make indications about the dishonesty of people who are a newbie.

I could tell you who I work for and what department but you would just want my identification and want proof and then you would not care at all because you don't know me.

Yes a newbie and I was a guest just reading. I thought I would put some knowledge I had to your thread and be helpful to your cause. Which is supposed to be saving lives and helping others.

It is a truly sorry thing that some of you are so suspicious of people who would like to part information and trying to help you people save lives or just be better at what you do. 

No wonder more of the CAP wing people don't want to join into your conversations. You would just tear them apart by picking on wording so you can keep showing others how big of a man you are.

With the architecture of wording you choose (ML) is well designed to poke at people to your gradient thought process of attacking anyone you think or can manipulate to your desire to be so judgmental of others. I am sorry that you have had such a hard life to become the person you are.  I am sure you and maybe a few others will pick this apart as much as you can to show more about what kind of person you are. Although I am sure most people know exactly who and what you are. A jealous  bitter old man who enjoys border lining on slander.

I am sure you will have the moderator remove my post so no one will read this.

To all of you, please take satisfaction in your work to help others and become a better person to enjoy life. Your voluntary role to our country I thank you for doing the best you can and committed work to bring your skills to help all and groom others who are coming to join.

I pray God will look over you and help you help others.

I am glad that our anonymous poster brought up Bob Miller's antennas. Its natural that in a discussion about DF receivers, directional antenna are a necessary and important link. There are not a lot of commercial options for 121.X Yagis: The Diamond MAY-1000 with its front driven element and one reflector was an interesting idea, but the deal with having to use its included tape measure to set the element length and distance is not idea, and its a little iffy on the gain side. Lots of people have built variations of the three element Tape Measure antenna ( which I could be wrong, but I think Bob Miller may have published something on this years ago) They are functional and effective, but look like something the cat dragged in. The public was not impresses with the ham-kludge, and you could still put your eye out with it.

Mr ( Or monsieur) Anonymous, you might have noticed just a tinge of skepticism in regards to the claims of Firestorm, and perceived some history there. I am confident that Murray Craig will eventfully clear the whole thing up. FYI, I have not seen the Mods delete posts as a rule, although they will shut down a thread that starts to get too personal. Bob MIller is listed on the Official records of the Nevada Secretary of State as the President of Firestorm. I assume that its our Bob Miller, since his antenna website has a link to Firestorm. Your contributing post may have been the most valuable one in this thread so far: You should us where to find a MK4 and and good antenna for it.

Major Lord

Quote from: Major Lord on February 21, 2011, 02:47:40 PM
The Diamond MAY-1000 with its front driven element and one reflector was an interesting idea, but the deal with having to use its included tape measure to set the element length and distance is not idea

Nope.   121 is pretty much the low end of it - extend to maximum length on all elements and go!

Quote from: Major Lord on February 21, 2011, 02:47:40 PM
and its a little iffy on the gain side.

Generally I work myself in with a mag-mount 121.5 antenna (from L-Tronics) until the MK4 has hit the 5th or 6th attenuation step, and then I've got a strong enough signal to easily nail it with the MAY-1000 (because at that point, I am within walking distance).    The way I hunt with the MK4 is different than the way everyone hunts with the L-Per.

You have the elements extended to their maximum and separated to there maximum? Have you used the antenna on 243 or 406? I thought it was a nice idea, but would have preferred it with 3 elements...I guess there were not enough of us SAR guys out there to Keep Diamond interested in production.

Major Lord

Have you considered an Arrow antenna (http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/arrowii.html)?  They will cut elements to order.  You only need to carry one boom and three sets of elements. 

-- john

Quote from: jks19714 on February 22, 2011, 03:44:30 AM
Have you considered an Arrow antenna (http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/arrowii.html)?  They will cut elements to order.  You only need to carry one boom and three sets of elements. 

-- john

How do you properly space the elements for each freq?

. . if element spacing is a significant problem, and i'm not sure if it is or not, u could just drill holes at whatever spacing u wanted in the boom, and mount the elements through the appropriate holes. the reflector holes could of course be left as is. if the holes were too close together, one set could be drilled at 90 deg from the others.
. . i've found the arrow antenna folks prompt, and i carry several of their antennas with me in the tahoe. i do put a nut on one end the threaded section, and snug it down a bit, to keep it from rattling loose.
. . now im anxiously awaiting a mk4. forgive me, bruce.

73,
bill

et1(ss) ex usn

Quote from: SarDragon on February 22, 2011, 08:11:30 AM

Quote from: jks19714 on February 22, 2011, 03:44:30 AM
Have you considered an Arrow antenna (http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/arrowii.html)?  They will cut elements to order.  You only need to carry one boom and three sets of elements. 

-- john

How do you properly space the elements for each freq?

Yes, simply drill additional holes for the other 2 freqs, then number or colorcode the elements.  I suspect that if someone would express a requirement for a "flexible" 3-frequency DFing antenna to the folks at Arrow, they could accomodate you.

-- john

Just curious what kinda range can you get with Arrow ?

The Arrow 3 element unit is popular with hams who generally only use one, two meter frequency. ( Its called Arrow" because the sections were literally made from archery shafts) You might get 6-7 dB of gain, or about quadrupling your range over a standard whip, and reasonably narrow "lobes" . Its hard to ever predict range, since so many factors have to be calculated, and the real world still makes its adjustments. From an aircraft, using a MK4, I would expect the unit to detect an Epirb or ELT out to the Horizon. Across ground, all bets are off!

I ordered a nine element Yagi ( that sits around gathering dust) for use on top of our old mast at the bunker on Travis.....we got evicted, so no more antenna tower, and no way to see what a antenna like that will really do. initial tests looked impressive. It might be a bit awkward in the field.

Major Lord

Thanks that makes sense I would like to do a comparison test between the MK4 with a few different antennas and the Tigerstrike. I will be at the Jackson Mississippi CAP squadron this weekend demonstrating the Tigerstrike during their SAREX.

The last I heard, the Tigerstrike used the two-element "HB9CV" direction finding antenna, is that still part of the design? (For non-hams, I could tell you what it is but you would explode from the shear boredom of the experience) Have fun In Jackson. Anyone else from here going?

Major Lord

The antenna is a phased array. My POC for the SAREX is Maj Sayre

Ran the test today.  It does exist.  It has a lot of potential.  It works at least as well as the L-Per. Impressive range.  I still need to do some tabulation and number crunching and will post the results in a day or so.