Which is Better? DB404 or Hustler?
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Which is Better? DB404 or Hustler?
I am getting ready to install a 440 repeater and have both a DB404 and a Hustler G6-440 antennas. Which would be a better selection? The DB404 is 3.8 db gain and the G6 is rated at 6 db. The 404 would be set up in the omni mode.
Bob, you HAVE to ask???? DB Products make a extreamly good antenna with a much better radiation pattern.
The Hustler antennas make a very good dummy load, they do not radiate very well. The stated gain on the Hustler is bogus at best.
Gain is usally referenced to a half wave dipole in the case of the DB Products, but Hustler uses some odd ref., like -3db Isotropic. Isotropic, Dbi, or point source, is roughly 2.7 Db below the Dipole refference, Dbd.
DB Prod. 3.8 Db gain ref. to 0Dbi = 6.5 Dbi, which is what the DB4xx series accually do.
G6... 6Db ref -2.7 Dbi = 3.3Dbd. And that is still not the real gain, I think Hustler lies about gain.
BTW I spent a year on the JPL antenna range making antenna mesurments.
The Hustler antennas make a very good dummy load, they do not radiate very well. The stated gain on the Hustler is bogus at best.
Gain is usally referenced to a half wave dipole in the case of the DB Products, but Hustler uses some odd ref., like -3db Isotropic. Isotropic, Dbi, or point source, is roughly 2.7 Db below the Dipole refference, Dbd.
DB Prod. 3.8 Db gain ref. to 0Dbi = 6.5 Dbi, which is what the DB4xx series accually do.
G6... 6Db ref -2.7 Dbi = 3.3Dbd. And that is still not the real gain, I think Hustler lies about gain.
BTW I spent a year on the JPL antenna range making antenna mesurments.
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MSS-Dave
- Posts: 770
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:02 pm
- What radios do you own?: Harris XL200M. XPR7550E, NX300
I have to add DITTO to Will comments. The other great thing about the DB 404 is it's rugged. It can take ice, wind and most lightning or coronal discharge hits. Just make sure to ground the mounts and the feedline as well as place a Polyphaser in line at the entrance to the room and ground to the same point. The only downside could be the 404 B is 450-470, G6 is 440-450. Some dipole type antennas can get funky gain pattern distortion outside of rated bandwidth. I haven't noticed this with the 404 I've used both in the ham band, the 404 worked lots better.
If you really want to play, stick up a DB 420. Big = works!
Dave
If you really want to play, stick up a DB 420. Big = works!
Dave
Ditto on Hustler
They stink 
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Mike in CT
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu May 09, 2002 9:37 am
DB404 vs hustler
The DB404 no question about it.
the gain difference is negligible. (anyway, you dont really need a LOT of super gain for a repeater, depending on tower height, etc.)
The DB will be working on that tower LONG after the hustler is a memory.
Besides, even if the DB cost ten times as much as the hustler, it just isn't worth it to have to go back UP the tower to change out the hustler!
we are talking about dependability, safety, and performance.
...and be careful up there!
Mike in CT
KM1R
the gain difference is negligible. (anyway, you dont really need a LOT of super gain for a repeater, depending on tower height, etc.)
The DB will be working on that tower LONG after the hustler is a memory.
Besides, even if the DB cost ten times as much as the hustler, it just isn't worth it to have to go back UP the tower to change out the hustler!
we are talking about dependability, safety, and performance.
...and be careful up there!
Mike in CT
KM1R