The first was a static mobile station from Sheffield in the UK and I was receiving him 5/7, when he gave me details of his equipment he mentioned that his mobile antenna was a MODULATOR.

I then told him that many years ago I used to use exactly the same mobile antenna and that I was surprised that they were still available as I had not heard of anyone using a Modulator for years.

He then went on to tell me that the Modulator antenna was still available in the UK at approx £12/£15 and that his radio friends in the Sheffield area could not beleive the contacts that he was making on his Modulator antenna.

I can confirm that the Modulator is a super mobile antenna, years ago while static mobile on the Fermanagh/Cavan border I made a contact into 43 division using a Modulator and approx 50 watts ...ok it was not a great signal, from memory it was something like 4/1 4/2... but hey its a mobile antenna !!!!

I once gave a mate of mine in Belfast a call on the Modulator, I was mobile in east Belfast at the time and he was based in west Belfast, at first he would not beleive me that I was not operating from my home qth =))

The second interesting contact that I made recently was with a station in 44 division, he was just outside of Pretoria in fact.
I had just finished a qso with a station from 19 division when I heard a qsk and when the guy first started to speak I thought it was a UK station, he was 5/5 5/7.

The guy ( Peter 44ZS023) went on to tell me that he had me 5/7 5/9 and that he was using a very old mobile antenna, I asked what type it was and he told me that it was an AVANTI which he used for 11m, and that he had it just sitting on top of a tin roof !!!

And years ago I had a friend who fitted a Modulator mobile antenna on top of his 3 element yagi and he got great results.

So guys I'm beginning to wonder if its really worth spending £40 to £60 on a mobile antenna such as the Sirio 4000, the K40 etc. when you can pick up a mobile antenna like the Modulator for around £15 ?

Has anyone any knowledge or information on comparison tests carried using various mobile antennas ?

BTW... for those of you who are not familiar with the Modulator mobile antenna, it has a coil at the base that is around 15" or 16" long, and the Modulator is still made in the UK, which in itself is also rather unique =)))