Hy Gain Explorer 14

[Sprint]

Hello, I have the opportunity to purchase this nearly new antenna. I'm eager to hear opinions and thoughts on this. Why does Hy Gain appear to make so many 3 band antennas ? I welcome any real world experience and comparisons you have offer.

Thanks and 73
Chris

 

[alcahuete]

It isn't just Hy Gain that makes the 3 band antennas, they are called tri-banders. Pretty much every company that makes a beam antenna has at least one tri-bander.

The 14 is an okay small tri-bander.

 

[W3DMV]

I’ve had mine for about fifteen years mounted on a small
30Ft tower and it has worked very well. Zero problems
and performance has been very good.
It sure won’t out perform a big mono band beam but it
works well for what it was designed for.
I’ve worked over 300 countries with it and would sure
purchase another one if needed. Good luck….

 

[Sprint]

Thanks W3DMV . I appreciate your real life experience with this antenna. I believe this one is pre MFJ . So perhaps a Telex unit.
Cheers
Chris

 

[prcguy]

It doesn't have 17m in the mix, which is a nice band. If you give up a little gain a Hexbeam can cover 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6m in a smaller package and they work really well for less $$. I have an NA4RR Hexbeam and its probably delighted me more than any other antenna, and I've had a lot.

 

[Sprint]

It doesn't have 17m in the mix, which is a nice band. If you give up a little gain a Hexbeam can cover 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6m in a smaller package and they work really well for less $$. I have an NA4RR Hexbeam and its probably delighted me more than any other antenna, and I've had a lot.
[/QUOTE

The thing that dissuades me from any of the hex beams is the cost . I can buy this Explorer for $300 CAD Valid point on 17 & 12
17 is my fave band but I can buy a nice moxon for those. Pretty much anything new is $1000

 

[prcguy]

The NA4RR Hexbeam is $660 US including shipping. Mine went completely together in 45min flat after opening all the boxes with a perfect match across each entire band edge to edge. I can't say enough good things about it.

NA4RR Hexagonal Beam Antenna Based On The G3TXQ Broadband Design

k4hex.com

 

[Sprint]

I've read many great results on the NA4 hex. Snow and ice loading is also a consideration here and again, against the $300 CAD for the Exp.

 

[prcguy]

I'm just trying to put as big of a smile on your face as I got with my Hexbeam. Not sure if the Explorer will do that.

I've read many great results on the NA4 hex. Snow and ice loading is also a consideration here and again, against the $300 CAD for the Exp.

 

[alcahuete]

I've read many great results on the NA4 hex. Snow and ice loading is also a consideration here and again, against the $300 CAD for the Exp.

Snow and ice should be a consideration. I ran both a hexbeam and spiderbeam for a bit, and while we don't get much snow here in the Mojave desert, one snowstorm and a bit of wind was enough to obliterate both. And I'm not talking about a quick re-wiring...the fiberglass poles actually broke too. Never again.

My X7, which is currently my main high band HF beam covers 40-10 (and even 6, 2m, and 70cm with some directionality, believe it or not), and runs circles around any hexbeam in existence, both in performance and durability.

 

[prcguy]

But the X7 a $1,600 7 element antenna, you can't compare it to a $660 Hexbeam, not to mention the additional wind loading and larger rotor needed. I think the Hexbeam is the best bang for the buck if you only need 20-6m and have limited space.

What brand was the Hexbeam that broke? There seems to be a lot of NA4RR Hexbeams across Canada, eh?

Snow and ice should be a consideration. I ran both a hexbeam and spiderbeam for a bit, and while we don't get much snow here in the Mojave desert, one snowstorm and a bit of wind was enough to obliterate both. And I'm not talking about a quick re-wiring...the fiberglass poles actually broke too. Never again.

My X7, which is currently my main high band HF beam covers 40-10 (and even 6, 2m, and 70cm with some directionality, believe it or not), and runs circles around any hexbeam in existence, both in performance and durability.

 

[alcahuete]

But the X7 a $1,600 7 element antenna, you can't compare it to a $660 Hexbeam, not to mention the additional wind loading and larger rotor needed. I think the Hexbeam is the best bang for the buck if you only need 20-6m and have limited space.

What brand was the Hexbeam that broke? There seems to be a lot of NA4RR Hexbeams across Canada, eh?

Oh yeah. I'm not particularly comparing my X7 with a Hexbeam, because like you say, it is a way more expensive antenna, and way more equipment is needed. But just in general, a good tri-band beam is going to a spank a hexbeam in realiability and performance. Heck, even my Field Day A3S (which I got for like $50 used) talked circles around the hexbeam, and covers around 30m-6m with a tuner.

My hex was a NA4RR, and the Spiderbeam was genuine from Spiderbeam. I will say that the performance on the Spiderbeam was pretty incredible, until it blew up. I was actually quite impressed.

 

[prcguy]

I chose a Hex due to my available space and the good user reviews. If I had a little more room I would have got a Tennadyne T11, which is a log periodic that has continuous coverage from 13 to 55Mhz with about 5.8dBd gain across the entire range. The only problem is it would have hung over my neighbors yard a bit.

Oh yeah. I'm not particularly comparing my X7 with a Hexbeam, because like you say, it is a way more expensive antenna, and way more equipment is needed. But just in general, a good tri-band beam is going to a spank a hexbeam in realiability and performance. Heck, even my Field Day A3S (which I got for like $50 used) talked circles around the hexbeam, and covers around 30m-6m with a tuner.

My hex was a NA4RR, and the Spiderbeam was genuine from Spiderbeam. I will say that the performance on the Spiderbeam was pretty incredible, until it blew up. I was actually quite impressed.

 

[alcahuete]

I chose a Hex due to my available space and the good user reviews. If I had a little more room I would have got a Tennadyne T11, which is a log periodic that has continuous coverage from 13 to 55Mhz with about 5.8dBd gain across the entire range. The only problem is it would have hung over my neighbors yard a bit.

For sure. That Tennadyne is a beautiful antenna too! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my hexbeam. Performance was great for what it was, and if you really wanted to, you could spin the dog gone thing by hand. Barely took up any space at all. But the whole snow thing did it for me. I gave up. LOL!!

 

[mass-man]

Experienced my first HEXBEAM at Field Day this year. Having done a dozen or so outing with wire dipoles, I was totally blown away! We were in far S TX, had no rotor, so just spent a lot of the day with it pointed north and then favoring the coasts following the grey line! It is my goal to get one up here at the house next year. As I spend most of my time on 17m it should work great.