Potential Antenna Purchase - Your Thoughts

[chrissim]

As an introduction to amateur radio, I purchased a W8AMZ G5RV and a Kenwood 430S.The W8AMZ is one of the most solid and well built antennas I have ever had my greedy hands on. The G5RV was decided upon due to lot limitations (tons and tons of trees) and HOA issues. The added benefit being that it was only about $70.00. I have it about 60 feet high as an inverted V. Branches in every direction tightly clustered prevent me from installing the antenna as a flat top.

I am now prepared to purchase up. I've narrowed it down to a Kenwood 480SAT and a different antenna. From my understanding, a vertical is a great option for my predicament due to lot limitations and the fact that verticals possess a desired take off angle for DX. Please, correct me where I'm wrong if needed. I have no shame when it comes to learning.

I've read multiple and various reviews on a number of different verticals. I first thought of the GAP Challenger, then the Hustler 5BTV, and finally a DX Engineering MBVE. Having bought DX Eng. products before, I know they are built extremely well and their customer service is top notch. Eham delivers the best reviews for the DX Engineering vertical, but I would very much appreciate any opinions before I make my final decision.

I have been pleased with the G5, but I feel confident the vertical I am considering will outperform it. I don't mind the 32 or 60 radials required, that's the fun stuff. My interest is long distance. The local state side chat doesn't do it for me.

I should also add that the wife and I are both public school teachers, so we don't pull in the kind of mega bucks some of you do. Cost should be reasonable.

Okay, let me have it. Thanks!

 

[prcguy]

I have a DX Engineering MBVE and something similar to a G5RV (but better) which is a 94ft ZS6BKW dipole at 30ft horizontal at the same location. The MBVE outperforms the dipole on 40m and 20m DX as expected but other bands are better on local and DX, especially 80m. Its interesting that I can hear lots of 160m stuff on the vertical that doesn't exist on the dipole but I can't always talk to them.

My MBVE has 30 something radials around 33ft long each in soil that's constantly wet and near a small creek. If you replace the balun on the MBVE with an actual antenna tuner it will perk up the antenna considerably on all bands. I purchased the DX Engineering over other 43ft verticals based on what appears to be superior construction and their balun seems to be better. Lots of people seem to be swapping out the stock 4:1 on other 43ft verticals with the DX Eng balun for better performance.

I would recommend dumping the G5RV for a ZS6BKW since it has a great match on most bands from 40 through 10m and if you have a lot of feedline on the G5RV you will notice an improvement by switching.
prcguy

 

[nanZor]

I think you'll do great with that combination, especially since you have room for proper radials.

At the risk of hijacking the thread, I'd also make sure you have a somewhat decent speaker to get the most out of it. Too many times I've seen guys spend $1k or more on a system, and end up listening to the 10-cent speaker inside the metal chassis, or use some junk computer speaker. While most amateur speakers are totally overpriced, something like the typical Kenwood SP-23 can easily be improved upon the metallic box sound by stuffing a shirt or some other dampener inside it. An even better speaker, even though initially a rip-off, can be amortized over time, and if you can't hear 'em, you can't work 'em right?

It's a question of balancing the system - you've got a nice radio, nice antenna, but a junk speaker. Not a balanced system. Ok, enough about speakers and back to the original topic - but I just had to throw that out there to make sure you get the most out of your purchase.

 

[prcguy]

I may not have been clear, MBVE vertical outperforms the dipole on 40m and 20m DX but the dipole works better on all other bands DX and local (NVIS). If you don't have a substantial ground radial system the vertical would loose its edge on 40m and 20m DX over the dipole.
prcguy

I have a DX Engineering MBVE and something similar to a G5RV (but better) which is a 94ft ZS6BKW dipole at 30ft horizontal at the same location. The MBVE outperforms the dipole on 40m and 20m DX as expected but other bands are better on local and DX, especially 80m. Its interesting that I can hear lots of 160m stuff on the vertical that doesn't exist on the dipole but I can't always talk to them.

My MBVE has 30 something radials around 33ft long each in soil that's constantly wet and near a small creek. If you replace the balun on the MBVE with an actual antenna tuner it will perk up the antenna considerably on all bands. I purchased the DX Engineering over other 43ft verticals based on what appears to be superior construction and their balun seems to be better. Lots of people seem to be swapping out the stock 4:1 on other 43ft verticals with the DX Eng balun for better performance.

I would recommend dumping the G5RV for a ZS6BKW since it has a great match on most bands from 40 through 10m and if you have a lot of feedline on the G5RV you will notice an improvement by switching.
prcguy

 

[chrissim]

Thank you very much for the replies. I'm never disappointed here. I intend to purchase DX Engineering's vertical package, which includes the balun with the exception of the external at antenna tuner. The Kenwood has a tuner built in, but I can always use the LDG Z100 I have if the internal tuner doesn't do it, though I know an external tuner option would be optimum.

How far apart do you have your antennas? I think the best I can manage is possibly 50 to 75 feet from the dipole to the vertical. Just too many trees.

I currently use 100 feet of LMR 400 with an additional 50 feet of RG8X (ran out of the LMR). I don't think the losses at 50 feet makes that much of a difference. I've worked Europe successfully with that combination.

The vertical will be 100 feet of RG213, as suggested by DX Engineering. I'm delighted that my guess was correct, that the vertical would enhance my experience.

Thanks again for the replies. You guys are the best!

 

[prcguy]

My ZS6BKW dipole is about 75 ft away and broadside to the vertical and I have 125ft of LMR400 feeding the vertical through buried conduit. The feedline for the dipole runs horizontal in the air and away from the vertical so there is probably not much interaction between the antennas.

My setup is at a location on the east coast and I operate a TenTec Omni VII radio remotely from the west coast. Its real obvious which antenna is better when switching between them real time.
prcguy

Thank you very much for the replies. I'm never disappointed here. I intend to purchase DX Engineering's vertical package, which includes the balun with the exception of the external at antenna tuner. The Kenwood has a tuner built in, but I can always use the LDG Z100 I have if the internal tuner doesn't do it, though I know an external tuner option would be optimum.

How far apart do you have your antennas? I think the best I can manage is possibly 50 to 75 feet from the dipole to the vertical. Just too many trees.

I currently use 100 feet of LMR 400 with an additional 50 feet of RG8X (ran out of the LMR). I don't think the losses at 50 feet makes that much of a difference. I've worked Europe successfully with that combination.

The vertical will be 100 feet of RG213, as suggested by DX Engineering. I'm delighted that my guess was correct, that the vertical would enhance my experience.

Thanks again for the replies. You guys are the best!

 

[LtDoc]

Any antenna will do a fair to middling job. If the antenna is designed to work on a particular band it will probably do better than a multi-band antenna, all multi-band antennas are a compromise. If that 'compromise' 'works' for you then use one!
There are very few 'ideal' antennas or mounting schemes. Who has that sort of 'room', you know? So, put up what you can manage and make do till you can do better. That's what everybody does, it's not unusual at all.
Then you get to the 'practical' part, what can you put up in the room you have available? That's what's going to determine what works best for you. Be 'leary' about advertisements for antennas. I won't say that they are all exaggerating abilities, but most do some exaggerating, sort of. Simple is very nice. Especially for us that are sort of 'simple', you know? Lower frequencies mean larger antennas. That's something you ought'a get used to, there's no good way around it. Oh well.
Not much help, huh? Sorry 'bout that...
- 'Doc