X-Tenna Switchable EFHW Antenna for Ham Radio - $65.00 ASSEMBLED?! Xtenna
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 เม.ย. 2023
- KC8YBC sent me an X-tenna antenna for review. I took 20 minutes to record my random thoughts about this antenna, while giving you an opportunity to get more intimate with this antenna.
If you purchase this antenna / EFHW Autotransformer, please make a note that you purchased this after watching my video. I DO NOT get commission or anything, but I believe it is nice to allow the owner of a company to see who is brining them sales.. And if not, thanks anyway.
#efhw #hamradio #parksontheair
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A few points BEFORE Watching:
the description below states that at 67 feet of wire, this will get you 40m, 20m, 10m and 17/15m with a tuner. I was able to achieve a under 2 SWR on 15m, but these results may vary (you'll have to test your own).
Speaking of wire, I describe the wire as Polystealth like, this may be confusing. I was referring to the wire (at least I think) as having a memory, unlike silicone wire. So, it is poly stealth like in that aspect.
switching the antenna while in use (transmitting) is probably not recommended and may potentially cause damage to your radio, in some freak situation. I don't recommend it.
While using this on my flex radio, I did use the tuner and was able to tune other bands, like 17, without issue.
I made ft8 contacts with 38 watts into South Africa on 10m, no worries there.
There is so much I COULD talk about with this efhw, but I have to leave it somewhere.
Watch this prior to purchasing another antenna.
www.etsy.com/listing/14381354...
DESCRIPTION:
Complete End Fed Half Wave HF Portable 'Switch' Antenna Package Incl. Wire
FREE SHIPPING TO CONUS
As reviewed on @COASTALWAVESWIRES - • X-Tenna Variable Ratio...
Fully Assembled Variable Ratio End Fed Halfwave HF Portable antenna. Unique design. No other company is making this design antenna. The ultimate in flexibility for remote operations.
Custom made PCB
Female BNC feed point connector
Inductance ratio selectable from 49:1 / 56:1 / 64:1
140-43 Toroid
60w SSB
SWR ~1.1 - 1.7
Resonant on 40m - 20m - 10m with 67' antenna wire (70ft INCLUDED)
*Tunable on 17/15m
(3) Gold bullet connections for optional counterpoise wires
70ft of 26ga Antenna wire
Custom wire winder
Attachment carabiner
FULLY ASSEMBLED NOT A KIT
Includes;
40m - 20 - 10m fully assembled and tested antenna
(3) 2.0mm gold plated male bullet connectors (for optional counterpoise)
(70ft) 26ga Antenna wire
Custom antenna wire winder
Wire attachment carabiner
This is an efficient, low cost, lightweight antenna for any aspiring or seasoned Amateur Radio Enthusiast to use in a portable setting such as Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA) or out camping/backpacking.
This product is proudly designed, assembled and tested in the USA. FREE SHIPPING for orders over $35
Compare to other EFHW designs that do not offer the flexibility of the XTenna Switch
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**** I have checked the Paid Promotion box because this antenna was sent to me for free in exchange for a review. I have not received money and no one can tell me what to review, put on my channel, or not put on my channel. ****
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Be kind. - บันเทิง
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In a past life, I used to design and install antenna systems! All commercially made stuff in most cases. I fully understand the wire and winder, and this is designed for portability. My concern would be the robustness of the switch! I have been (years ago) in the Amateur Radio Emergency Corp (AREC) in New Zealand. I am not involved anymore due to poor health and family reasons. Any I would be using some type of weather proofing on that switch! Any water (rain) would quickly ruin that (if it is the type I used to use in order stuff). I love the design though!
Good point and useful observation. I appreciate the input as it gives me more to consider in the future! Thanks!
Terrific and thank you, tons and tons! The X-Tenna will be put to good use. Also, looking forward to receiving the two masts that were pre-ordered. Keep those great Ham Radio Dude vids coming! 73, Mike, N3JW
Dude great video. Always learning from you.
Great review. Can't wait to use mine
Great video as always, Dude!
Very cool antenna. I like how versatile it is. IMHO, that antenna $65 assembled is a STEAL!
I'm digging it and I have an interesting idea
I didn’t know about APRS beacon thing. Thanks for the video. Now I must learn.
Just bought the last two on the website! Can't wait...
Thanks for the review. Looks like it would work nicely with a fiberglass mast for portable work.
Speaking of broken wires and extra feed points. I keep a small bolt and nut attached to both of the alternate antenna points. Exactly for the broken wire situation you found yourself in.
Great idea!
Thanks for the review. KC8YBC I bought the last one before the storefront was updated with the next batch. I might rewind it to 3:21, 3:24, and 3:27, for 80-20M.
Thanks for the great, super detailed, review. At half the PackTenna cost, decent quality and feature set, I ordered one. KZ5MSE, 73
AWSOME...love that swichtable Thing. May be they got one of those that can handle max. 200W that a be the Right One for me. Nicely explained, Dude. You ROCK. Happy Tuesday Bro 💯👍🙋♂️
Happy Tuesday UG
I'm building a couple of them with banana plug taps for various different antenna impedances from 4 to 1 to 64 to 1. It's fun, and costs less than $10 for both, (just the toroids,) as opposed to $130. I don't run more than 50W anyway. I'm one of those hams who figures the fun of ham radio is really in the building and the learning, not in the yacking. I got the license because the FCC then authorizes me to design, build, test, and use my own gear.
I'm right with you John. I love playing with antennas but #notaragchewer LOL K7KS
Great informative video dude!
Thank you thank you
Awesome dude 👍👍👍
We used the xtenna for winter field day..fantastic performance!.
That's great! Glad you had success and hopefully a fun time!
This would work nicely in a 20Watt and QRP wattage range. I am just getting back to HF. My experiences with Baofeng ( the most advanced VHF/UHF radio on the planet) are leaving me to want to explore areas past my line of sight. This looks like a good economical way to go.
I have one of these, fantastic antenna.
I was thinking a Packtenna. This will be interesting.
people that think there's no place for prebuilt antennas like this should spend a day or two as a disabled person.
Nice point, for sure. It's the same about living in an HOA. People who criticize living in an HOA and try to be little others for doing so, sometimes they don't realize that some people are in HOAs for a reason like external lawn and housing maintenance. Great point, cheers and best wishes
Really like to be able to switch instead of buying 3 different kits. Would like to see one that can more than just 3 in the future in one unit . AA2BD
Packtenna got some competition
My thoughts exactly. I've been wanting a packtenna for a long time but never seem to find them in stock, this one will be in my arsenal soon.
@@W8MJL my packtenna has been to 99 activations and it’s showing it’s age. So this will be my backup
How much power will it take? The hight over the ground and sometimes the type of ground can change the impedance.
I’m going to be using a Three mosquito’s EFHW for POTA.
Excellent antenna!
Thanks for the review of this one!
73 de N1XV
I purchased this Xtenna and I just got it in the mail today….. question….. do I need a 1:1 unun at my transceiver with this Xtenna? Or can I connect this right to my transceiver? I always hear conflicted comments on using a 1:1 anytime you use a unun. What do you think?
You got me! Bought the all red one. K4RJJ
Did you have to trim the wire to tune.
I picked one up. I said Ham Radio Dude sent me. 73 W2FLA
The switch is on the high voltage side of the unun. Probably RF will be a problem. IMO 73
I just received my X-Tenna, what bands will it work on with the 70 ft of wire. 40,20 and 10??
40 20 10 as listed in the description. I was able to get 15 also In the sloper on 49:1. Will have a video on that soon. As far as feet, I recommend cutting it around 68 feet and slowly cutting down until you have a good match.
@@HAMRADIODUDE thank you so much, that is what I thought and was hoping for. W5CI
This should be a EFHW antenna, right? So the lenghts mentioned in the package is definitely not endfed half wave lenghts. They maybe for random wave lenghts.
Yeah it's an end Fed halfwave kit. You get 70 ft and cut it down to your desired length. They wouldn't want to give you less than a half wavelength, right?
Have you tried any of N9SAB's antennas?
I haven't but I'd like to meet the guy as I think he's local and I hear a lot of good about them. I'll see what I can do about grabbing one
Tim is a great guy and builder. His aerials are selling like hotcakes.
Why not wind the wire right onto the antenna? It looks like a wire winder after all.
I did, myself. That's no issue. In fact with the wire they gave, I can easily ft 71 feet on one side.
WILL IT WORK OM 80 WITH MORE WIRE?
I don't have it to test, but if you had 80m length and a loading coil about 6.5 feet off the toroid, it should work
I need super cheap 2m and 10m antennas
2m is probably easy. 10, I don't have any resources for that.
Skip the petg and print in asa or another uv resistant plastic
Yeah I recently started printing with ASA. Of course the main reason not to is that it requires a heat chamber and is toxic if you don't have proper ventilation. However, once I was able to expand my operations to incorporate a heat chamber and ventilation, I'm extremely happy with ASA
@@HAMRADIODUDE a cardboard box will work. Abs is toxic that is part of the reason asa got popular. Now we have crazy options for plastic. Don't sleep on hips great for living hinges
I'm kind of curious if you don't mind Where do you get your information from? I'm under the impression that the styrene utilized an ASA is more toxic than what's found in ABS?
@@HAMRADIODUDE I'm not getting dragged into this debate. Everything on Google about asa toxicity is 4-5 years old. I got a 3d printer earlier this year and started learning. Many videos pn TH-cam said it was less toxic. If you really worried put 2 condoms on and keep mommy on speed dial. You got plastic in your food, most of the beef in usa is cloned and poison stickers on fruit. How much do you want to worry about?
Hi nice but is always sold out and does get expensive in ZL freight and sales tax, freight tax tax ,taxes, ZL1PDT
sad hams dot com - LMAO
Aren't RF burns a bitch!😅
Great video! de W2CSI
Thank You!