Very inspiring instructional video! I was impressed as much with the delivery and honesty of the man presenting this review as I was with the antenna. I'm looking forward to seeing more of his work and have subscribed. Thanks for the help. 🙂
Aloha and good morning, Chuck! Yes, I could see me setting this antenna up out on my lanai for my condo-NOT! 😂🤣😂 I would agree that this antenna needs a little more patience and a good antenna analyzer to get it as close to perfect as possible. I think most folks would be going for a permanent mount with the antenna in the neighborhood of 25 feet and I would take steps to prevent rain water from getting inside the tubes of this Xiegu antenna for sure like I do for my repeater antennas since Hawaii usually gets more rain than most locations around the country with the exception that we get most of our rain during the overnight hours. What a great video and a must watch if you’re going to buy this antenna to set up on the roof. Now if Xeigu can come out with a 120 watt version of their G90, this would be the ultimate HF set up. Thanks Chuck for all the work you put into this video, I’m sure it wasn’t easy, because it never is really. 🤙🏻 73 and Aloha my friend. 🤙🏻
I found it a lot easier to adjust the antenna by using a tilt base (HyGain ATB-75). You need to prop it up with a ladder when it is down, but it makes adjusting higher up relatively easy. Glad you spent some quality time explaining the tuning. This antenna is vastly underrated, particularly for a backyard lacking room for a decent radial field. Look forward to any updates.
Great video Chuck. I've been testing vertical mobile antennas. I got the OPEK HVT-600 multiband antenna and a ANLI magnet mount for my vehicle. Made some contacts to the east coast on 10m with it. Also made on on 15m phone to Netherland Antilles (Curacao). its a fairly well made antenna but I dont drive around with it on the car. I usually pull over and install the antenna on the mag-mount
Great video Chuck. For the $$$, it looks like a decent vertical. I think you helped anyone who buys one to get it adjusted without too much frustration. You continue to produce videos people like to watch. Off subject...but. I have a GAP Challenger Vertical antenna. I have not seen too many reviews on it. At about $500., it's a very, very good vertical. Super strong on 20 and 40 meters and with a short stub in the 12 meter tube, 17 is great and 12 meters still very good. It goes up to 6 meters and also does 2 meters. It's pretty wide banded. I can use all of the bands without a tuner and be 1.3 to 1.7 on the SWR on all portions of the bands except 80M. 80 meters gets you about 150 Mhz. You can buy caps for different parts of the 80m band. Like most multi band verticals, it's not super strong on 80 meters. I'm letting you know about this antenna because it has worked very well for me for the last 13 years. Great signal reports and DX all over the world. It's not a beam, but for the price I feel it's better on 20 and 40 and just as good on other bands than the $800. offerings from other manufacturers (as compared to other hams I know who have the more expensive verticals). Many good reviews on E HAM. If you ever get the chance, check one out. Customer support is excellent. It's 31 feet tall and only requires three 25" counterpoise wires for the 40 meter band only (which can be bent...Great for small spaces). I think it's basically a vertical dipole. It does not use any traps or transformers. I believe a lot of hams would be very happy with this antenna, especially at it's price point. It ground mounts with a supplied, direct bury tube. Gap also makes another version of this antenna that is mounted in the air than many really love also. At my old QTH, it was out in the open. At my new QTH with less land, it's mounted 12' off the corner of my one story, metal roof house with a bunch of very tall pine trees on the other side of it. It worked a little better in the open, but still works excellent with all the obstructions around it. The owner of the company advises it works best with about 100' of coax to the radio. 73 !
Nice video. I've been struggling some with tuning mine as well. Most bands are resonating too low. I finally found that that the 2 short tubes that come preassembled to the trapes were the same length! They aren't supposed to be! One is supposed to be around 9.6" and the other 11" or so. I contacted Radioddity and they shipped me a new short tbe from China! I also found that the SO-239 did not fit many of my PL259s properly because of the overly wide spread of the teeth in the shielf part of their SO-239. I replaced the SO-239 and that solved that problem. Iwish you had told us what your final dimensions were. I gathered that you only adjusted the length of the lowest tubes, which are actually the 10 meter section, which is bizzare. I do think your conclusion about the design flaw is correct in that it was designed to resonate to low for 40 meters and that throws everything off a little. For the money though, I'd agree it is a good atenna and works well and with a tuner can also be used very affectively on 30, 17 and 12 meters! Components are of good quality too as is the machining. Can you tell us your final measurements?
Great video Chuck. I had the same issues tuning. The best I could get was around 1.6 which was fine. Great quality build, wish I had a bigger spot to put it.
Should 40m capacity hat be on top of antenna ? Antenna theory and practice confirms that. So probably bad placing of capacity hat is a cause of problems.
Great video! I suggest you putting the name of the antenna in the title of the video, because there may be looking people looking how to solve this issue you did. 73!
Such a nice video! Thanks for sharing your build experience. One question: Did you found the antenna? Maybe a ground from the mounting bracket U bolts? Thanks for an answer...John N6TRC
I left you another question on your measurement video (VERY HELPFUL). Did you attach a ground wire from the mounting the U brackets? Thanks for thew answer John N6TRC
It's weird you started at the top of the antenna as the manual states start with the base, next 10 meters, 15 meters, 20 meters and last 40 meters. This sounds logic to me as adjusting the lower part of the antenna will affect al lower bands. f.e. adjusting 10 meters will affect 15, 20 and 40. I think the reason SWR raised on 10 meters has to do with adjusting the lower part of the antenna. You got things right on the other lower bands but to much adjusting of the 10 meter does affect all bands (10 meter included). Since the antenna is advertised to be resonant at 6.9 and has a steep Q-factor is the use of traps. A trade of against a full real quarter wave on 40. Just my two cents. I'm looking at this antenna because it has my attention to put up here at home. I also live in a smaller place without a big garden. I was looking at Cuschraft before but build quality is not that good as it was years ago. I did had a R8 in the past. Nice video. 73 Phil ON4VP
Just received my antenna....The ground bolt from the ground strap was missing....must be metric maybe a M4. Can anyone confirm this? Also, the U mounting has been changed to a couple of slip-on collars making a 1 1/4" mast unlikely. Most likely 1 5/8" mast has needed. Thanks for any ideas about the missing ground bolt. John N6TRC
ok.. for what i saw on your video: i would not be happy on that 10m graphic. should not be high flat, instead of some kind of deep point. on my experience with most verticals and most of theme this "cushcraft" type, you should be mint on 10meters even before start assembly next segments. once you got 10m (or if antenna came with 6m, staring with 6m), perfect swr chart then add next and next and next and continuously tunning each segment. the 40m will get left at top and you should move in/0ff segment to get it to the right place understanding that for sure 40m will be the less broadband. could be less than 25mhz broad. for me i decide if i want it on 7.080 where i do lot of ssb or some 7.200 but no way being both sides right.
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
It's great that the manufacturer has clearly marked and numbered these antennas because everyone knows hams don't "RTFM" 😁😁😁
Very true!
Very inspiring instructional video! I was impressed as much with the delivery and honesty of the man presenting this review as I was with the antenna. I'm looking forward to seeing more of his work and have subscribed. Thanks for the help. 🙂
Aloha and good morning, Chuck!
Yes, I could see me setting this antenna up out on my lanai for my condo-NOT! 😂🤣😂
I would agree that this antenna needs a little more patience and a good antenna analyzer to get it as close to perfect as possible.
I think most folks would be going for a permanent mount with the antenna in the neighborhood of 25 feet and I would take steps to prevent rain water from getting inside the tubes of this Xiegu antenna for sure like I do for my repeater antennas since Hawaii usually gets more rain than most locations around the country with the exception that we get most of our rain during the overnight hours.
What a great video and a must watch if you’re going to buy this antenna to set up on the roof.
Now if Xeigu can come out with a 120 watt version of their G90, this would be the ultimate HF set up.
Thanks Chuck for all the work you put into this video, I’m sure it wasn’t easy, because it never is really. 🤙🏻
73 and Aloha my friend. 🤙🏻
Great video. That antenna looks crazy sturdy.
I found it a lot easier to adjust the antenna by using a tilt base (HyGain ATB-75). You need to prop it up with a ladder when it is down, but it makes adjusting higher up relatively easy. Glad you spent some quality time explaining the tuning. This antenna is vastly underrated, particularly for a backyard lacking room for a decent radial field. Look forward to any updates.
That would be easier with the tilt base!
Instructions...?
I don't need no stinking instructions !
🤔...?
Another great video Chuck I have been looking at this antenna looks like a winner ! You keep making them I will keep watching!
Good job Chuck!
Great video Chuck. I've been testing vertical mobile antennas. I got the OPEK HVT-600 multiband antenna and a ANLI magnet mount for my vehicle. Made some contacts to the east coast on 10m with it. Also made on on 15m phone to Netherland Antilles (Curacao). its a fairly well made antenna but I dont drive around with it on the car. I usually pull over and install the antenna on the mag-mount
Great video Chuck. For the $$$, it looks like a decent vertical. I think you helped anyone who buys one to get it adjusted without too much frustration. You continue to produce videos people like to watch. Off subject...but. I have a GAP Challenger Vertical antenna. I have not seen too many reviews on it. At about $500., it's a very, very good vertical. Super strong on 20 and 40 meters and with a short stub in the 12 meter tube, 17 is great and 12 meters still very good. It goes up to 6 meters and also does 2 meters. It's pretty wide banded. I can use all of the bands without a tuner and be 1.3 to 1.7 on the SWR on all portions of the bands except 80M. 80 meters gets you about 150 Mhz. You can buy caps for different parts of the 80m band. Like most multi band verticals, it's not super strong on 80 meters. I'm letting you know about this antenna because it has worked very well for me for the last 13 years. Great signal reports and DX all over the world. It's not a beam, but for the price I feel it's better on 20 and 40 and just as good on other bands than the $800. offerings from other manufacturers (as compared to other hams I know who have the more expensive verticals). Many good reviews on E HAM. If you ever get the chance, check one out. Customer support is excellent. It's 31 feet tall and only requires three 25" counterpoise wires for the 40 meter band only (which can be bent...Great for small spaces). I think it's basically a vertical dipole. It does not use any traps or transformers. I believe a lot of hams would be very happy with this antenna, especially at it's price point. It ground mounts with a supplied, direct bury tube. Gap also makes another version of this antenna that is mounted in the air than many really love also. At my old QTH, it was out in the open. At my new QTH with less land, it's mounted 12' off the corner of my one story, metal roof house with a bunch of very tall pine trees on the other side of it. It worked a little better in the open, but still works excellent with all the obstructions around it. The owner of the company advises it works best with about 100' of coax to the radio. 73 !
Nice job Chuck. Thanks for the video.
Chuck that is some nice looking grass.
Nice video. I've been struggling some with tuning mine as well. Most bands are resonating too low. I finally found that that the 2 short tubes that come preassembled to the trapes were the same length! They aren't supposed to be! One is supposed to be around 9.6" and the other 11" or so. I contacted Radioddity and they shipped me a new short tbe from China! I also found that the SO-239 did not fit many of my PL259s properly because of the overly wide spread of the teeth in the shielf part of their SO-239. I replaced the SO-239 and that solved that problem. Iwish you had told us what your final dimensions were. I gathered that you only adjusted the length of the lowest tubes, which are actually the 10 meter section, which is bizzare. I do think your conclusion about the design flaw is correct in that it was designed to resonate to low for 40 meters and that throws everything off a little. For the money though, I'd agree it is a good atenna and works well and with a tuner can also be used very affectively on 30, 17 and 12 meters! Components are of good quality too as is the machining. Can you tell us your final measurements?
Richard I have a second video out with the measurements that I used.
TNX Chuck I'll have to compare them to mine which I think are close but 20 meter resonance is still too low. @@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures
@@RichardLawn The only band I had that was too low was 40m for me
Great video Chuck. I had the same issues tuning. The best I could get was around 1.6 which was fine. Great quality build, wish I had a bigger spot to put it.
I learn something every time I watch you videos, Chuck! Nice video! Thanks. 73 de Bill
Nice job with the build Chuck, prolly gonna have some fun with that antenna 👍
Great vid Chuck. I'm waiting for mine to be delivered. 73
Chuck showing you how its done!
Should 40m capacity hat be on top of antenna ? Antenna theory and practice confirms that. So probably bad placing of capacity hat is a cause of problems.
Great video! I suggest you putting the name of the antenna in the title of the video, because there may be looking people looking how to solve this issue you did. 73!
dx Commander best vertical I have had in 40 years!
Probably not as much interaction between elements as this kind of vertical where each seem to affect the other.
G4GHB.
I think I need one Chuck.
Such a nice video! Thanks for sharing your build experience. One question: Did you found the antenna? Maybe a ground from the mounting bracket U bolts? Thanks for an answer...John N6TRC
Will "U" bolts accommodate a 1 1/4" diameter? Thanks for any answers. John N6TRC
Mast? Yes
Thanks for the FAST answer!@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures
Neverseze grease works for the sections it wont turn white at the connection ends
Can I use this for UHF/VHF waves….????
HF antenna.
Because I am in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region, we use UHF/VHF waves a lot.
I left you another question on your measurement video (VERY HELPFUL). Did you attach a ground wire from the mounting the U brackets? Thanks for thew answer John N6TRC
No I didn't.
Thanks again....I have a lightning arrestor before the shack and that will be John N6TRC. it@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures
It's weird you started at the top of the antenna as the manual states start with the base, next 10 meters, 15 meters, 20 meters and last 40 meters. This sounds logic to me as adjusting the lower part of the antenna will affect al lower bands. f.e. adjusting 10 meters will affect 15, 20 and 40. I think the reason SWR raised on 10 meters has to do with adjusting the lower part of the antenna. You got things right on the other lower bands but to much adjusting of the 10 meter does affect all bands (10 meter included). Since the antenna is advertised to be resonant at 6.9 and has a steep Q-factor is the use of traps. A trade of against a full real quarter wave on 40. Just my two cents. I'm looking at this antenna because it has my attention to put up here at home. I also live in a smaller place without a big garden. I was looking at Cuschraft before but build quality is not that good as it was years ago. I did had a R8 in the past. Nice video. 73 Phil ON4VP
Would this antenna have better gain than a OCFD at 35 feet or is this just something better for limited space? In your opinion? Thanks
Mine DID NOT go together easily. I had to sand the fiberglass tube. The bolt holes were slightly misaligned.
Just received my antenna....The ground bolt from the ground strap was missing....must be metric maybe a M4. Can anyone confirm this? Also, the U mounting has been changed to a couple of slip-on collars making a 1 1/4" mast unlikely. Most likely 1 5/8" mast has needed. Thanks for any ideas about the missing ground bolt. John N6TRC
What a HAM sexy looking Antenna Chuck. 💯👌
Who makes this antenna 😮
Xiegu
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures looks to be good quality i knew they made the qrp rigs wow iam waching this in the hospital
So benefits of this vs DX commander?
DX commander is better.
This antenna no longer comes with that style mounting bracket
ok.
ok.. for what i saw on your video: i would not be happy on that 10m graphic. should not be high flat, instead of some kind of deep point.
on my experience with most verticals and most of theme this "cushcraft" type, you should be mint on 10meters even before start assembly next segments. once you got 10m (or if antenna came with 6m, staring with 6m), perfect swr chart then add next and next and next and continuously tunning each segment. the 40m will get left at top and you should move in/0ff segment to get it to the right place understanding that for sure 40m will be the less broadband. could be less than 25mhz broad. for me i decide if i want it on 7.080 where i do lot of ssb or some 7.200 but no way being both sides right.