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write your own review of the DIAMOND X-50 2m/440 ANTENNA.
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W9AC
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Rating: 5/5
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May 27, 2009 07:00
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Performing After Nearly 20 Years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Purchased the X-50 a long, long time ago. It's now at its second QTH for nearly ten years. At the time of the last installation, I painted the antenna to match all my others by using Rustoleum flat-black charcoal grill paint. The mast, gable bracket, X-50, and even the off-air HDTV antenna are painted flat-black.
Last year while performing roof maintenance, I disassembled the antenna feed for inspection. Diamond's use of a WX-proof aluminum sleeve is a flash of genius. The line and connector at the feed point still look like they were just installed.
Very pleased with the X-50.
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M0SAZ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 27, 2009 03:54
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Best Collinear I have owned
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have been trying to get the most robust dual band base antenna with the most gain. Having tried 4 other antennas of various sizes, I found the X-50 to be the best.
I bought the one with the N-type connector and used Westflex 103 to keep as much of the signal as possible.
The antenna is "bomb proof" in so much as it is only one section, but it has a nice gain, which in real life terms is comparable with 2 and 3 section antennas I have tried. I would recommend this antenna to anyone who wants to simply put it up and leave it, without the need to keep going up to correct SWR issues becuase of joints leaking etc. on big antennas.
Would buy another one again without a thought.
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KF6MNH
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 22, 2009 20:10
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Solid and reliable
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I've owned the X-50 for a few months now. I purchased it from HRO in Sunnyvale for right around $100. Its mounted on a Radio Shack tripod with 2x5ft RS mast elements, so its about 13 feet off the ground. With the built-in preamp on the TS-2000, every major repeater in Central California is S9+60 and I've had simplex conversations at least 50 miles away. You really can't go wrong for the price, get some decent coax and put it up as high as you can.
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K3DLB
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 14, 2008 10:29
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Excellent Antenna...works great!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought it yesterday at HRO Delaware. I attached it to a roof vent pipe. I used a Radio Shack vent pipe mount. It's about 30 feet above ground. It replaced an old Cushcraft AR-270. Wow...what a difference. I'm hearing repeaters I never knew existed. I got great reports on simplex and on repeaters 80 miles away.
Very good quality. Easy to install.
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K7JGB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 27, 2008 20:18
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X-50NA (N-connector)
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased my fourth Diamond X-50, but this time I got the N-connector version. I installed the X-50NA in the attic and tested it with a Diamond SX40C SWR meter. SWR on VHF was about 1.3:1. SWR on UHF was off the chart. I change the coax, and I achieved the same results. I tested out my spare X-50 with PL-259 connector and I was able to achieve 1.2:1 on UHF.
I took the antenna back to HRO and swapped it out with a new X-50NA. I re-installed the X-50NA back in the attack and was able to achieve 1.2:1 to 1.3:1 on UHF and 1.4:1 to 1.6:1 on VHF. I am pleased with the antenna and the performance is great considering the location in the attic due to HOA restrictions.
-Joshua K7JGB
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GI4SJQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 23, 2008 00:56
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The best vertical I ever had. Its indestructible
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had the X50 for about 20 years now. It been put up and down many times and always work very well.
About 12 years ago it was on top of my mast when the mast came down very fast. The top 6” were shredded as it rattled and bounced its way down the fence it hit. The chrome tip was still intact and after taking it of the mast and checking it out I rapped the tip of it in some self amalgamating tape and put some heat shrink tubing over it.
I just put it up last night after it lying in the garage for a few years. Put the bird metre on it and its spot on 2 and 70. Hope to have it at the top of the mast again soon. Its just a great antenna.
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K4JAR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 1, 2008 07:46
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Great little antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Our radio club has transceivers in 10 firehouses in the county and all of them use the Diamond X-50 on the towers at each firehouse. They have not failed us in 5+ years and we are 1/2 mile from the Atlantic ocean. Metal takes a beating with salt and wind and rain but we have never had a problem with any of the antennas at Kitty Hawk to Nags Head to Hatteras. You can spend more but you don't need to.
I had a X-50 that I donated to the club and I replaced it with a X-200 but the extra gain was never noticed by me. Save your $$$ and just get a X-50 -- it will even fit in your attic.
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KG1F
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 31, 2008 18:17
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Happy after 5 years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had an X-50N on a 10 foot mast on my roof (about 45 ft elevation) for about 5 years. Great antenna, pulls in distant signals. I'm North of Boston, and it gives me a clear signal to Plymouth, MA South of Boston down near Cape Cod.
Well built, easy to put up. Works great.
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N0FPE
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 24, 2008 16:39
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working for years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my x-50 up in 2 different locations in the last 6 years and it has never missed a beat. It lived thru many a storm in the midwest and now it has survived the heat and dust of Arizona for 3 years. To the previous poster...You have some other problem. Or at very least a bad antenna. Try checking it with a antenna analyzer or check your coax and connection. I now have a X-30 for the camper! love it too.
Dan
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KD8GGY
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Rating: 1/5
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Mar 24, 2008 14:46
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Not Impressed
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this becuse of the good reviews, anyone want it? i paid 99.00 for it not sure if AES will take a trade in on a used antenna, i only have had it up for a few days and i am not inpressed, it works thats about all i can say good about it. I lost my MFJ 1740 MFJ 2M 1/4 WV GROUND PLANE ANT (29.99)to a Ice Storm last week so I thought I was putting a better antenna up. I put the X50 about 7 feet higher then the MFJ 30.00 cheepy I had Up. The MFJ out performed this Dimond by far, I can not hit the repeters i use to be able to hit with the MFJ. The only plus with this antenna is I can run 440 off of it when i get a 440 rig. I take is as a lession learned sometimes the more $$$$ ones are not better. KD8GGY
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