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| Reviews Summary for Diamond V2000 Antenna |
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Reviews: 34
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Average rating: 4.4/5
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MSRP: $150 - $175 Average (2/2003)
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Description: Tri band (6m/2m/70cm) omnidirectional base station antenna.
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More info: http://
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write your own review of the Diamond V2000 Antenna.
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N3RSJ
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 3, 2006 11:00
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V-200A good for VHF/UHF ONLY!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I originally got the v-2000a used in mint condition at a local hamfest for a bit less then a new one everything was complete with it.I installed it and got poor results SWR on 2M OK,70CM OK /6M 3.1 almost like it was'nt for 6M?
I checked the tunable trap it was ok the leangth was adjusted around 22 inch for 6 Meters but SWR was rocking but 2.1 at 53.995? so the groundplane was not long enough so I extened it to 47 inches in order to get that 2.1 SWR to a freq of 52.000.
But cannot run anymore then 20 watts or SWR goes up? diamond would'nt comment me? I als tried cross band repeating the antenna desenses it's self!From 2m to 70cm or 2m to 6m? But not from 6M to 70CM.Used DR610TQ AND FT-8900R for this test.
I also had RF into stereo system audio amp and satalitte system from transmitting off this antenna?I just aquired a DB201 folded groundplane tunned it and no high noise level as compared to the V-2000A and greater transmit signal both into a repeater and simplex then the v-2000A I am so happy now I have had my experinces with other diamond antennas and had no previous complaints
best to buy a ringo AR-6 6m vertical I have one up on a simplex link and it's a performer!
AFTER SEEING WHAT A DIFFERANCE THE DB201 (decible Products) makes I removed the 6 m trap off th v-2000A aded an old ground plane from a x-500 that lightning dismantalled last year an d v-2000 is a great 2m 70cm antenna now. my experince on it don't bother getting one. x-500 is an exallent antenna for dual band op's 73's
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WR1H
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Rating: 1/5
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Mar 27, 2006 06:04
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Bad Experience.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am very disapointed with the antenna.
I have had it since 2000 and I have used it very very little. I recently started to use it, and noticed that my power output was fluctuating as well as my receive strength.
Checked / Replaced connectors, cables. No improvement.
Checked antenna, could not find anything wrong.
Replaced it with a Comet. Everything was good.
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K1ECW
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 12, 2006 07:22
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Excellent Value & Performance
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I've had mine up for about 6 months and it rocks!
The Diamond v2000 is mounted on a 70 foot tower atop an array of Cushcraft 26B2 2 meter FM boomers. I use it for omni reception and then move the array to improve the incoming signal.
The v2000 usually gives about 2-3 "S" units below the highly directional boomer array. I haven't worked a station on the boomer array that I didn't work on the v2000, too. The array makes the very weak ones easier on the ears.(It makes you wonder if $1000 worth of antennas, rotor, cable, etc. is worth it!)
I've tried the Comet line (i.e., GP-9, etc.) but definitely prefer the v2000 for its size, price, and performance. In fact, you're better off with the smaller height (i.e., 6 ft. vs. 17 ft.) in storms and you don't miss a couple of db gain difference when compared to the taller VHF / UHG verticals. My v2000 has withstood 90 mile per hour wind gusts and sustained winds of 50-60 mph with no problems.
The assembled SWR readings were: 1.3:1 - 2 meters, 1.3:1 - 70 cm, and 1.2:1 - 6 meter FM portion of the band. It DOES NOT detune in wet weather.
If you like VHF / UHF FM, want good performance, and don't want to spend a small fortune, this is the antenna for you.
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N8RGQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 25, 2006 20:45
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One of the best!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I ran the V-2000 for over 12 years , I set the 6m ssb omni 1/2 wave below the V-2000 to reinforce the groundplane on it. The swr never went above a 1.8 across the whole 6m band! On 2m and 70cm the swr never went above 1.3! I have worked from cuba to canada with this antenna! I tryed the comet gp-15 it was no where near as good as this one. The V-2000 was the best $120 I ever spent on a antenna ! I wish I could give it a 10!
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KC0VDN
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2005 14:26
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Great All around Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased this antenna for general 2M/440 work and it works awesome! I have it about 30 feet up on top of the roof and I can hit anywhere on 5watts, and with 20 it's full quieting almost everywhere. It is also nice to be able to expand to 6M with the antenna already up, though i'm sure it's not as good as a single band 6M as some of the reviews said. All around a great antenna, would recommend it to anyone.
Pete
St. Paul, MN
KC0VDN
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2E0DBD
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2005 12:35
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Very Impressed
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had a W2000 installed about 35' on the chimney before.
Changed it for the Diamond V2000 about 2 years ago when we rebuilt the chimney.
Using Andrews 450 Heliax fed direct to it.
VERY IMPRESSED with performance.
Good VSWR on all bands
1.5:1 on 6 Metres
1.3:1 on 2 Metres
1.3:1 on 70 CM
Recommended to anybody considering purchasing one.
Very well made, and good instructions.
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EA3WR
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 13, 2005 13:58
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6m performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I fully agree with EA4EOZ, I own the single fiberglass / no tune model and 6m performance was negative until I installed three quarter wavelength radials that totally changed my V2000. As EA4EOZ described SWR is now correct, with maximum 1,3:1 at 50 and 52 and a minimum 1:1 at 51. A station 50 km north from my QTH was S4 with unmodified V2000 and now is S9+, wich clearly demonstrates that original V2000 was not ressonant. Now it performs as a regular quarter wave vertical, although the manufacturer claims V2000 is a C Load half wave!
Best 73 de Joan EH3WR
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S56OA
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 8, 2005 05:19
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Works fine on apartment balcony too
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this antena as a replacement of old Diamond X-50 dual bander antena on the 2nd floor apartment balcony.
Antenna works better than X-50 on 2m and 70cm bands even though it has PL connector instead of N type one. I am able to copy few additional APRS digis and stations compared to an X-50 antenna.
On 6m band SWR is OK on 51 MHz and higher frequencies. On lower part of 50 MHz band (around 50.100 MHz where SSB DX portion is located) SWR is a bit higher, 1 : 2, but my Yaesu FT-857 still works OK and does not fire HiSWR alert even with 100 W of transmitting power, so situation is acceptable. I managed to work 20 stations in just an hour of time, during one of the openings on magic band, working stations from England, Scotland, Netherlands, Sweden and other parts of Europe here from South West of Slovenia, so the performance on 6m seems to be fine.
I give it 4 instead of 5 due to higher SWR on SSB part of 6m band.
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W8GTX
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2005 00:34
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Antenna does what it was built for
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Antenna does what it was built for. No problem tuning the 6m portion to the FM segment of the bend. Great match on 2 and 440.
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EA4EOZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 11, 2005 08:25
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A little mod will improve 6m performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I owned this antenna for two years until now. It's performance on 2m and 70cm it's okay, as well as many other collinear antennas. 6m is a diferent history. I've never use the antenna in transmission (band restrictions because TV transmitters), but I use it extensivelly in reception. All seemed to be rigth, except the antenna analyzer, that shown a chaotic SWR curve with sharp minimun(s) at some frecuencies between 48 and 56 MHz.
Looking in Internet about this antenna, it seems there are various versions of this antenna: Some with two pieces fiberglass, others with single piece, some with tuneable radial and others without tuneable radial. My antenna is single piece fiberglass and fixed length radial, so no tunning was posible without cutting physically the radial itself. I did it and nothing good was obatined except another chaotic swr curve.
Some months later, playing with MMANA, I realized it canīt be a vertical antenna with only one radial, in fact, the antena in 6m is a vertically rotated V dipole!. This is the reason because its radiation pattern is directive, and polarization is erratic: Vertical at the radial's direction, combiantion of vertical/horizontal at any other direction, with significant radiation just straigth up and just straigth down!
Another problem is because it has not a real balum, the mast and mounting hardware (and coaxial feed) acts as the 3th dipole arm, giving very diferent results in diferent instalations.
Just as a experiment, I replaced the 3 radials with full size 6m quarter wave radials (145 cm long 8mm diam. aluminium) and I tested it. Now I have a totally new antenna. SWR is 1:1 at 51080, with 1.4 at 50.000 and 52.000, very flat indeed! Because now it is a true ground plane, polarization is exclusively vertical, so TV noise is greatly reduced (from S9+ to S2: very nice for me!) so now I can heard even meteor reflections from european hams.
The new radials do not seem to affect the 2m and 70cm performance, giving the same signals on air and swr curve as before the modification.
My recomendation: If you are not happy with the 6m performance, try to replace the radials with 3 full size 6m quarter wavelength radials and test it. You will be surprised!
Diamond V-2000 unmodified: 4
Diamond V-2000 modified: 6 ;-)
73 de Miguel Angel, EA4EOZ
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