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| Reviews Summary for Van Gorden G5RV Jr |
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write your own review of the Van Gorden G5RV Jr.
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NEW2GEN
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 28, 2008 11:08
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So far so good.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm using the MFJ G5RV Junior as my first HF antenna, with an AT-200 matchbox and an FT-100D 100 watt mobile (used as a newbie base QTH.)
I installed it with the center at 28 feet, atop two stacked fiberglass windsurfing masts (use what you have, right?) with the ends at around 20 feet up, tied with 80 lb fishing line and with no objects nearer than a few feet from either end. Just below the ladder line I coiled the coax on a 5 inch diameter and about a dozen turns with each winding about 3/8 inch of space between the next.
I tuned easily and then with EASE I (my QTH Houston, TX) made my FIRST HF DX contacts, ever. They were on USB phone on 20 meters. The first was in California and the second was a medical mission identifying as on American Samoa in the South Pacific. He was a popular station to work that evening. Pile ups galore. I waited until there was less activity, so as not to compete with the 1.5 KW ginormous Yagis. Eventually I took my turn and received 5 by 9 report.
Soooooooo...I'd say it works OK. Not bad for $35.
I also used it for a local 10 meter ragchew with no problems. Haven't tried 40 meters yet, but you can bet I will.
Considering the low cost, and performance as expected, I give it a 5 out or 5. I wasn't really impressed with the connector at the bottom of the ladder line, so I used weather seal and tape to keep the water out. It's very humid here and rains a lot.
It works for me. I'm reluctant now to spend any big bucks on another HF antenna. At least this gives me plenty of time to shop around and decide what else to buy/build and install.
73
Larry
KE5TCG, Houston
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G8UBJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2008 03:51
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Value for money!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have run one of these for a few years and for such an inexpensive antenna they perform very well.
I recently put one up for a-b tests against my vertical (6BTV) - On RX and TX it performed better on 40m 30M 20M and 10M
The analyzer reveals its a good match on 40M 20M and 10M, lousy on 17,15 and 12M. Not a great match on 30M but tunes no problems and seems better than the vertical, but WDIK?
Assuming you have this antenna at a good height some improvements you could consider are -
- Replacing the plastic insulators with ceramic (Especially if you intend to run more than 100Watts)
- Replace the plastic connector at the feed point with an insulated, waterproof soldered joint - I have opened mine and it's just a hollow piece of tube with two wires and an SO239) it just feeds water into the end of your coax!
- add ten turns of coax at the feed point to reduce RF feedback on the coax shield.
Have a read up on the G5RV theory..
http://www.cebik.com/wire/g5rv.html
Its not strictly a dipole and you shouldn't use a balun unless you only intend to work 20M on it.
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K0PYB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 23, 2007 17:30
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Homebrew G5RV jr
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After pulleying up separate dipoles in a space limited environment, I decided to build my own G5RV variant (the jr. 51ft flat top and 17ft ladder line, 100 coax and balun, also Heathkit 2060A transmatch) The antenna far exceeded my expectations! Not only does it load easily on 40,20,15 and 10 but it also loads easily on 80,17,12 and 6m! I was simply elated and awestruck at the same time. Not only does it load but I am able to obtain 1:1 on all those bands! I must admit I tried to also load it on 160m with no success. First two qso's (noon time) were from Virginia to Ohio and with 5/9 reports! (75 W SSB) Amazing....absolutely amazing! Now I have resolved my space limitation challenge. Great Antenna! At a different location many years back, I made and used a full sized G5RV with similar performance. How quickly my memory had forgotten the excellence and versatility of this antenna. K0PYB Virginia
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N2LK
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 25, 2005 10:34
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Good All Band Ant
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used this antenna in many installations including indoor attic over the last 6 years and it performs just great for its simplicity. On 10/20/40 meters running 100 watts max. I have worked tons of DX, including VK's and ZL's on 40 meters. Right now I have it in the backyard, apex at 25ft.and ends slope down to 9ft.. Works great for a simple wire and my internal rig tuner takes care of it on 10/20/40 and even 80! Tough though on 15, not a good performer on that band.
If you need a multi-bander, this is a good one to use.
73's
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KE7BXP
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 26, 2005 11:48
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Very Pleased
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I selected the G5RV Jr. as an all band stealth antenna I could install behind my house in a neighborhood with CCRs. The centerpoint is suspended from a tree at about 30 ft with ends at 20 ft.
A tuner is required for all band operation, and I have been able to get SWRs < 2:1 on 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters using a wide range Z-100. 30M requires a high range tuner, but it can be done. Although the antenna is supposed to be resonant on 40 M, I have found a tuner is required to avoid high SWR. This may be a result of how mine is installed where the wire is close to the roof, metal gutters, and trees.
I mostly work 20M and 40M PSK31. I have so far been able to work AR, AK, FL, TX, IN, MO, KY, NY, NM, AZ, CA, Mexico and even Venezuela from Oregon with 25 watts. It does not have the gain of a beam on a tower (2 S units below) or a vertical (about 1 S unit below), but is is getting the job done.
It only took about an 1 1/2 hours to build, and the construction is rugged. So far the antenna has survived 2 wind storms and one ice storm. Ice on the ladder line will effect the SWR, but this is not too frequent where I live.
The only drawback is that I can't use it for operation on 80/75. As an all band compact antenna, it is a great choice for 40M and above, and an excellent value.
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KD7UNL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 15, 2004 09:25
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Very Pleased
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Been very pleased with this 52 foot Junior. I have it up about 25 feet along the roof ridge line with the last 15 feet sloping to a PVC pole on the back patio roof.
I have had some problems loading up on 15 meters at times. Though it doesn't claim to cover 80 meters I have gotten a 2:1 SWR using various internal and external antenna tuners.
Reports of signal strength and my DX abilities with this wire have exceeded my expectations, particularly since I am only running 100 watts.
The best $35 I have ever spent!
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KC9CZJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 8, 2004 23:41
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Good product
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I've had this antenna for about 1 year now.
Construction and installation were easy. It's mounted on my roof @ about 30" with the ends at about 20" (inverted V).
The antenna is mostly hidden from the street by the peak of the roof. None the less, I've had good success on 10, 17, 20 and 40 meters. I haven't spent any time on the other bands.
As designed, SWR is a little over 3.0 to 1 on all but 10 and 20 meters, but its well within operating range on all designed bands and works well with a wide ranging tuner (LDG AT-897).
Great multi-band antenna for limited space, little money, and relative stealth.
I've worked lots of Europe, South America, Canada, and Russia with 100 watts and my FT-897. Can't always break through a pile-up, but I don't expect to with this pea shooter system.
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W0XXX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 5, 2003 10:58
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It works
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm on non-military assignment in Baghdad, and I'm lucky enought to have a place to hang this antenna.
The gear: Kenwood TS-50, and MFJ tuner.
My intention is to get DXCC while I'm here on this assignment, no contesting (I have a 5 year license, YI9XXX).
I brought two of them out with me, I should have brought a normal length G5RV, in addition to the JR.
The idea was to have one down low (off the 4th floor balcony of my hotel room), slightly sloping, with lobes to the north and south, and the other up about 250 feet on top of the hotel.
I managed to hang the low wire first, and its about 35 feet above any obstruction. It tuned to all bands, and so far I have worked 56 countries on it, most on 10 meters including VK, JA and the USA. I was impressed. I hung the high wire lastnight, and it tunes a bit differently then the low wire does, so instand band, and antenna changes are not going to work really well. The lobes on the high wire are east and west, and while switching between antennas, I do hear a difference in how DX stations sound, but without the dramatic effect I was expecting.
In summary, you need to get these wires up, and in the clear for them to be happy, I'd love to run a bit of power into them to see what sort of pileup-busting abilites they have. It does what Intended it to do.
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KB9OJS
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 15, 2003 20:04
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A good antenna for what it is made for
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just homebrewed one of these antennas on 2/13/02. To make the antenna, I used:
1.51 feet of 18 awg copperweld wire
2.WA1FFL Ladder-Loc
3.100 feet of Van Gorden 450 ohm ladder line.
It took me about three hours total to assemble and install the antenna. I currently have the antenna istalled as a vee with the center at 9 feet and the ends at 4 feet and 6 feet. Here are my results from the antenna.
75 meters(not designed for this band): was able to check into the Illinois Phone Net, I was very weak, but the antenna can tune to a good swr.
40 meters: 5X9 into Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin and North Carolina with 100 watts durning the early afternoon.
20 meters: 5X9 into a Bulgarian Maritime Mobile off the coast of California.
17 meters: 5X8 into New York and 5X9 into New Jersey and Virginia.
15 meters: will not tune on that band.(reason for 4 out of 5)
Can't say much about 30, 12, and 10 meters because I have not talked to anybody there yet.(The antenna will tune on those bands.)
Also seems to work ok on 4 Mhz MARS Frequencies. This was why I put up this antenna. I get too much noise on a verical.
This antenna is great and I would buy the Van Gorden Kit if I didn't want to homebrew one.
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VA3DVS
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 2, 2002 17:22
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Sweet!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hi!
I will keep this short.
Bought it today for $40 Canadian @ RadioWorld(plug plug)
up in 1 hr, 10 feet in free space(to start),
North and South lobes.
50 Watts from my FT100=
5x5 into Easter Island,
5x5 into Northern Cooks Islands.
Nuff said! I am getting another one and going East and West with it!
73
Pete
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