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| Reviews Summary for Alpha Delta DX-A |
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Reviews: 19
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Average rating: 4.3/5
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MSRP: $59.95
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Description: 160-80-40 Meter 1/4-wave Twin Sloper - A top low frequency DX antenna. Combines the tremendous DX
firepower of the 1/4-wave sloper with the wide bandwidth of the 1/2-wave dipole. One leg is 67 ft., the other 55 ft.
Installs like an Inverted-V with ground return accomplished thru tower or down-lead
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More info: http://www.alphadeltacom.com/dxa_ii.htm
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You can
write your own review of the Alpha Delta DX-A.
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YB2TJV
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 19, 2008 07:06
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Good Antenna, Easy Set Up and Low VSWR
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Steve Hass (WB2ZHB) gave me this antenna when he was in Indonesia Juli 10 to 14, 2008, at July 16 I raised up this antenna, first I was worried about guy wires in my tower that affecting the overall performance, but after finished and connected to the tx.... wooooo that's great man... the VSWR is vy low on 40m, 80m and 160, even my old TS 440S, work nice, without antenna tuner, the first station we QSO was VK9XWW from Chrstmas Island 59+20db
that's my comment, thanks Steve Hass WB2ZHB/YB2
de DANI
YB2TJV
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K6YE
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 25, 2008 20:11
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AWESOME
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My expectations from simple wire antennas are mixed. I purchased the DX-A at a Hamfest primarily for 160 and 80 meters (I have 2 elements on the Force-12 C4XLD for 40). It was NIB for $30 (somebody was thinning the herd). After installing my find, I was able to work my buddies in California without too much trouble.
The VP6DX expedition peeked my interest. I worked them easily on CW. I must say that I do use a Heathkit SA-2060A tuner to get the most out of my IC-775DSP or FT-1000D on the entire band(s). As Gotham Antennas used to say in their advertisements, "That antenna works!" I thought for sure the Alpha 91B or the Kenwood TL-922A would be needed but nix.
For sure there are other simple wire antennas that work as well or much better, but this baby gets a "thumbs up" for its production.
You cannot go wrong with the DX-A.
Semper Fi,
Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
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KB3Z
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 18, 2007 09:48
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Good Antenna but needs trimming
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have had the DX-A up for about 4 months. It wasn't until I hooked up a Winode 2 that I got a good look at the swr's for all 3 bands. 160 and 40 meters are good and I get excellent power out with my AL-811 on. 75 Meters needed quite a bit of tuning or should I say trimming. I probably cut off around 4 feet to get a good swr and power out with the amp. I usually operate from 3700.0 to 3875.0 so I had to do some trimming to get it to work just fine. Good antenna but it took some work to get it there.
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W0BKR
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 18, 2007 05:57
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Good Performer
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently bought a new DX-A along with a "used one". The used one is up and the new one still in the wrapper.
PROS
Antenna is pretty straightforward to install and use. Heavy gauge wire, seems relatively well made. Loads fairly easily, some adjustment is required (mine was used so not sure how trimmed perviously). Good SWR bandwidth on 160, 75 and 40. Worked G3 station on 75 with 50 watts which isn't too bad, along with an OZ station shortly afterwards with 100 watts.
CONS
Mounting adapter to tower could be more robust as could the strain relief for the wires to the bulkhead connector.
12 gauge wire a bit hard to work with for trimming due to inherent nature of solid strand 12 gauge wire.
Sensitive to surrounding objects fo tuning may be a must for one and not required for another in the same set up. The nature of the sloper.
Price is a bit more then what I consider reasonable ($100 on today's market). Should be around $50-60 and even then the profit margin is high.
Overall, if you have the desire to operate on 160 and need a reasonably good performer, it will do the job. Don't expect high performance results with a 60 FT wire for 160 but you will be able (at times) to hear DX and work it.
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KE4NU
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 24, 2007 21:19
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Poor Performer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I picked the DX-A up a few yrs ago and mounted it at 38 ft level below a hf beam and made sure the tower was well grounded. Poor performance on 80 meters, never could get a good match without a tuner. 40 meters was a little better. 160 was really narrow banded but worked fairly good. Stranded wire would have been a better choice over the solid wire which when stressed will come loose from the SO239. Very disappointed, I replaced it with an inverted V and my signal increase about 10 db on 75. Huge difference and didn't need a tuner. Bottom line: try loading a metal gutter or mobile antenna. Don't waste your money on this antenna.
73, Alan
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NZ0T
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 14, 2007 07:09
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Early results very good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've only had the DX-A up for about a week but the early results are very good. I hung it from about the 38 foot level of my 40 foot Rohn 25 tower which has a tribander and 2 meter vertical mounted. Element ends are about 8-10 feet high. I had to actually add some wire to get to my resonant points on 80 and 40 and take some off for 160. SWR on 40 is 1.4 - 1 or less across the entire band, 80 1.7 to 1 at resonance with a 185 Khz 2-1 bandwidth and 160 1.4 - 1 with a 118 Khz bandwidth. Early reports are very good on 40 and 160 and good on 80. A group that I talk to at 1.947 reported much better signal strength than my old home brew "Cobra" doublet and a CQ on 40 CW resulted in an easy QSO with an HB9 at 100 watts.
I rated a 4 because of the rather flimsy mounting bracket which bent when I tightened the U bolt enough to hold it firmly to the tower leg and the fact that 80 meter SWR is rather high. That said, this is an excellent antenna for someone like me with a small lot and a tower/yagi setup to hang it from. I'm looking forward to winter (for good 160 conditions not cold) and having a good 160 signal!
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KR4BD
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 20, 2006 08:54
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Outstanding Performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had a DX-A for about 10 years or more. Due to my small, city-sized lot, I had few choices for 160 (and even 80 meter) antennas. I had a 45 ft freestanding tower with a tri-bander on top, so the DX-A looked like a perfect antenna for me. With it, I have achieved 5 Band DXCC, all on SSB. Last winter, I finally worked Alaska on 160 for WAS on that band. The DX-A gives me 1.5 to 1 or better from 1860 to 1920 kHz and is virtually flat on the entire 40 meter band. I do use a tuner on 75/80, but that has not stopped me from working well over 100 countries on that band with it.
I noticed the retail price of this antenna recently went up to $100, probably due to the insane price of copper these days.
Tom, KR4BD
Lexington, KY
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K9VSK
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 20, 2006 06:47
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Excellent antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just installed the antenna on my tower yesterday at the 32' level with the ends at 10'. Noticed better received signal levels as well as transmit signal on 75 meters. Works well with the FT920. Better performer than my multiband dipole which was at the same height.
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W1ZE
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 5, 2006 14:38
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almost worth the $
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The DX-A works. Is it a world beater on 160? No, but it does work and will let you log lots of QSOs.
On 75 & 40 meters it works about as well as as a dipole. The center of my DX-A is at 32 feet and on 75M it is a cloud burner, good for regional communications. With my installation, I find it a close match on 30-meters too, and with a transmatch (tuner) I can make it work on other HF bands.
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KG9Z
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 1, 2006 20:33
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OUTSTANDING!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had several of these antennas. There are great for what they are. They are NOT a beam or some steerable vertical array but a great antenna for a somewhat limited space.
Mine is installed at about 35 feet at the apex with the 40/160 leg only 3 feet above ground and the 80 leg about 8 feet abouve ground.
I worked the K7C on 160 and 80 Meters. Need I say more!?!?
Just make sure your installation has a GOOD ground system and the tower or mast it is mounted from is also grounded....that may be the key.
73 Scotty KG9Z/8 Wooster, Ohio
P.S. Worked the K7C on 40 and 30 with rotatable dipoles!
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