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write your own review of the OPEK UVS-300 Dual Band Vertical.
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KC9CUK
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2009 15:08
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update form 08
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This antenna is great, I love reading all of the bashing reviews of this antenna. I have owned all the different brands of the 17ft dual band base antennas diamond, comet, workman, opek and I helped assemble and put up a tram and jetstream version. I am using a comet gp9 on my shop right now and I don't like the plastic joints they use to hold the antenna together but with that said it is also a good performer I just don’t like plastic. All of these antennas are fiberglass tubes with copper and coils inside no magic between manufactures like they would like you to believe. I have seen all of them leak water most of the time it is a hair line crack right by one of the joints check your antenna real close when you get it. I also tape about 1 inch before the joints and go over the joint and 1 inch past and go back up again so water can’t get behind the tape. I have the opek/workman uvs-300 and they are the exact same antenna it has been up on the tower at 123ft for over a year before that is was at 83ft and I have had no issues with it at all via 2m or 70m. I have never had any water issues in any of the brands at all but I have always taped my joints. I have never had swr problems and two that I was told had swr problems on 70cm didn’t the meters they were using showed high on 70cm the antenna analyzer showed they were fine (for all you meter watchers). I have seen a lot of people cross thread the joints you need two people and be careful if it is hard to turn stop and start over. I would also like to address the mounting hardware some of the antennas are the same some are slightly different but I have seen two of the manufactures change them around they all work and none of them are commercial grade so it doesn’t matter. This is a great antenna for the money and is just as good as all the rest in my opinion but I also have worked with them all and I bet most can’t say the same. You can check out a youtube video I made of one of the uvs-300 I put up just search my call sign.
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KA8CEJ
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 7, 2007 19:28
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Cheap, But Expensive
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Paid $75 for the antenna at the Findlay Ohio Hamfest. I too noticed the three very flimsy finger that surround the end of the coax where it was inserted into the antenna. As soon as I turned it on, I heard people on our repeater input that I had not heard before, so I thought it was a great antenna. It is--on two metrs, VSWR was 1. 2 at 147mhz. Switched to 449 and POOF went the finals in the rig, no TX or RX, dead short on 450 mhz. Have not taken it down yet to find the problem, but $75.00 for a two meter antenna plus a final power amp on the radio is kinda expensive. Could be my fault, or their fault, or nobodys fault---I just know I'm out the price and labor for
a PA final on my favorite rig. I'm putting the old Comet
G-6 back up, it is better than blowing finals in the rig.
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VK5HPC
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Rating: 4/5
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May 3, 2007 03:19
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Very good antenna for the price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the UVS-300 antenna mainly on price at the beginning. After removing it from the packet & examining it, it seemed to to be reasonably made. I noticed that some of the complaints about the 'o' rings in this forum seem to have been addressed as they seemed to be quite substantial. Never the less, I sealed the joints with neutral cure silicon sealant. I also locked the grub screws that hold the internal elements with the low strength Loctite. I thought that the mounting hardware was a little on flimsy side, although it worked perfectly & the supplied "U" bolts & nuts are stainless steel. I connected the antenna to my FT-897D with RG-213 CO-AX & did a VSWR check across the 2m & 70cm bands. I was pleasantly surprised to find the VSWR was no higher than 1.4 :1 at any point in either band & this was only at the extreme ends of each band. Subjective testing revealed that I could access my normal repeaters at about half the transmitter power as previously. My previous antenna was a Diamond VX-1000 tri-band (6m / 2m / 70cm). The Diamond's VSWR would never fall below 1.6 :1 at any point on 2m or 70cm. So on that note I have to say I'm very happy so far with the UVS-300.
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KI4LIL
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 20, 2007 13:59
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Excellent Dual Band Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have gone from a dual band copper J-pole to a dual band Tram 1480 to the Opek UVS-300. Each upgrade provided a significant improvement. I purchased the UVS-300 antenna for $78.00 at the Palmetto Hamfest (Florida).
Going from the copper J-Pole to the Tram 1480 provided a two (2) S unit increase in my signal strength, as reported by various stations in my area. Another two S unit increase was reported when I replaced the Tram 1480 with the Opek UVS-300. Many of my friends asked me what I had done. It was that noticeable on transmit.
I also noticed a much improved receive. There was a two (2) S unit improvement on receive, as well. All three antennas were on a 30' push up pole. The elevation here in Clearwater, Florida is about 8' above sea level. The feed line is LMR-400.
I use the UVS-300 with my Icom IC-2200H on 2 meters and my Icom 706 MKIIG on 70 cm. I rarely need more than 3.5 watts to carry on a QSO. The SWR on 2 meters is as follows:
144.200 - 1.8:1
145.640 - 1.25:1
146.520 - 1.05:1
147.550 - 1.0:1
It is obviously higher at the lower end of the band. When it is raining, and the antenna and ground are wet, the SWR drops, however. Strange but true.
On 70 cm the SWR ranges from a low of 1.0:1 to a high of 1.8:1 maximum. I found the SWR varies low to high to low to high as you progress through the band. It is not the same pattern as it is on 2 meters.
I am very happy with this antenna. I have talked on simplex for 60 miles with 3.5 watts. I can hit repeaters over 125 miles away with 65 watts. On "Simplex Night" I can usually hear stations that others cannot. Considering that the antenna is not on a tower high in the air, it does very well. Factor in the price and this antenna is nothing short of a bargain.
The construction is not as robust as the Comet GP-9, but it is still very durable. It has experienced some wind and rain and is doing very well.
There is one area where you should pay attention if you purchase this antenna. The "pins" (or fingers) on the SO-239 connector are not surrounded by any type of insulating material to keep them stiff and prevent bending. They can bend very easily, if you are not careful. I actually broke two after puting up and taking down the antenna at least six times. In my haste, I bent the fingers and then two eventually broke off. The two remaining are more than adequate and make a good connection with the SO-259 connector seated properly. It is an area of concern that I wanted to mention. It was my error and is not a fault of the antenna.
I gave this antenna the highest rating because it is inexpensive (a real deal to me), provides excellent transmit and receive and seems to be quite durable. It is also easy to assemble. I don't see how you could possibly go wrong with this antenna. If you can put up an antenna that is 17' tall, buy this one. You will not be disappointed.
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W4AMP
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Rating: 2/5
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Feb 13, 2005 06:49
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Get what you pay for.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Gain figure highly inflated, replaced a Cushcraft AR270 with this antenna, very minute difference. Locknuts included with antenna did not fit holes to tighten copper elements inside antenna. So I had to solder inside elements together. Mounting hardware rusting two weeks after mounting. I would not buy another one.
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EXPRO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 15, 2004 18:04
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great value greater performance
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I installed this antenna during a wind storm last winter, the temp factoring wind chill was minus 15F, at first I wasn't sure about the antenna as it tends to sway around in the wind but so far it has survived several very high gusty wind days here in Michigan. VSWR on both 146/446 is excellant and this antenna outperforms several of the other brands I have used including the GP15. Recently my UHF business radio system antenna crapped out and I used this antenna until I could install a replacement. Again performance was neck and neck with the $600 Motorola fiberglass vertical it was replacing. Buy one for the price you can't go wrong
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WB8RKQ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 24, 2004 19:29
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super ant
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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this is my far the best dual band base any ever built for the 89 doller class nothing will come close to this ant. i had a diamond 500 witch cost around 300 bucks i think it was and this ant works just as good or beter i can work repeaters up to 100 miles easy and my ant is only 25 ft up im using a 706mk2g i tell every budy i talk to about this ant. buy one you cant go wrong for 89 bucks it has 8.3db gain on 2 meters and 11.7 on 440 200 watts swr below 1.5 had mine up for 1 yr still going strong.
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KC8TRL
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 16, 2004 12:39
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OK At First
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought one of the UVS-300 antenna last summer and it worked great I was able to get into repeters 70+ miles away and able to talk simplex for quite a distance then 6 months later when we had a 60 MPH windstorm the antenna broke off at the base so I would not recommend getting this antenna unless you want to buy another one 6 months later bad construction won't last very long.
I am now using my homebrew 2m J-pole until I get my Workman BS150 2m Base Antenna that I bought later.
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N8JFX
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Rating: 1/5
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Mar 21, 2004 19:03
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Fiberglass Junk
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Poorly constructed and is not durable false claims to db gain
Had mine for less than 3 years and it broke at base in 20 mph winds.
I have just bought a Crushcraft 270 and it out performs hands down!!
Spend an extra $20 bucks and get a Crushcraft. Don’t waste your time on this fiberglass junk antenna!!
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W1CAR
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 31, 2003 19:23
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Buy this antenna!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Investment? Who cares. This antenna is the epitome of low price performance! Who needs Diamond and Comet.. Opek is amazing. I can hit repeaters 50 miles from here and get perfect signal reports using 5 watts on an HT. I own the UVS-200, and it is fabulous, but this UVS-300 is near-perfect for a high-gain VHF/UHF vertical.
During high wind, I've noticed that mine shows fluctuating signal loss on the s-meter.. but I still have had no problem getting in to any repeater in any weather conditions. Even survived Hurricane Isabel while I ran Skywarn Net Control on it.
I will buy another soon. Bet on it.
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