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| Reviews Summary for PAR Electronics SM-50 6M Stressed Moxon |
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Reviews: 36
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $109. USD
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Description: SM-50 Stressed Moxon 6M Antenna Occupies approximately 1/2
the footprint of traditional two element
yagis, yet has nearly identical electrical specifications.
The radiator material selection results in a further
reduction in size and weight over classical Moxons. Once the
coupling unit is installed onto the main radiator using two
#10-32 screws, assembling the rest of the antenna, including
mast mounting and tuning, requires no tools. Ideal for
mountain topping, roving and stealth operation. �
Horizontal polarity � Forward Gain:
5.8 dBi � F/B Ratio: 17 dB � Design Z: 50. unbalanced ï
¿½ V.S.W.R. BW: 1.5MHz between 1.5:1 points � 1kW power
handling � 6061-T6 aluminum, fiberglass, genuine Flex
Weave wire, stainless steel � Rectangular 84 x31", 3lbs
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://parelectronics.com/stress_moxon.htm
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write your own review of the PAR Electronics SM-50 6M Stressed Moxon.
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VK2ARE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2012 21:48
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Good practical antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The SM-50 I bought about a year ago has been on a small mast 4.5m ASL at home for most of the time working the occasional local 6m station. About 3 weeks ago 6m opened and I worked easily from the Central Coast of NSW, Australia up to a station in New Caledonia one night followed by a Japanese station the next night. Last weekend I took down the SM50 packed it up and took it portable with the local club on the Australian Summer VHF/UHF Field day contest. All were impressed. It certainly worked as well as our usual 3 element beam with the advantage of operating on 50 and 52MHz with a low VSWR. The bandwidth is far better than the Yagis we used previously. It's portability simply cannot be beat.
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VE7AUL
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 13, 2011 20:28
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Better than expected
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It's as good as everyone else here has said it is. Tuning it is exceptionally easy. The VSWR curve was so flat that the antenna was fine the way I first assembled it but I just like to tinker.
What I would most like to add to previous reports is a comment on portability. Fully assembled, the SM-50 fits into my old hatchback Corolla. An even bigger surprise was that it also fit into my hatchback Yaris. Of course, it would take only about a minute with a screwdriver to partially disassemble it into the driven element, two side pieces, and reflector wire.
I also must comment on what a pleasure it was to deal with Dale. He was completely willing to ship to Canada by USPS rather than the courier companies that hold products for a hefty ransom ("brokerage fee") before handing them over.
For some bizarre reason that totally escapes me, I chose to pay the old fashioned way with an international postal money order in US dollars since the Par web site does not support credit card ordering. Dale shipped the antenna to me before discovering that his post office would not accept the money order. We solved the problem like this:
1. He mailed the money order back to me.
2. I got a refund from Canada Post.
3. I paid him by PayPal which is what I should have done in the first place.
Through all this Dale was totally patient.
I would be very happy to deal with this company again.
See my qrz.com page for details and photos of what I did with the Moxon on a recent portable operation.
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AC2FU
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 4, 2011 14:58
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Excellent design executed with quality parts.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I ordered this off the Web Site at the beginning of summer and am really glad I did. I had planned on building an aluminum dipole but after costing out parts and an analyzer I felt this was a better value for me. It was shipped the next day and arrived two days after that. it was well packaged and went together really quick. I've made some great contacts and it even took Hurricane Irene in stride last week. It is well constructed and I know it looks a lot better than any thing I could have produced myself.
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W7RDP
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 10, 2011 12:34
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Great antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased the antenna last year for the ARRL VHF contest in September. Great antenna, works great, easy to tune, and easy to assemble and disassemble. Great company to deal with!
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WA1ACD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2011 10:27
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An excellent 6 meter antenna!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased this antenna and yesterday I mounted it up about 18' on an inexpensive TV antenna rotor surrounded by pine trees. Certainly not the best situation. Regardless, today I worked 2 stations from Portugal during a 6 Meter opening using an FT-897D barefoot with great signal reports. Needless to say I'm pretty impressed.
It has good gain and front to back. It's also very light and has little wind resistance. Best of all it has only a 4' turning radius. Of course, doing business with Dale is always a pleasure. I highly recommend this antenna.
73's
Alan
WA1ACD
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K9ZF
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2011 03:25
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Great for Rovers
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've used my for several years now. Good gain, very good F>B, and narrow enough so you can leave it mounted while driving.
Mine has been through a lot of tree limbs over the years. It gets a little bent up, but I just bend it back and keep making QSO's!
Great antenna and a real bargain.
73
Dan
K9ZF /R
--
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
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N4PSE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 22, 2011 16:39
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Easy way to enjoy six meters
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Unbelievable performance from a 3 pound, hold it up with one hand antenna. Mine is stacked four feet(I know Dale said to space it at least 8 ft minimum) above a little tribander at 32 ft. It just plain works; has terrific F/B ratio and flat swr over the entire band. As with all of Dale's products- I couldn't recommend it more. It would also be a great condo deck antenna! Check it out.
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AA8IA
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Rating: 5/5
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May 9, 2011 09:14
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Easy to assemble, easy to tune, lightweight and sturdy
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the SM-50 on April 27th of this year. It arrived less than a week later. When it arrived and I was able to open the box, I was surprised at how compact this antenna actually is when broken down.
Using the supplied instructions, I put the antenna together in less than 10 minutes. Tuning is extremely easy. However, following the instructions I really did not need to tune it any further as the match was perfectly fine.
It took me another ten minutes [or less] to install this on my fiberglass push-up mast and connect the coax. All in all it took about 20 minutes from time of delivery to it being ready to use.
On my first day using it I worked 9Y4D in Trinidad and Tobago and a handful of W4 stations. That night I worked multiple VE4 stations, one of them on CW and SSB. I never had to repeat, and incoming signals varied from S3 to S9+20.
When I can, I tune to 50.125 and let the radio set, waiting to hear some activity. I'll periodically hear stations fading in and out during the course of my workday. I keep it pointed towards W4 most of the time.
I do not have a rotor to turn it with. I simply walk outside and twist the push-up mast to point it in the direction I want it. As such, it's not very easy to check F/B ratio on DX. However, I did attempt to explore the F/B on it by turning towards a local beacon over in PA and then away from that same beacon. And there definitely is at least 15 db of F/B.
There is no doubt that when 6m is open you can work stations with antennas of different polarization or even antennas not designed for 6m. But comparing the VE4s and 9Y4D on my 40-10m parallel dipole or on my 80m doublet, I easily had 3-6 S-units or better on the Moxon pointed directly at the station vs the dipoles [not intended for 6m] oriented in different directions. Prior to having bought the SM-50, the dipoles were all I used for 6m.
Over the course of the next few months I'll be able to evaluate its performance more fully since there will be increasing activity on 6m. I'm hoping to have some fun in the 50 Mhz Spring Sprint this coming weekend.
I'd be hard pressed to break this Moxon. If it fell off its support, or if the support fell over, I suspect the SM-50 would weather the fall without any ill effects. It might come apart, but it would easily be put back together.
Given that this antenna weights only 3 lbs, can be assembled/disassembled in seconds for transport, and is directional with gain, it's perfect for any sort of portable operation. And, in my case, it's working out great at my fixed location. Thanks to the included balun affixed to the mounting point, I have had no problem at all with RFI.
I use the same push-up mast for my 80m doublet at the moment, so I already have experience swapping antennas in very quick time. It's great to be able to do that when you don't have a dedicated place to mount it.
I'll give an updated review once the summer E season is over.
I own multiple other PAR products, so the quality of design/construction came as no surprise to me. Dale builds products to last, and he provides amazing support.
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NS5U
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 28, 2011 11:06
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Should be priced higher
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Packing is superb, quite like a
real perfectionist managed the whole affair.
The antenna itself is elegant engineering and accomplished workmanship.
Solid, simple, and flawless in its execution with
even the documentation very well done.
Works much better for SSB than my 1/4 wave
If it was priced similar to the imported flotsam which has flooded the market it would cost twice as much.
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W7RDP
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 14, 2010 14:15
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Great antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I operated in the July CQ VHF and September ARRL VHF contests using the Parr Stressed Moxon. Great antenna, easy to set up and take down. I have used it with both my Elecraft K3/10 and FT-817 for portable operating. Great service from Parr Antennas.
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