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You can
write your own review of the Hi-Q-Antennas-5 (dash 5).
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N6VQL
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2009 00:14
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I won't go mobile without my HI-Q!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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recently purchased a HI Q 5/80 RT, package “B” directly from Charlie at Hi Q. The photos on Charlie’s web site are great, but one cannot appreciate the quality and workmanship that goes into this e well constructed precision instrument, until you see it and put it in your hands. Once you put it through it’s paces on the air, you will know you have the best HF mobile antenna on the market.
I use an Icom IC-7000, with the Better RF 7000 Tune Control and the Better RF 7000 Screwdriver Control. Hi Q does not support third party controllers. However, if you follow HI Q’s online manual, and the recommendations from Alan, K0BG’s web site, you will have little problems making this package work. The signal reports I receive from this antenna are fantastic!
Prior to purchasing the HI Q, I owned a “stubby” screwdriver antenna manufactured by another company. I used the same combination as described above. I spent two months trying to get this to work and never really achieved satisfactory results. In fact, I had more success with my old Yaesu FT-100 and the Atas 100, than with the “ stubby” screwdriver antenna.
I use the HI Q 5/80 antenna, cap hat with a 1’ extension, and or a 5’ whip or the 8’ whip. In addition, I use a shunt coil to match the antenna. I prefer using the 5’ whip with the cap hat. This combination seems to give me great performance.
Finally, I cannot say enough about this wonderful antenna and the support I have received from Charlie at HI Q. I highly recommend the HI Q 5/80 to anybody who is seriously interested in HF mobile.
73’s
Felix
N6VQL
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VE7SNC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 23, 2008 17:59
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HI-Q 5/80
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The 5/80 has really Impressed me. I mean really Impressed me. I feel I am the ultimate tester for any mobile gear in the HF aspect. I travel about 90,000 kms a year in the most EXTREME conditions. horribly rough roads, terribly cold and other violent weather conditions. I sent some pictures alone from at work this morning, by the time it got light enough to take pictures the temperature had come up to about -34 degrees Celsius. About 1 hr prior to this it was -44C not much fun at work. The HI-Q worked flawlessly. I have tried various antennas before the HI-Q because I THOUGHT I was saving a few bucks. If I can help anyone in saving money I may suggest getting the HI-Q first. because the ATAS 120 I had, at -10 it self-destructed. Went trough 3 of the things when I realized enough. THEN, I was told about the HI-Q by some friends and they said they had good luck with their 4/80's. I simply cannot say enough about this unit. Let me share a few things I found
1 Built absolutely beautiful to look at only appreciated by the ham community.
2 Tough, Holy Moly I abuse the crap out of all my gear because of my work and weather conditions. I challenge anyone with Brand X to tune their unit at -35 weather.
3 Having DX stations outright laughing at me in disbelief that I was actually "MOBILE"
4 Checking into nets and having the loudest station reports, louder than base stations.
5 Breaking pile-ups while mobile into Europe Africa, and Asia and the list goes on and on.
6 A not noticeable at first feature, Not changing physical size. Not having to clean and having an open to the elements. Like most screwdrivers.
I can't find anything to complain about yet but, I am looking HI HI. And that's not normal for me .All I can say is, This is truly one hell of an antenna and I don't believe there is anything out there that can touch it as for as LOOKS TOUGHNESS RELIABILITY and most important PERFORMANCE. You guys at HI-Q are making the finest product out there for mobile antennas. But you probably already know that. Congratulations. Brent Lyons VE7SNC
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W4GRJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 18, 2008 05:49
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Absolutely Amazing !!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Here is another glowing report for Charlie's HI-Q
I have the Hi-Q-5/160 RT, using it fixed at my QTH. Comparing it with my other 'expensive' B&W all band antenna and another brand vertical...just no comparison. The HI-Q is at least 3 S-Units better on receive and transmit. I have it mounted in a 4' mast attached to a chain link fence. Since I am directly on salt water here in Florida, the ground is excellent. In fact, I have decided not to even install the control wires for the antenna coil. SWR is 1.2 to 1.5 to 1 from 160 to 10 meters without any adjustment to the antenna coil. I am using a tuner at the radio. Again the receive and transmit performance is truly amazing when compared with my other antennas. One other point, when I called Charlie and explained what I was trying to do, he was very helpful in explaining the many options in selecting the right antenna. After a few days of phone calls and emails we decided on the 5/160 RT. After receiving the antenna Charlie was helpful & patient helping with the install. Get a HI-Q and you will never look at another vertical.
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KC1HD
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2008 17:08
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Incredible Signal!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I’ve been operating mobile HF for many years. I’ve amassed a variety of antennas that include a Texas Bugcatcher, an Outbacker Perth, an ATAS 120a, a Little Tarheel II, and finally a Hi-Q 5/80. The Hi-Q, is by far, the BEST mobile antenna I’ve ever used.
The antenna that I am using is the Hi-Q 5/80 with a 1 foot extension rod, the EB-8 capacitance hat, and a 32” whip. (I decided to use the whip from the Little Tarheel II). I use the Hi-Q GQD and WQD to stow the antenna or to allow me into covered parking. I also used the motor cable from the Little Tarheel II as well; they might as well be good for something :)
I control the antenna via the Turbo Tuner and it performs flawlessly. I chose to wind my own shunt coil, for low band operation.
I have my antenna installed on a Toyota FJ-Cruiser, just like the silver and white one shown on Charlie’s website under the SUV Installation section. The one shown in the photos used the Bandi mount but that mount really wasn’t made for this type of antenna so I contacted the person who originally designed the Bandi mount and asked him if he wouldn’t mind making me a custom mount and he agreed to do so. My custom mount was made out of ¼ inch stainless steel and has a surface area of over 1 ½ inches. The mount installs on the door hinge as shown in the photos. It is a large antenna and depending on where you mount it, you may need to provide support. My mounting location required me to anchor the antenna so I used a ¼ inch thick piece of plexiglass and a cannibalized Diamond K-400 mount. The plexiglass has a 1 ½ inch hole, which surrounds the mast of the antenna. The other end of the plexiglass attaches to the Diamond K-400 mount with a stainless steel bolt and wing nut. With the heavy wind loading, the antenna stays put.
Now on to the performance… you all know the band conditions have not been all that great lately. I’m writing this as I sit in a hotel room in Montréal just wanting to share the reports I received during my 6 hour trip from Boston. Today, I worked stations on 20 meters from the Southwest, to the Northwest, to the Midwest, to the Southeast, as well as stations in the UK, Europe, and remote DX islands. They all gave me 57 to 59+ reports. I have a performance issue with my Yaesu FT-857D in that it only puts out 20 watts on 20 meters and 10 watts on all the other HF bands. When they heard I was only transmitting 20 watts they couldn’t believe the signal strength. I can only thank Charlie for that!!!
I used to have issues being heard on the lower bands, 40 and 80 meters. With the other antennas people could never hear me but with the Hi-Q, even at 10 watts, folks can hear me. Imagine the reports I will get when I get my radio fixed and capable of transmitting 100 watts.
The support from Charlie is great!! When I was thinking about purchasing his antenna I called him a few times with various questions. He always answered. He was very patient and pleasant and you could tell he takes pride in his company and product. Shipping was extremely fast and very well packed.
I really can’t say enough good things about the antenna. Hearing is believing. You’ll enjoy yours too!!
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KF6IKC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2008 09:18
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Not just for mobile!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought the 5/80RT not for mobile use but as a "stealth" antenna for my home. I live in a condo so I can not put up a tower or large antenna system. I wanted something I could easily change bands with and that could handle 500-600 watts.
After many emails and a few phone calls to Charlie I decided on the 5/80RT....and boy am I happy with it!
I have it mounted on the top rail of a 4' chainlink fence in my back yard. Using the the top rail as the counterpoise. I bound the top sections of the top rail with braided ground strap and have a total of 90+ feet.
Some people have told me that the way I have it set up wont work. That is after they have given me a 5-9+ report! All I know is that I am back on the air after 3 years of no talking and having a blast.
Build quality is the best I have seen. Performance is awesome for a what I am using it for.
I have 4' of cap hat mast and the big cap hat plus added two 6' telescoping wips to the cap hat. I could not get a good match on 40 and 80 as the feedpoint was 32 ohms. So I am using a small shunt coil at the base of the antenna for 40 and 80. I get a 1.1 with a 52 ohm input on 80 and a 1.0 @ 52 ohms on all other bands.
I am also using the KO6YD SAM controller to move bands with.
Hope this helps anyone who may be in the same spot I am in and needs a small antenna to get on the air with.
73 Stan
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PA3FAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 14, 2007 12:57
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far out the best there is
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I had 7 different HF mobile antennas through the past 25 years but the HiQ 5/80 I own now is far out the best mobile antenna I ever had. Chapeau Charlie !
PA3VOS (ex PA3FAW)
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K0BG
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 18, 2007 11:27
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Top Drawer Performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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If you own one of these antennas, and drive it with an Icom IC-7000, you need a Better RF Screwdriver antenna controller. Although it say "screwdriver" in its name, it perfectly mates with the HiQ series.
I've owned my 580RTM for nearly three years. I have no regrets whatsoever. About the only way you'll ever beat it, is to run a full quarter wave antenna. Sort of hard to do on 80 meters!
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K6HPX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 16, 2007 09:04
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THE GOLD STANDARD
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Have been using a pre-production HI-5/EX. This item joins my rather short list of amateur radio products that set the Gold Standard for their category. Like the rest of the HI-Q line, workmanship and performance is top-notch. This is a serious antenna for serious mobileers.
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N1DL
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 30, 2007 15:55
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incredible performance and quality
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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after having owned a HI-Q 3-80 for 2 years I bought two 5-160 antennas from Charlie to experiment with NVIS in a V configuration on a tripod. They worked very well for this purpose. Now I am using one on the roof mounted to an airconditioner and another one on the back of my Hummer. Both antennas work exceptionally well. During the recent contest I worked DX on 80 and 160m and stations could not believe I was using a mobile antenna. DX on 20 and 40 m is no problem.
If you keep the antenna clean with Rain-EX you will have a super antenna both mobile and fixed that can take a KW without problem.
www.n1dl.com 73 Karl
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AL7QQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 21, 2007 00:04
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Great Antenna!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought and installed a Hi-Q 5/160 on my Pick-up and have thouroughly grounded it as directed and ensured all bonding I could possibly was done. I've had great success working 40m, 75m and 160m mobile all over the US with better than average reports while mobile. After the antenna hit and killed an owl while mobile, I sent the antenna back to the shop for some repairs and they returned it in a very timely fashion with upgradesto stronger materials at no extra costs incurred to me. The workmanship of this antenna is superior to any other mobile antennas I've ever owned. I couldn't be happier with a different antenna. I plan on buying the Hi-Q 4-160 for my YL's van next. The antenna does require checking the bolts on a regular basis to ensure they aren't loose due to road vibration and the coil housing has to be kept exceptionally clean to avoid problems. The only problem I've experienced is that the cap hat wires snap in extreme cold weather while running down the road. Other than that this is an exceptional antenna and highly recommend it to anyone that does serious mobile operations.
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