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write your own review of the Diamond F22A.
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KT4EP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 2, 2011 15:22
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On top of the Tower at 55 feet
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've tested the F22A at 15 and 20 feet compared to my Cushcraft 270 at 55 feet. The Diamond's receive at 20 feet was comparable to the Cushcraft at 55 feet. Today, despite mid 90 degree temperatures, I put the Diamond on top of the tower. The support U shape brackets that came with it fit perfectly on the ROHN 25 top/mast piece so I did not need a secondary mast to attach it too. I assembled everything on the ground and my wife helped with the ropes as I pulled it to the top. I also put one of those lightning arrestors on the bottom of the antenna before attaching the coax - using mix of Tandy and International Wire RG8X - which is about a 125 foot run from the shack. Feed by my Yaesu FT-2900, top transmission power of 75 watts yielded an SWR of 1.3:1. SWR relative to your own situation, of course. Initial testing with local Memphis friends on simplex is showing the stations that were weaker are a bit stronger. One person said my signal was weaker but my audio was stronger?! The flatter radiation pattern probably caused this. I am also hearing hams in north Mississippi on reverse into a repeater about 25 miles south of my house. I can only hope this Diamond lasts as long as the Cushcraft which has been outdoors since 1992!
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KT4EP
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Rating: 5/5
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May 22, 2011 09:48
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Testing the Diamond to replacing my Cushcraft 270
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Cushcraft 270 bought in 1992 & on the tower most of the time. The F22A appears to fit my requirements for a new VHF antenna, I don't work much 70cm. Tested so far on a 16 foot and 20 foot TV antenna mast which are a bit light weight for the F22A even when the masts are guyed. But I noticed immediately the antenna favors contacts 5 miles or more away than the closer contacts which I contribute to the flat radiation pattern of the F22A and take off angle as compared to the 270 at 55 feet. In fact, one close contact got a bit weaker as I raised the F22A just 4 more feet.
The F22A appears to be good quality. I was a bit skeptical when I examined the fiberglass shell as it appears a bit thin but when I put the two sections together it seems strong and stout. There wasn't much of the whip to insert into the bottom piece. My first test with the F22A at 16 feet fed by a brand new 100 foot run of Cable Experts RG mini 8, gave me a flat 1:1 to 1 SWR. However, the next day I moved the antenna 4 feet higher to a different location fed by just 25 feet of older International Wire mini 8 and the SWR was 1:5 to 1. I may have altered the whip length when I moved it, or the coax is not up to snuff, however, 1:5 to 1 is within recommended tolerance. I have some RG 213 I will test next for my feedline.
Get some help pushing the antenna up on a push pole if over 15 feet, it gets wobbly on you due to the length of the antenna. I think after the rains and winds get out of here, I am going to really test the Diamond more thoroughly and eventually put it on top of my tower.
BTW, I bought this antenna partially on the recommendation of another ham who has used a similar Diamond product for over 15 years and it has survived multiple storms and fell over one time and keeps on working just fine.
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KC0LXL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2011 07:14
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Good Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this antenna around 9 years ago, and first used it 5 years ago to use on 2 Meters and to monitor the railroad band (160-161MHz). I mounted the antenna on the sink pipe of a 1 story house and clearly worked repeaters within a 40 miles range. It heard the railroads just fine. After a move and 4 years later I dug the antenna back out. Some parts were missing so I called diamond and had replacement parts within a week! Got the antenna together and all is still working well. I have it mounted to PVC and the PVC is sitting in a 5 gallon Menards bucket filled with rock on the deck. Its still working all 2 Meter repeaters in the 40-50 mile range and simplex I get 15 miles. I can't wait to get this antenna on a tower someday with some height!!!
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GM7PBB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 28, 2005 15:19
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Excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have two Diamond F22A's one is over 10 years old and the other just over 3, I live in the outer Hebrides IO68UM and we have just had around 130mph Hurricane winds for over 8 hours, my main F22 is 55 feet in the air below my Mosley TA33 and Trident 50Mhz 7 element, both of which bent or snapped in the winds but my trusty F22 is still there just as straight as the day it went up there. These are excellent 2m verticals and would never be with out one. I used to have a Diamond 510X a few months back and that snapped at just over 70mph........
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N3PKC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 11, 2005 22:21
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Nice design!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had it up for less than a week and so far, so good. I like the overall design and construction compared with other brands I've bought in the past. I've got a Comet GP-15 about 20 feet higher and the F22A blows it away on two meters, receive and transmit. I didn't have to mention the new antenna to FM simplex friends; they could tell right away by the big signal.
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K8AND
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2004 01:13
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Solid Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I know many won't pay $100 for just a two meter antenna but if you want an antenna to dedicate to your two meter station,this one is a good one.
I have had this antenna for years and it's been moved several times,S.W.R. is decent across the
entire two meter band. Good antenna if you want something with good gain but not overly large.Nice thing about the antenna is ease of installation and the fact it's already tuned.
Once it's up,you shouldn't have to take it
down to adjust for S.W.R. Can be mounted
on a simple mast pipe for operation.
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WA2TCE
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 31, 2004 01:55
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Excellent well-built antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was impressed by the quality of the construction of this antenna. Its radome enclosure is made of attractive white fiberglass with a bright metal tip, and the radials and mounting hardware are stainless steel. It took 5 or 10 minutes to assemble. Right out of the box (actually, it comes in a vinyl bag) it measured an SWR of 1.3:1 at 144.2mhz, 1.2:1 at 146mhz, and 1.4:1 at 147.9mhz. The weatherproofing and gasketing at the vertical sections joint reminded me of marine products, and the coax connector is shielded from the weather by a stainless steel sleeve (which the mounting brackets attach to). The antenna is DC grounded. I can't vouch for the 6.7 db gain claim, but it was a significant improvement over the j-pole it replaced. Well done, Diamond!
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