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write your own review of the Force 12 C3SS.
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GW0HUS
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2010 12:44
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darn good antenna works well in windy locations
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my C3SS for some 12 years now, I have not had any problems except with the stand-off nuts and bolts on the 20 meter elements failing after 9 years ,(steel bolts in aluminium stand-offs ..) I sourced some s/steel replacements from A local engineering shop for less than £4 reassembled the beam no more trouble .works great on 20 15 and ten meters great on 12 meters ok on 17 meters but joy of joy last Saturday put the 60ft (crank up tilt over )tower back up after its 2 weeks maintenance holiday ran the antenna analyser over the antennas, had it set on the wrong setting ! swept across 6 meters wow flat as a pancake another free band don't need another beam ... GREAT
this morning had a 3 hour opening on 6 meters all over europe from F6 to IZ1 to EA6 9A3 5-9 to 5-9+++
QTH is very exposed Just a few feet under 1000 ft ASL and clear take off 360 deg (the wind goes through you rather than round you ..) if antenna continues to perform I will by a new one in 2040 if I need to or not !!
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K2DC
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Rating: 5/5
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May 12, 2010 11:05
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A 5 All the Way!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my C3SS for nearly 12 years now, and still no complaints. I bought a 40' medium duty crank-up tower before I had an antenna. When I went to look for an antenna I knew that the tower wouldn't take a lot of wind load. So I looked at all of the mid-sized tribanders without regard to price. My selection criteria was the maximum ratio of forward gain to wind load. The C3SS won hands down, so I bought it and put it up.
The manual could be improved, but it's not all that bad. I spent 1 1/2 hours the first night studying the manual and putting the first element together. Then the next night I finished tha antenna in a bit over an hour.
The difference between the C3SS and the wires and GAP vertical I'd had was like a whole new world, just unbelievable. Just 5 weeks after I put it up we had a storm line pass through with 110 mph winds. The C3SS was the only functioning antenna I had left when the storm was over, and it's still up today.
I've since moved to a new QTH and put it on a 60' tower with a Hazer. It still performs extremely well. I can now support almost three times the wind load, but I just can't justify replacing the C3SS. About two years ago the B-1 Balun failed open, so I just took it out. The center of match changed a little on 20M, but it works just fine. No change on 15M or 10M.
I can't dispute the comment in an earlier post that the advertized performance on 17M and 12M may be a little overstated. I also think the advertized front-to-back may be overstated, but I don't care. I typically turn through 120 degrees from WNW to ENE and work everything.
About a year and a half after putting up the C3SS I started chasing paper for the first time. I now have Honor Roll in less than 9 years, with nearly all the new ones on this antenna. That's performance that's hard to argue with.
A friend of mine recently performed comparison testing against a Cushcraft A-3, both on the same tower at the same location under the same conditions. His evaluation is that the C3SS is the winner in everything but front-to-back ratio.
Yes, it's pricey. I bought mine for about $550 in 1998. It's currently about $1050. But spread that cost over 12 years with the chance for Honor Roll on your wall and see what you think.
73,
Don, K2DC
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MM0DVZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 8, 2009 12:12
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Very happy!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi, I've had this antenna for about 1 year and i must say i'm very happy. The performance is very good, although i must say i did replace the balun with a home made coax balun which did improve the performance a lot. Its a light, well made antenna and has been up in some of the Highlands worst weather without a problem. Works very well on 10m,15m and 20m but does do well on 17m for me, i've worked everything i've heard! I have had some other good beams including the KLM KT34a which was good but i would say i like Force 12 and it'll be here for a while. One other thing is the support from Force 12 is great!!!.
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W1RME
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 12, 2009 23:53
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Extremely Happy Camper
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I put the C3SS up in 2002 on a 2 story house with a Glenn Martin 8 foot tripod and 9 foot mast. I have a superb ground system and am 1/2 mile from the Atlantic Ocean in Maine. First thing I did was get the best rivet gun I could afford and the antenna went together flawlessly and no problems with snow and ice. The assembly manual did leave something to be desired, but that has been updated and is far better with good illustrations and explanations with a professional presentation. The new price is twice what is mentioned in other reviews and I'm glad I got it at the lower price. As a tribander it works everything I can hear and it's really something to drop your call in once or twice and get a reply from pileups for 4X4's, VK's and Zl's. One thing I haven't seen in the reviews is the easy hang feature where you attach a plate to the mast and then just hang the antenna and the secure it with no effort. 17 Meters is a bit of a joke, but the 6 meter capability makes up for it. Most importantly, the new ownership is fantastic with very quick and accurate response giving a very secure feeling. I would recommend that if you have this product- call them and ask for a new manual and brochure. You Will be impressed.
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W0EWM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 30, 2009 16:55
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Great Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've been using the C3SS for about 4 years. I have it on a 9' Glen Martin roof tower on a 2 story house in the Mid-West. I needed an antenna with a smaller turning radius - due to trees. The antenna has performed flawlessly. I haven't been on the roof since the antenna was put up. The SWR is very low on 10M, 15M and 20M. The performance on 17M is OK and it is very good on 12M - with a tuner. I have compared its performance with other antennas in the area and it always does very well. I focus on working DX and the C3SS just doesn't let me down. I know there are better antennas and having it at 100 ft - in the clear - would improve performance, but I always work the ones others in this area work - maybe a little later. I would not hesitate to by another Force 12 antenna - even with the new manufacturer.
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AF3Y
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 29, 2009 16:13
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NO COMPLAINTS HERE!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This little antenna has been up on my tower at around 45 feet for 2 years or so now. I am 100% satisfied! Even in the crappy conditions we have, I have 252 DXCC worked and 249 confirmed. Sure, I have a THP amp to give it a little help, but you have to HEAR THEM FIRST! This thing has great ears, in my opinion. ZERO complaints here. I was not happy with the WARC bands on this antenna, but it is not made for the WARC bands. I now have other antennas for them, as well as for the low bands. All in all, if you need a small antenna that kicks A$$ on 10, 15, and 20 you cannot go wrong. Some say support was less than perfect. I never needed support! NO PROBLEMS here!
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W6AAV
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2007 09:35
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Outstanding!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this antenna since 2002. I had installed in two seperate locations. One is Southern California and the other (currently) Fredericksburg, VA.
The antenna came packed and labeled with ease of assembly in mind. All the parts with extras were included. When I moved to VA, the process was simple to disassemble and reassemble.
The antenna is mounted on a 33 foot US Tower and sits 4 foot above the top of the tower. I have had not one issure which required me to conduct any maintenance or repair since I owned it. It holds up very well in the snow and ice here in VA as well.
Performance is outstanding! I hear them, I work them! My last pile up I broke was to T30XX. With 600 watts I got through on the second call. What else can I say! This antenna is small and powerful. I have thought of looking at other antennas whether from Force 12 or other manufactures, but at the performamnce numbers and for the size, I can't find a better antenna.
Force 12 antennas are a product I will recommend to anyone, especially the C3SS. Quality is supurb compared to others I have seen. I am able to tune 6m, 12m, 17m, as well as 10m, 15, and 20m with just using the internal tuner of the radio and yes, I have made many contact on all the bands I have listed.
If you are thinking about this antenna, think no more. Just do it!
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VE6XL
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 27, 2006 01:52
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Excellent Compact Yagi
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was looking for a compact yagi suitable for where I live. I have only started using the antenna and I am very pleased with the performance.
Pros:
-Improvement over a dipole (4dBd +/-)
-Includes everything except pop riveter
-Very well designed
-Uses linear loading (no coils or traps)
-SWR at 30ft is excellent on all bands
-SWR can be easily tweaked using linear load on 20m or elements on 10m and 15m
Cons:
-Manual needs some improvement
-One hole needed to be redrilled (minor)
-Attaching the B-1/S Balun can be challenging as it is a bit short and can short out the PL-259 against the 15m driver. (easy to insulate and fix)
-Difficult to get a response from Force 12 by email (The staff is great over the phone)
I will supply another review after I have had the antenna a while longer. Pictures of the installation can be seen at: www.ve6xl.ca
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KZ1Z
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 26, 2006 16:54
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Wow
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This antenna is worth the wait. I live in an antenna restricted neighborhood. I did manage to get a waiver for a small tower, 30 feet, as the neighborhood was new and the HOA hadn't been formed yet. Lucky me, the developer approved the waiver and included it in my contract. I don't want any surprises down the road. This antenna has a thin silhouette. The SWR is excellent on 10-15-20. With the rig's antenna tuner the C3ss easily lets you run the 12 and 17 meter bands. While it will tune on 6 meters easily, and will work, it is not the most efficient. The manufacturer never claims it would, so consider this feature a bonus. When assembling the antenna, follow the instructions. Don't make guesses, you'll guess wrong every time. The overall quality is excellent. Here in hurricane country it will get tested. The first day on the air worked all over the world, despite the poor band conditions we have been experiencing. I was amazed breaking pile-ups I never would have done before. I sure could have used this antenna for the VU4 DXpedition. I would recommend this antenna without reservation.
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IW0HEX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 11, 2006 06:09
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Very well
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I use C3SS since 2005 September. I had a QSO with over 230 DXCC and antenna works great !!! No SWR problem, no traps so it can handle many watts !!! It's very easy to assemble and very light weight. If you are no great space, it's ideal antenna !!! 2 elements for 10,15 and 20 meters but very great satisfaction.
73s Pasquale IW0HEX
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