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You can
write your own review of the Force 12 C3SS.
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G0YLM
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Rating: 5/5
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May 11, 2005 11:30
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Superb!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Only had it up on the mast for a week. Went together very easily although the instructions are not brilliant. Certainly as good as my old Hygain TH3 with the added bonus of being a lot lighter. Excellent performance on 10/15/20. Will work on the warc bands, but really if you want to dx on these bands then you are better with a dedicated ariel.
Look forward to really giving it a workout over these next few months!
Linda
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KY6R
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 7, 2005 21:06
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Super
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Force-12 did a wonderful job with the delivery of this antenna. It arrived when they said it would - within 2 weeks time, and every hole was drilled perfectly and filed nicely. It went together exactly as documented - and their documentation was well written and the print quality was excellent.
I had been using a 20M K1WA array, a Moxon and a 2 element 20M monoband - short boom yagi (as documented in the ARRL Antenna Handbook). It definately has a better F/B ratio and side rejection than the short boom yagi, but the gain is about the same.
I especially like the fact that Force-12 uses proven designs that I can read about on CEBIK.COM or in the Arrl Antenna handbook. They also really know how to engineer their antennas for strength, weight distribution, and of course, NO TRAPS.
Fantastic!
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K1ZYW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 4, 2005 22:35
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One of my better life's decisions
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had one going on 2 years.... This is an update of my previous review. In sum: Great antenna... I do a lot of contesting and DXing and it is one heck of a beam. It has gone thru all of the Florida huricaines in 2004 with no problem!! (and I have the regular model)
Mechanically just great and has been trouble free - I use a coil of RG-213 coax at the top instead of a balum and the SWR and performance is superior
Ken K1UM
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N2RRA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 13, 2004 11:23
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Great antenna, Even works on 6 meters
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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BELIEVE IT OR NOT! It tune's on 6 meters and plays well.
First let me say this yagi replaces my Cushcraft A4S, but even though my A4S played well on the 10,15,20 bands, and i recommend it to anybody i dont regret it. It did'nt play well, or tune for 6 meters i tried it.
On 10,15, and 20m meters the Force 12 does exactly what it supposed to do. I get better reports on this yagi than i did on 20 meters with the A4S, and of course the SWR across the bands are alot sweeter. Same goes on 10 and 15 meters with SWR, but not sure yet on performance on 10m in comparison between the two due to bad conditions.
Some were saying it does'nt tune on 12 and 17m aahh! what were you doing wrong? My IC-756 pro and 746 tune just fine on these bands, and i get enough performance to QSO with Europe and state side fine. In their instruction's it does state it will tune for 12 and 17m with some gain, but not to expect much. Well! that makes sense it is a tri-bander.
Now to the freaky part. Dureing the VHF contest just this past weekend i set out on installing my K1FO 5 el. 6 meter yagi, but something went terrorably wrong. Turn's out the feed line i was useing was no good, and of course i waited for the last minute. I figured let me see what the force 12 would do on 6m in desperation.
WOW! With out tuneing it was flat 1 - 1.1 from 50.000 - 50.300 then goes up to 1.5 at 51.000. Crazy! they didnt even advertise this. According to my tune for the other bands it worked out good. Dont know if this is an anomally, but i'm not complaining.
I'm sure it wont compare to a 6 meter mono bander intended for the band, but check out my results in only the one day i could work the contest. I will give a few call signs to prove it's vadility, and some of the furthest grids recorded on the C3SS.
Results: 71 QSO's and 15 Grids:
KC2HQF - FN21 on a loop N2PA - FN12
K1JT - FN20 AA2UK - FM29
KA1TOJ - FN41 WA2GEZ - FM28
K1WHS - FN43 K3YTL - FN11
W3SO - FN00 AI3Z - FM19
W3MEL - FN10
This was all achieved with the C3SS at a height of 45ft. In New York city is horrable being covered by all building's and such. I would love soon to see what it will do at 75ft on my tower soon.
Well! This wasnt to convice anyone to buy the antenna, but to share my good experience with it.
List of Calls and grids not listed in the first review:
N1MUW - FN32
AI3Z - FM19
AA2UK - FM29
WA2GEZ - FM28
K3YTL - FN11
N2PA - FN12
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KC3WX
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 22, 2004 23:05
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Very Happy!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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232 countries in just under 2 years across the bands. Antenna mounted at 35 feet on self support Rohn HBX-32 with Ham IV rotor. My C3SS loads perfectly on 20-15-10 without tuner. With tuner, 12 & 17 but not great performance. Excellent quality overall. Take your time and read the instructions carefully before building the antenna. Remember, measure twice, rivet once.
My C3SS does not like any antenna near it as the VSWR gets flaky from interaction. Also, ice storms make you wait for warmer weather as the ice does throw off the VSWR. This is my reason for the 4 rating.
Had a Hygain TH6 for many years at almost twice the height and I don't miss the performace at the lower height with the C3SS. If you're tight on space, this is the antenna to go for. Nice job Force 12....Steve
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N6PSE
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Rating: 3/5
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May 16, 2004 23:59
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C3SS is not a 5 band antenna!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Force 12 claims on their website that this is a five band antenna "As a bonus, the C-3SS also has gain on 17 and 12 meters (use your rig's tuner to match it) for full 5 band coverage".
I found that this antenna does not resonate anywhere on 12/17 meters with swr below 3:1.
I asked Tom Schiller (Force 12 President) about this claim, he said that the antenna resonates on 17 meters with some gain off the back of the beam. He suggested that I add 9ft of coax to my feed length. No improvement. This antenna is worthless on 12/17 meters. I replaced a perfectly good KLM KT-34A with this antenna with the intent to get some performance on 17 meters with a small turning radius. It does not meet the purpose that Force 12 said it would. It is a very good antenna on 10, 15 and 20 meters. No complaints there! If Force 12 marketed this antenna as a tribander, I would give it a "5", but since they make claims that it cannot fulfill, it gets a "3".
It is easy to put together, fit & finish is fine. Pictures in the manual are very poor.
I recommend this antenna as a tri-bander on 10, 15 and 20 meters but it is useless on 12/17 meters.
Paul/N6PSE
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W9RPE
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 7, 2004 17:42
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Excellent Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had my C3SS up for a little over two years now on a 30 foot tower. The antenna itself is at 35 feet. Overall it is the best antenna I have ever owned and worth every penny. Assembly is easy as the antenna is pre-assembled, marked and disassembled before it leaves Force12. It goes together with rivets, rather than screws, which insures nothing should come loose. I only hope they have made improvements to the photo copied manual in which the pictures were very difficult to see and not very much help. The step by step portion was fine and I had no trouble assembling the antenna. When I lower my hazer to raise and lower the latest dipole experiment I always check the C3SS and it still looks as if I put it up yesterday. Up here near Chicago the antenna stands up easily to severe t-storms, snow, wind and ice..no problem. SWR as advertised. My Knwd TS-2000 will not tune it for 12 or 17 meters, but my TS-850 will with no problem. Excellent directivity, fb ratio and rejection off the sides even at 35 feet. My only plan for it is to replace my current mast with a 20 foot mast this spring to get the C3SS up to 40 feet. If you are looking at an antenna it this class and want one of the best...buy it!!! Oh..I amost forgot..it looks nice too.
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W7CO
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 29, 2004 14:40
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Excellent
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have had my C3ss for about 9 months. It is on a 40' tower. I find it to be an excellent antenna on 10-15-20 meters. Construction was easy as was getting it on the tower.
Not so good on 12/17 and I don't think it should be advertised for those two bands. That said, I am very pleased with operation on the other 3 bands. I drive it with a Yeasu FT920 and AL 811 amp. I can always work anyone I can hear.
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VE1MC
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 29, 2004 10:56
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A Best Buy
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Previusly I had a Cushcraft A4S for 10 years or so that was down more than it was up. The traps were terrible and the antenna quality was worst. My friend KF2HC recommended the Force 12 C3SS to me and I have not been disappointed since. It has been up for 3 winters now on a 40 ft tower. I am only a few miles from the ocean & we get our share of winter gales & salt spray. The C3SS has performed flawlessly to date. The SWR is flat on 10/15/20 mtrs & the internal tuner on my IC 756 takes care of the mismatch on 17/12 mtrs. Installation was not problem, the only thing is I now have a pop riveter that I'll probably not use for anything else again. No traps, what a blessing, Force 12 has my vote.
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NX2R
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 27, 2003 19:35
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Big results in a compact size
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had this beam up for only two weeks so this may be a little premature. If so I will update my comments at a later date if required.
To begin with this C3SS replaces a Cushcraft MA5B.
(You can see my review for that beam). I thought and still think the MA5B is a great antenna for its size. Having said that I was looking for more performance. My pal K7JIM who also has the force 12 suggested I try this as an upgrade.
My first impressions are that this gem far exceeds my expectations as well as the beam it replaces. Band conditions havent been very good lately but despite that I have made many contacts with super signal reports the likes of which have not been received prior to installing the Force 12 beam.Working DX ( what little is available )is a piece of cake.
If I may digress for a moment I wish to acknowledge my best friends help. K7JIM who gave me unlimited assistance and support physical and mental.Thanks Jim!!!
The photo copies that were criticized in some reviews have been replaced with clear copies.
The quality in my opinion is VERY GOOD. All parts fit as expected. I had no trouble following the instructions. A word of caution is needed here. Read the instruction and go SLOW. There is always a rush to get it done and that leads to mistakes.
Those that encountered difficulty installing the rivets may very well have not followed directions as written. Loosely install all rivets on the section being worked on first. This aligns all the holes while the element is still loose then and only then pop them.
Some things that could be improved. A parts list in my opinion would be helpful in inventorying the received shipment as well as being helpful in ordering parts that may get damaged.
The Force 12 balun I purchased is a much shorter version than previously supplied.
The problem is that after cutting its wire leads to the recommended lengths there is only one area that it can be installed on the boom. That in turn places the so239 connector in between two screw studs that have jumper wires connected to them. When the pl 259 cable end is connected to the balun so 239 the metal is dangerously close to the screw electrical connections. Coupling or a short could ensue. I solved this by jury rigging my balun installation to prevent this.
A longer balun would be a simple solution.
All parts were there as was an ample supply of rivets.
My installation is only 22 feet up on a home brew push up pipe support. The MA5B was also installed here.
This in turn is only 12 feet from the rear of my house. Despite the fact that some coupling occurs due to its close proximity to my house I was able to adjust the antenna to get acceptable VSWR readings. This seemed to affect 20 meters only.
In conclusion this is a great performer that despite its larger overall size is less noticeable
than the smaller Cushcraft. The smaller element diameters and a less shiny finish contribute to this illusion.
My e mail and phone contacts with Force 12 have been responded to positively and promptly.
I had to wait 6 weeks for mine to be built but is well worth the waiting.
This ius a super performer with the added bonus of NO TRAPS.
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