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| Reviews Summary for OptiBeam OB11-5 (high performance 11el fivebander 20-17-15-12-10 |
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Reviews: 23
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $1,750
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Description: Performant Yagi designed as interlaced monobanders for 20/15/10m plus high efficient "hidden sleeve element technique" for 17/12m.
Loss free broad band OptiBeam driver feed system reqires only one single 50 Ohm coax.
Optimized computer designed German Yagi without traps and with full size elements. High gain and f/b ratio on all bands.
The OB11-5 has 3 el on 20, 3 el on 17, 3el wide spaced on 15, 3el wide spaced on 12 and 5 el on 10 meters on a 6.00 meter boom.
No switching, no tuning, no flexible parts, an absolute trouble free performer !
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.optibeam.de
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write your own review of the OptiBeam OB11-5 (high performance 11el fivebander 20-17-15-12-10.
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F8PDR
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Rating: 5/5
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May 24, 2012 13:30
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So good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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A very good antenna that gives us a remarkable Recption, very simple to assemble because all the elements are reported. It is a pleasure to do radio with this type of antenna. Thank you to Tom and his team
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LA9DFA
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 6, 2011 04:48
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All over excellent!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have used the OB11-5 for 3 months now, and all I can say is that this antenna is an excellent performer. I got in contact with Tom, DF2BO early this summer and placed an order with him. The antenna arrived safely here and I did start the assembly short after. At the same time I had my tower project going on, so the antenna was finished in good time before the tower was up. It was an easy task to assembly the OB11-5. I used to days. Much longer than others I suppose, but I wanted it to be perfect. And it did get perfect!! Everything fitted nice together and all the pieces was clean and accurate produced. Well marked so assembly was really easy. Really German quality. Rock solid!!
At the 10th of September I had some friends over to help me, and we raised the tower up and put the OB11-5 up. It’s placed 18m over the ground. It’s doing great up there. SWR is low and flat all over the bands. No problem what so ever.
By now I am very spoiled working the pileups. It takes me one, sometimes two calls to break the pileup. If it takes three attempts, I often check the antenna switch or other things to see if I’m transmitting on the wrong antenna….hihi. So working DX has become easy! I’m so spoiled with this antenna. Really looking forward to 2012 and some big DXpeds to see how it performs when I must break trough huge pileups to very rare countries! Guess it will be easy!
I found myself breaking true huge pileups with a lot of hams more southern in Europe, with much better propagations than us up in north.
I only have nice things to say about Optibeam so far. Excellent service all the way by Tom, and nice communication too. I surely will go for another Optibeam antenna when the time comes.
If you consider buying a new antenna, buy Optibeam! I promise you that you won’t be disappointed!
Looking forward to work you all on this antenna!! My signal is huge :)hihi
73’s Morten LA9DFA
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W3DIY
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 13, 2011 15:10
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Excellent Customer Service
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Purchased an OB11-5 from a local radio club who did not own a proper tower to support this beam.
Some of the factory markings had vanished over time so I e mailed Tom for help and received a response within an hour. The antenna was out of warranty for a long time but Tom was always available to answer questions promptly.
Prior to the OB11-5 a Force 12 and Hex beam were installed on the same tower. Without question the Optibeam outperforms both and the construction quality is superior to any antenna owned in the past. If you are considering an OB11-5 buy it, you will not be disappointed.
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9K2OD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 12, 2011 05:29
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wondrfull antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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what can i say about this antenna... its waaaaaaaaaw.... quick to plug and play.. the packing very good... evrey elment marked to other elment ( you save time ) its take 5 hours to plug the all antenna ( i was alone ) and no SWR and the proformance was very good for this antenna... i just want to say DF2BO Tom you did good jop with this antenna...
thanks to every one
9k2od, osama
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9K2OD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 11, 2011 14:59
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very good antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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dear all.....what can i say a bout this antenna..! tom he did wondrfull joop with it.. its woooow .. good packing when they shiped it from the factory ... evry elment marked to other elment ( saving time for instulling) electrical and mechanical without compromises no traps & Excellent performer on all bands & No SWR & just Plug n' play with it
and finely what is the important think is the very good and quick Excellent Support ...
still im useing the antenna and i dont have any problome with it...
thanks for all
9K2OD,Osama
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DL2ND
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 5, 2010 21:09
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Brilliant Antenna !
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm using two antennas, the OB1-40 on top and OB11-5 beneath it, both at aprox. 21 meters above the ground.
I can say:
- perfect antenna, the construction is without compromises
- very selectiv
- the gain is amazing
The support of Optibeam company is excellent !!
73, Uwe
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N5TY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 29, 2010 19:19
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Excellent antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is an impressive antenna. Structurally sound with the performance you expect from an antenna this size. Assembly was easy and straight forward. Tom quickly resolved a minor parts problem and the antenna went up on schedule. The antenna is on top of a hill and winds have exceeded 65 mph at the 15 foot level. The antenna bends but doesn't break.
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PY2ADR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2010 10:48
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Fantastic
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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My old antenna was a TH-6dx from HyGain wich gave a lot of fun and many dx. I was looking for a antenna w/ the WARC bands and with same or better performance of TH6. After lot of seach and talking w/ Tom from Optibeam i made up my mind to this model. I visited Tom who showed me the factory and all components - impressive quality.
Well packed, the antenna arrived and i started (alone) assemble the elements and boom. Then i asked for help to crank up the 50kg of the antenna.
Well the swr is true 1:1 in ALL and ENTIRE BANDS. Performance is better because it´s a full size.
I must say that this antenna is stacked with a 2el40m wich is 3.1m higher and on the tower i have a inverted V for 80m. No interaction between then but you must respect this space.
Tnx Tom and Diana.
Proud to be the 1st Optibeam in PY land.
73´s PY2ADR / ZY2C
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WF2S
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 4, 2009 06:17
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GREAT PEROFRMANCE
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The previous reviews are accurate. DF2BO, Tom, sent my antenna as requested for an early spring project. When I opened the heavy box, I was concerend that this was a bigger construction project than I really felt comfortable with. I sat down in my garage with the opened box and quickly saw that the packaging of the parts was a well thought out plan that would make assembling the antennas easy and more importantly for me, FOOLPROOF ! The elements were packaged and labelled individually, every piece was clearly labelled. The element to boom clamps were pre assembled and labelled. The boom was in three sections, clearly marked for the exact placement of the element clamps. The square boom eliminates the posibility of loose element mounting clamps allowing the elements rotate out of the horizontal plane ! Included were all necessary tools for assembly and some extra hardware ( that I did not need ).
No traps to lose resonance to insect nests inside them, no hardware that will rust, no flimsy parts that bend ! This is different than my last several yagis.
The antenna sits atop a US Tower HDX555. My 1.5 KW amp has been off to allow me to better assess how the antenna performs. The SWR curves are exactly as described by the manufacturer/owner/designer, DF2BO. During this prolonged sunspot shortage, propagation has not been as co-operative as I would prefer but I am working DX. Working BA5AP on 20 PSK and E21EJC on 17 SSB - FIRST CALL, not too shabby from Western NY. I am certain as the new cycle improves, my band /country totals will climb. The last cycle, I was very active and look forward to doing even better this cycle.
Any station is only as good as its antenna system and the operator's skill... Now to work on the second part..
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VE4EAR
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2009 11:35
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Amazing
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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All the previous accolades are accurate. This antenna was installed this past fall and I have been impressed ever since.
Previous antennas were a 130' doublet at 45' and one of those mechanically tunable verticals for the 40-6m bands mounted at 25 feet with tuned elevated radials.
The OB11-5 is now installed at 52 feet in an urban environment.
Shipping was direct from Germany to the local airport. We had to retrieve the large box from customs. Packaging was more than adequate, plenty of fill and a sturdy box allowed it to make the long flight intact.
While unpacking the antenna, you can not help but notice the attention to detail, the clean holes, the quality construction, and quality materials. One also get the sense that this antenna was crafted by a person, packed by an individual and all parts bagged and counted. Clearly this product does not roll off an assembly line into a box.
Assembly was also straight forward. As this is a large antenna, plan to build it as close to the installation site as possible. Instruction manual was adequate. A couple Allan keys and nut drivers were included in the parts. There was also a couple extra nuts, bolts and washers supplied in case you drop one in the grass. All parts were labeled which made part identification simple.
The most difficult part of assembly was installing the driven elements to the phase tubes. Take your time here as the precision machined elements will all line up and ensure a correct orientation.
Assembly time was close to 6 hours of solo work.
The antenna was supplied with the Array Solutions Balun.
The antenna was installed via a tram line. The final resting place of the antenna is on the mas beneath a OB5-6 6m yagi and a 2 element shortened 40m yagi.
So far with 4 months of operation, all I can say is it is an incredible change. Signals to EU and AS are now solid copy (when the bands are open), 2-4 S units stronger.
The most notable difference is the noise. There is a consistent 6 S Unit lower noise floor compared to the old vertical, 4 S units lower than the long wire.
If propagation permits, I have been able to work with 100W whatever I have heard. For the first time, I actually feel loud running this beam breaking through pileups with great ease.
Front to back ratio is quite good, typically 3-4 S units. The maximum rejection appears to be off the sides is close to 7-8 S units.
Matching on all bands is within the published specs. The only issue we have is on 15m where the tower seems to affect the match. Currently the antenna comes within 8" (20cm) of the top legs of the tower and the VSWR varies from 1.6:1 to 1.3 as the anntenna rotates. In spring we will raise the antenna to see if the separation helps to improve the match.
In the past 4 months the antenna has seen winds over 100km several times, icing and temperatures below -40 Deg C. No degradation in performance has been observed. Mechanically this antenna is built to last.
I realize S unit measurements are not meaingful to others and as soon as the weather improves, I will borrow a spectrum analyzer and make some accurate measurements.
I am very pleased with this antenna in all regards. In particular, I enjoy beating several of the locals with their SteppIR beams through the pileups.
Outstanding pre and post sale support from both Tom, DF2BO, and Jay at Array Solutions. If you have the tower to support it, the rotor to turn it, you will love this antenna.
73
Ed
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