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write your own review of the PAR Electronics, Inc EF-10/20/40.
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IZ4KBS
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2009 09:19
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Perfect antenna for QRP/P
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have been owning the EF-10/20/40 for almost one year now, but strangely enough I had not yet posted a review here, so high time to catch-up. I'm mainly interested in QRP /P operation on 20m and 40m bands, so this antenna seemed worth a try. And it was! Not that I had major doubts, as I was already an happy owner of a Par EF-SWL, so I knew both the quality of Par products and the outstanding customer service provided by Dale. What I wasn't 100% sure about was whether the actual concept behind end-fed dipoles was really going to work that well, as I expressed on a related thread at http://www.eham.net/forums/QRP/3472 . What I was a bit skeptical about was whether a counterpoise provided mostly through stray capacitances was really enough to make this an efficient TX antenna. Well, in spite of different opinions by very respectable people I must conclude that End-fed dipoles *do* work, and the subject one works especially well. Beside it's excellent electrical properties, the EF-10/20/40 is one of the most field-friendly wire antennas I know of. I simply toss it into a tree with a throwbag and a suitable length of throwline (http://www.newagearbor.com.au/shop/category55_1.htm) and I'm ready to call CQ. A 5 minute job! Not having to bring a tuner is a great plus of Dale's wires. Once the radiator has been cut to freq the first time, in the open and as vertical as possible, SWR does not degrade dramatically even in quite unfavorable setups, say with the wire zig-zagged in a limited space and at a low height, a situation that may occur inside a hotel room and that. In any case I detected that constrained setups never increase the resonating frequencies of the antenna, but they rather cause it to tune lower in freq, with SWR increasing to say 4:1 at the normal operating freqs. One does not need a tuner to recognize that a particular setup is probably a bit too convoluted, and that the wire needs to be shortened a bit to get things straight again. Not wanting to cut the wire (of course!), this simple trick does the job: http://www.strozzi.it/users/carlo/hamradio/epsn4322.html (the diameter of the loop is about 5", not critical). As you see, no tuner and no cuts! You may not get a perfect 1:1 match, but who cares to even measure it ? What you know beforehand is that it will be lower than 4:1, probably 2:1 to 3:1, provided you laid out the wire with a grain of salt with respect to surrounding objects. A 3:1 is still perfectly acceptable, especially when /P and at QRP power levels, most likely with almost no (lossy) feedline in between either. So, beside posting a review, I wanted to provide also some (hopefully) useful tips to the other lucky owners of this excellent product. The EF-10/20/40 build quality is superb, which makes the antenna survive to the severe conditions that may occur when portable (bushes, trees, mud, tangles in the wire, you name them). The shortened length of the radiator with respect to a full-size End-Fedz, as well as not needing a tuner nor extra counterpoise wires make for a very lightweight backpack/portable QRP station! And, last but not least, Dale is a pleasure to deal with and both him and his shop really stand-out from the croud.
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M6RDP
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 12, 2009 07:47
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Outstanding
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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There are a huge number of standard companies out there. But very occasionally you come across one that is outstanding. Par Electronics is one such company.
After a few emails to Dale, all of which were answered extremely quickly, I decided upon an EF10/20/40 with the extended 66' radiator for higher gain on my favourite 40M band. The 66' version was for permanent installation in my QRP shack here in England where I run an Icom 703.
The package arrived within 10-14 days, I paid the VAT & customs fees which I knew about in advance and really are no big deal if you build them into your budget, especially given the superb quality & performance of this antenna. When I opened the package I was delighted to discover that I had both the smaller, standard 40' version of the antenna and the extra 66' radiator, which will be really useful if I ever move to somewhere with less antenna space and can't put up the 66' wire.
I have it installed running from my shack window at a height of about 6 meters above the ground, sloping down to the 2 meter high garden fence.
I am fairly sure I could have tuned it using only the 703's built-in SWR meter which is big and bold and a joy to use (unlike that of the 817 which I am not a fan of). I was however lucky enough to be able to borrow an antenna analyser from a friend at my radio club which I'm sure made the job a lot easier.
The standard 40' EF10/20/40 was a doddle to tune and I managed it easily, closely following the supplied instructions.
The 66' wire was a little trickier, but with Dale only an email away and with his supersonic response times the job was done in an afternoon.
In use it far outperforms my old longwire and unun. My first 20m contact was to Algeria (my first QSO to Africa) on 10W SSB. On 40m my 10 watt SSB signal has crossed the Ural Mountains and I spoke to a station in Ekaterinburg at an amazing distance of 2,564 miles away. All this at solar minimum with a solar flux in the low 70's.
When tuning the 66' version of the antenna several emails passed between Dale & I all of which, without exception, were answered within the time it takes to make a cup of tea. Dale is helpful, friendly & patient and even sent me some additional antenna parts across the Atlantic at his own expense.
Companies like this with such superb after-sales service really are very few & far between, and he positively puts to shame the big amateur radio companies in the UK, a couple of which I have experienced this year as mostly unhelpful, rude and impatient.
Par Electronics were personally recommended to me and I unreservedly recommend both the Par End Fedz antenna and Par Electronics.
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N8TJC
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 30, 2009 10:22
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A Great "simple" Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this antenna and was not sure about it when it arrived, it seemed so small that I thought it couldn't work. I put it away for 6 months and then got it out to use on a hike on around my property. After the first use with a Yaesu 817D, I realized that my first impression was very wrong. This "little" antenna works great. I made contacts on 20 and 40 meters as far away as Texas and Maine with 5 watts. I got good signal reports every time I use it. This antenna is very simple to setup and use. This thing is so compact that it is so easy to carry when traveling.
Like others have said, dealing with Dale is very easy. I am now deciding which other Par End Fed antennas to purchase for use with a Yaesu 857 using it at 100 watts. This antenna is a winner for me.
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EHAYNES
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 11, 2009 04:48
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EF 10-20-40 Continues Supremacy
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used this antenna for over 2 years now, and it continues to be my preferred portable antenna. This is in the context of also owning the MP-1, BuddiPole, manual ATAS and several other well known portable antennas. I travel internationally extensively on business, and also enjoy camping/back-packing – and take my Ham “travel package” with me on any trip more than one or two days. My travel package consists of the FT-817ND, and the EF 10-20-40. I have tried other combinations over the years, and found this antenna to be the best combination of size/weight/flexibility and performance. Whether hung outside a hotel window in the middle of a city or draped over a tree during a hike - QSOs are always there, with far less set-up and tuning fiddling. I often also take a small SWR meter to help expedite any required antenna tuning from site-to-site, although most frequently tuning is not required once the initial tuning is done after receipt of the antenna.
The end fedz is very sturdy – mine has been dragged thru trees, pulled across sharp structure edges outside of hotel room windows. The wire even survived a small child yanking and playing “Tarzan” on it at the ground level from it whilst I was operating it from a hotel room balcony
Dale Parfitt's outstanding and personal service are the "icing on the cake" for this dandy little wire antenna. I highly recommend the EF 10-20-40, and the other single band End Fedz antennas in any portable environment.
Erwin
ki4tbd
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G3VSK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 30, 2009 04:26
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Excellent Low Power Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have been using this antenna now for over 12 months with an IC-703 and it has proven to be an excellent low cost, easy to install, low power antenna, especially on 40 metres. Terry, G3VSK
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KD6ANF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 20, 2009 11:37
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Great Product!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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What's better than purchasing a Par-Electronics EF-10/20/40 antenna - receiving one as an unexpected birthday gift! Thanks Ray!
Dale, you have a truly great product! This antenna connected to my IC-703 is a wonderful combination.
Best regards
george potter KD6ANF
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AB1HD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 20, 2009 10:06
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This antenna rocks!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I put up this antenna this weekend and I'm so pleased with the performance. I followed the instructions to tune it, which were simple and easy to follow. When done, each band had a SWR of 1.8:1 which I feel to be very good. I've gotten great reports from the QSO's I've made so far. I can now see why people buy two - one permanent and one for portable use. Also, whenever I've written to Dale, he always gets back to me in a short period of time.
The bottom line: It'a a great product and the Customer Service is outstanding!
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WF8O
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 9, 2009 10:46
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Excellent Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the EF 10.20.40 a couple of weeks ago, and I received the antenna two days ago. The construction of this wire antenna is of the highest quality. The included tuning instructions are very helpful. Moreover, the antenna came closely tuned , needing only a slight tweaking on 40M. SWR on the three bands is very low, and I can transmit full power across most of each band using my FT-817ND, QRP 5w rig. The manual indicates this particular antenna has a 25w Continuous power rating.
Dale Parfitt provides close attention to the customer through email despite his very demanding military and other commercial contracts. I am redundant here in the highest praise, but Dale and Par Electronics deserves noteworthy mention and recommendation. I have no connection other than being a very satisfied customer.
Sincerely,
Mike Narges WF8O
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KB1GMX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 24, 2009 20:06
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needed another.. 1 is not enough!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ordered another as the one in the air is staying! I have a beam and all that but the EF40/20/10 is a great go to antenna.
It's robust, with I have Qrp radios I've used it on 40M running my HW101 and more than a few times forgot the back off the drive without damage.
The one in the air has done a few winters and no problems with ice pulling it down or being unusable with ice on it. The wire has not sagged
or stretched.
I string mine between a 32ft stacking aluminum military mast and a 22ft crappy pole for field work. Makes a good confined spaces antenna for 40M as it's 40ft length is easier to work with than a full size 40M (66ft).
It's a good portable antenna. Which is why I now have two of the EF40/20/10s and a EF40 and EF6 for utility work. The end feed makes the setup much easier. Get it in the air and 3 bands no sweat, no tuner. If I need an odd band outside 40/20/10 a spare wire trimmed to anything from 5 to 30mhz is easy to do.
Give it 5 all the way especially for customer service. I've recommended it and the monobanders
as easy to erect, easy to tune, and just works.
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KC2PLJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 24, 2009 18:44
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Amazing!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Spoke with Dale on the phone about this antenna and he built one for me even though he was extremely busy with filter orders! His customer service is first class and he will answer E-mails within 1-2 hours, not bad for a busy guy!! I received the antenna via UPS today and had it tuned in about 10 minutes, shortly after tuning I worked the U.K. on 40! Funny thing is I still had my radio turned down to 5 watts for tuning, received a 5/5 report. It works great. Get one and have fun. Mike KC2PLJ
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