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You can
write your own review of the Hy-Gain AV620 Six Band Vertical.
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K8GCU
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 30, 2012 06:43
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Missing parts, bad solder joints....
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The antenna works fine, however the quality control of the required items just plain sucks! Customer service was nice (Ronald), but a day late and a dollar short. Caution when buying one. I would recommend that you open the box and do a complete inventory before you plan on putting it together or you might just waist alot of time like I did.
The following items where missing:
1 each - Part number 810-0620-11, Stub Section 1/4" x 24", ID number "CL"
1 each - Part number 758-9200, 2 1/2" U-Bolt Assembly SS, ID number "UB"
2 each - Part number 808-1785-6, Mast Plate, ID number "MP"
1 each - Part number 738-2602, 180 Degree Stub Spacer, ID number "P2"
The following item was defective:
Part number 80-AV620-1, AV620 Matching Unit, ID number "NW" - the solder joints inside the matching unit on the coax connector were both "cold" and had to be re-soldered
Since the 1/4" x 24" tube was not included the "linear loading assembly" could not be completed.
Since the 2 1/2" U-Bolt assembly was missing it could not be mounted to the pole.
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WA2RSB
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 2, 2011 20:36
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Works OK, But......
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This antenna took the better part of a day to assemble mainly because many steps in the instruction manual were unclear and confusing.
Once assembled, it was mounted on the roof of a ranch home in a very snowy, icey, windy area of the Pocono mountains. After the first very windy icey winter, I discovered that two of the black standoffs cracked into two pieces, and broke away from the antenna. To replace these standoffs meant I would have to take the whole antenna apart. Lucky for me, one of my friends was able to fabricate two new insulators made out of heavy plexiglass. He attached them to the antenna without taking it apart. So far thesse replacement standoffs are working out OK. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
The antenna worked fine once mounted on the roof. All SWR's were within spec for all bands.
I gave it a 3 because of the terrible assembly manual and the problem that I had with these two standoff insulators cracking.
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LA5RT
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 2, 2011 00:33
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At this price, I would have expected everything to fit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Greetings. I just received and assembled this antenna.I bought this antenna for us dollar 600 at my local store here in Scandinavia.The only reason I didnt send it back to seller is what Ive read of its good performance.
1)
In bag 1 :
Manual tells:
2 x partno: 656-1750S, 6-32 x 13/4" Screw SS.
Physical screws are 6-32 x 1-3/4" Screw SS.
The below is not what I would call good craftmanship
[url]http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/bilde3b.jpg[/url]
Smaller parts was easy to sort out:
[url]
http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/bilde4b.jpg[/url]
There is wrong perspective in FIGURE C, manual, sketch at top right of manual sheet.
Its very difficult to get perspective view correct between the sketch in FIGURE B and skectch at midpoint of FIGURE C as it seemes drawer has rotated antenna between drawing theese two sketches.
This is what confused me most in assembling.
In FIGURE F, Linear load. CK er screw doesn't enter more than half way into CK.
The length of CK doesnt fit in (too long).(Asuming length of CL is correct.
My judgement is just from assembly. From what Ive read elsewhere regarding performance, Ill give it a strong 3 or weak 4. The service was ok, but I had to pay for freight when returning bad parts.
Some pictures of assembly:
Section BB
[url]http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/bb.jpg[/url]
Section BC
[url]http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/bc.jpg[/url]
[url]http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/bdbc.jpg[/url]
Stubs mounted
[url]http://home.broadpark.no/~jeik2/bilder/stubs2.jpg[/url]
73's de LA5RT
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W2RS
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 1, 2011 06:10
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A great antenna, once it's assembled
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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{Updated review)
As seems typical for MFJ products, the AV620 had a few assembly issues. One of the two mounting brackets for the 20-meter loading section was missing; a call to MFJ/Hy-Gain's customer service people got one sent out (free, of course). One of the tubing sections did not have the required slotted end, so we made the slots with a hacksaw. There were also a few errors in the assembly instructions, but they were easily identified and resolved.
Once assembled, we installed the AV620 on a 10-foot pipe mast. The SWR was within spec on all bands except 12 meters, and even there it was close: 1.9:1 across the band.
On-air performance is great, very similar to the AV640 (see my review) on the bands covered. Perhaps the ultimate test was ST0R, a brand new country 9,000 miles and 10 time zones away, on 20 SSB. The AV620 worked them on the second day, with my 600 watts PEP. On long haul DX paths, its low radiation angle really works.
My 4/5 rating is due to the assembly issues. Otherwise, it's a 5/5
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KK9H
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Rating: 5/5
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May 9, 2011 07:01
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Excellent multi-band vertical
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my AV-620 in 2001 to replace a Cushcraft R-5 that had succumbed to the effects of weather. This was prior to MFJ having bought HyGain and I don't recall any problems with putting it together other than it has many parts requiring careful assembly. Since I already had a 3 element yagi for 6 meters, I did not install the hardware for that band. The antenna went up easily and required minimal adjustment to get it to resonate exactly where I wanted it to on each band. In fact, this has got to be the easiest antenna to tune of any I have experienced. It was recently taken down, after being up for nine years, to inspect it and there was no visible deterioration to be found anywhere. Once reinstalled, all bands continued to resonate exactly where I had set them nine years earlier. I have not noticed any significant change in SWR during rain or snow and all SWR curves behave just as shown in the specifications. My AV-620 is installed on the roof of my house and I run a kilowatt through it regularly with no issues. I strongly recommend that the AV-620 be guyed with some sort of UV-proof daycron rope about 1/3 down from the top to protect it from high winds. I am convinced this is why mine is in such good shape after nine years. When I first bought it, my DXCC total was around 150 entities, I am now up to 318 with practically all of the difference attributable to the AV-620. That includes pursuing many DXpeditions successfully on multiple bands. I definitely would recommend this antenna for anyone looking for a non-radial required vertical.
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VY2REG
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 30, 2010 17:20
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2 Year update
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is a 2 year update. The antenna developed a bend at the upper insulator after about a year. Finally got around to taking it down today. Found out that upper insulation pipe was worn at one end and broken so that it did not extend down far enough inside the antenna pipe. Also one of the loading brackets had snapped. SHODDY MFJ MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP
I think the upper insulating pipe should be about 24 inches long and should extend well into the antenna pipe to prevent bending.
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VE1NB
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 23, 2010 13:06
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works as advertised
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Took a day to put it all togother. This included tidying up some of the pre drilled holes to match each piece. Also, a couple runs to the hardware store to replace missing/incorrect hardware. The usual MFJ quality control issue.
Took another day to get it up. Installed on an 8 foot mast, above ground, with three sets of guy ropes due to the expected winter weather conditions.
Tuned up as per specification, and required minimum readjustment from stated manual setting. Though one must read the manual carefully, due to some mistakes that take a little logical thinking to correct.
Its performance is as expected. And, fills in a requirement here for coverage on the higher HF bands. First crack with it, worked 20 countries on 17 m in 45 minutes.
I would recommend this antenna to others. With the Cavaet that you must work around the MFJ quality control and manual issues.
I also use an MFJ 1793 vertical here. And would say much the same about it as well.
brgds / VE1NB
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K8OPV
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 16, 2009 19:41
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Works great for me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this ant. new in 2000 and put it on an outbuilding where the bottom is 25' up using a small 3' roof tower. It was guyed with nylon line about a third of the way from the top and it has performed flawlessly since. There have been several 50-70 knot winds and lots of ice, but no damage. The SWR on all bands is close enough that I can use the autotuner in my rig.
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N9VR
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 23, 2009 17:30
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Works Well
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The assembly isn't bad, other than having to re-drill a half a dozen holes that were off center from the factory. SWR came out very good untill I raised it up to 45'. Then the 20 meter band was lost. Lowered it back down, added some length to the top and raised er' back up. Works well on all bands now. I have it sitting on top of a T6 Log and it performs as well as the log in most cases. This antenna sure bends in the wind though, so far so good but still wonder how long it will last.
Bill N9VR
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IW0GVG
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 21, 2009 03:28
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Good antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I mounted the AV620 antenna at 5 feet above ground.
SWR measurement(SSB point):
20 mt 1.5
17 mt 1.6
15 mt 1.8
12 mt 1.3
10 mt 1.3
6 mt 1.2
My strument is Diamond SX-200
I have a Icom IC706 MKII with only 100 watts.
I used guys the center radiator.
The result is very satisfactory.
Good antenna.
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