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You can
write your own review of the Hy-Gain AV640 Eight Band Vertical.
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WD8AAM
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Rating: 3/5
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Feb 8, 2012 17:46
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I asked my ham friends about the AV-640
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Considering limitations, and what Hygain says are the specs, this review made me purchase an R-8 Cushcraft. I thought this was a review that others should know about, as this was real life usage, down south USA.
One ham friends experience: He had the AV-640 vertical installed for about two years. Had to replace base loading inductor twice, it overheats and melts. I was only running about 350W and the antenna is rated at full legal limit. Also they advertise their hardware as stainless steel, most of the bolts rusted out at around one year in the weather. I rate this as barely 'OK', if you take precautions during use. The inductor is expensive.
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N7TVV
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 1, 2012 19:16
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Continues to be a great vertical!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Since my first report in September, 2008, the antenna has performed very well. In spite of heavy snow and ice loads (which have slightly deformed the 40m cap hat, maybe 2-3 degrees), and several wind storms with wind velocities exceeding 50 MPH, the antenn remains intact. This is despite NO guying of the antenna mast itself. No problems with the mounting structures reported elsewhere, or with the matching network. Expect some VSWR changes with weather on most bands (especially with snow/ice loads).
I have had great contacts on all bands, except 6m, where I'm not active.
I continue to rate this antenna tops in it's class. It delivers the best bang-for-the-buck, in my opinion. Still a 5, in my book!
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N6YJA
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 4, 2011 06:29
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base broke after 1yr.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is a follow up to my review in 2001.
I agree strongly with KC5TJG and others who also saw the the base as being too week. Very poor design as the brackets are too close together to provide enough torque.
Spring 2002, just after I complained to Hy-Gain, brought another windy season of days on and off gusts up to 56mph (no where near the 80mph claim) where the base brackets snapped! I already did what I could to keep it tight but snap it did. It hung at a 40 degree angle for months before I could bring it down from atop my tower. I solved the problem by removing the aluminum base with its 6" bolt spacing and shoved a steel pipe up its bottom. It's been up that way since. Other than this fault the Hy-Gain AV640 is a terrific antenna.
Oh, as a point of reference in the 1970's I worked summers as an assistant to the plant engineer at Alflex Crop. in Torrance, CA while a student at USC in Los Angeles. I know how to tighten bolts....LOL.
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WB6ANT
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 4, 2011 23:49
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Glad I Bought It!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I'd recommend that anyone who assembles this antenna to not be in a hurry. There are a lot of parts, and the assembly is not exactly a "walk in the park"! But certainly it can be accomplished with some thought and patience. The tuning charts are quite close - good SWR readings and I didn't retune anything after installation.
I have the antenna mounted about 9 feet above ground. I'm about 6 feet tall, and the drooping counterpoise whips still easily clear the top of my head. I have been pleasantly suprised at how well the antenna performs. 40 meter bandwith is a bit narrow, but still the antenna is a good 40 meter performer, especially when you are working stations a 1000 or more miles distant. Within California, my 40 meter dipole is 1 - 2 S-units stronger - to be expected. On the higher bands I have received good to great signal reports from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and of course all over the United States. Fit and finish is good. Quality of the parts is excellent and none were missing or damaged.
I hace contacted Hy-Gain twice about the antenna and both times I received prompt and knowledgable service.
The antenna is a bit pricy, but then,8 bands - I does a lot! Well pleased with my purchase!
73,
Jim
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KK9H
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 17, 2011 05:52
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Excellent design
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had an AV-620 for amost 10 years until a tree in my neighbor's yard fell against my house during a recent severe storm. I had grown my DXCC total from just over 100 to 318 with the help of that antenna. I replaced the destoyed AV-620 with a new AV-640 which added 40 and 30 meters to an already proven design. Construction went smoothly, all parts fit together well and as previously mentioned, close attention to the manual is critical. My AV-640 is mounted on a 13 foot pipe that is bolted to the side of my porch and I installed three guy ropes as recommended in the manual for high wind protection. SWR measurements on all bands except 20 were fine. 20 meters resonates around 14.040, but I operate mostly CW, so no problem. Bands 20-6 meters perform just as they did on on the AV-620 and having 40 and 30 meters in addition is just great. The first night after putting it up I worked a OJ0 on 40 phone and several European Russian stations on 30. I am especially looking forward to adding to my band totals on these two bands with this antenna. I would definitely recommend the AV-640. It works very well as a 26 foot tall multi-band vertical antenna.
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K2TJR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 14, 2011 22:22
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Huge immediate improvement!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was on the verge of selling off my Yaesu FT100D because of the poor HF performance I was experiencing. I had been usung all sorts of home brew dipoles. At the time of this writing I have an off center fed Widom that was supposed to resonant on multiple frequencies and I am still unable to make any satisfiying contacts other than NVIS since it is only 20 feet AGL. Since the Windom was not resonant at any but the odd harmonic frequencies I was forced to use a tuner and even tuning was not producing the results I wanted i.e. poor reception and low output dispite having a good tune at less than 1.4:1 SWR.
I had read nothing but horror stories about vertical antennas especially multi-band verticals. Having to run dozens of groud radials seemd like a daunting task too and I was about to give in and throw the dipole high into the trees around my property and run a very long coax or ladder line to the shack until...I read about the Hy-Gain AV-640 "Patriot".
I could not find anyone saying anything bad about it with the exception of a few clearly dissatified users with a bone to pick with MFJ customer service.
My experience was the same as most but different that others.
Yes the instructions could be clearer on a few points. Most of the errors I made were my own fault not reading fully and comprehending before assembly or tuning.
I had no missing parts, holes mis-drilled and even had quite a few spares nuts and bolts left over. If I dropped anything in the grass or on the floor I did not need to hunt for it, just grab another from the stock provided.
And performance...WOW, I've never had such good signal strength and have never made contact so far from my QTH. It was only Minnesota but I could never talk much out of state. Since then I have made numerous contacts and am working on may WAS and keeping my FT100D too!
Is it the best antenna in the world? For my needs, YES! Others will disagree but all things considered, for the price, ease of assembly, (be sure to read the manual a few time through completely BEFORE starting and BEFORE tuning and you should be fine) muli-band operation without a tuner, no gound radials, no lossy traps...it all works for me!
It does not have to be 100 feet in the air to work well. In fact it says not to put it up high another plus for me. I'll have it a few feet above the roof line barely 18 feet AGL. I can stand on my roof and tune it but I did that already attached to a 5 foot pole in the back yard. It needed only minimal tuning if assembled per the instructions, READ THEM FIRST!
And DO NOT cut the spokes to length, install them full length first and the check the tune. I have to go back and lengthen a few to get it back into that sweet spot on a few of the bands.
I think you will like it alot, I do. Ted K2TJR
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W8DTW
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Rating: 5/5
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May 12, 2011 12:40
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A Winner!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I installed a Hy-Gain AV-640 "Patriot" a month ago and am surprized daily by signal reports indicating a dramatic improvement over my old vertical (Comet CHA250BX). Assembly was a challenge but doable. Mine is mounted on a tripod 10 feet above the roof of my home (30 feet above ground). In my brief experience with this antenna I must say I'm impressed.
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K1OYQ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 10, 2011 17:39
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Outstanding Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had one up for 11 years now and it is still pulling in the DX better then any of my other antennas. I've tried the 6BVT with over 60 radials - good, but not as good as the AV-640. I've got a 43 foot S-9 vertical up now - better then the 6BVT, but not as good as the AV-640. I have a New Carolina Windom up and it is better on 40M only (it covers 80M though). This antenna was my main DX antenna even when I had a MA5B beam. Great performer and long lasting. I will buy another one if this one wears out (no sign of that yet). Try it you'll like it.
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PY2ONU
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 22, 2011 06:32
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VERY GOOD ANTENNA!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is a very good antenna, many many DX all over the world in all bands. Works great specially in 10, 15, 20 and 30 meters. GOOD SWR in all bands, adjust is simple but arduous
due to the size of the antenna. I think it's one of the world's best vertical antennas together with the Cushcraft R-8 and GAP TITAN DX.
I bought the hy-gain due to being cheaper than the Cushcraft R-8 and have 6 meters that gap has not (i prefer to 6 meters of the 80 meters). I have done several dx on 6 meters with this antenna in America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
I think the three antennas mentioned in text above are good is a matter of personal preference.
73!
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AA7OK
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 15, 2011 11:44
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Digital Modes
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm a very pleased with the AV-640. I purchased the AV-640 and built it in early March of 2011. It has been in use for more than a month as of this writing. I had no problems with missing parts or miss-placed drill holes or any other manufacturing or packaging problems. I took my time and was careful with measurements so it took me about 3 days to build, mount and put on the air. Before I built the antenna I used EZNEC to determine an appropriate height to mount it at. Because the antenna is a 3/8th radiator on the bands it covers, I modeled it so. My favorite band is 15m and I like the WARC bands in general for my digital mode interests. I determined that 11 to 13 feet would provide for the best radiation angles for me. I used a 4x4 and some steel pipe to get it off the ground and all went smoothly. The radials center ring is 11.5 feet above earth. At first it tuned up just 'OK' with the swr too high for my liking on my favorite band segments, so I thought I would have to take it down and do some adjustments. However, once I 'earth grounded' the tuning unit properly, the swr on all the band segments I like to use improved markedly. 40m runs a bit high at 1.7 to 1.8 but the rest of the bands are just great. I use my grounded loop for 40m anyway, but 40m on the AV-640 is serviceable. The antenna plays well. I've worked plenty of DX. I'm having fun. I'll write back here in a year or so and let you all know how it is holding up.
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