|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
You can
write your own review of the Buckmaster 7 Band, 3KW, OCF Dipole Antenna.
|
TODD5251
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 12, 2009 10:59
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Put the antenna up about ten feet off the ground for a trial run before I permanently mount it.Hit Austria second call 20 meters.Vswr not bad at all at 10 feet.All reports stateside were 5/9.I cant wait to get it installed according to the directions.
|
|
N9ZA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 10, 2009 12:24
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Versatile in more ways than one
|
Time owned: months
|
I recently purchased the 7-band version and departed from the recommended inverted V configuration (tree displacements,the arbiters), and strung it up in a V pattern with the heavy balun dangling free 7 feet above the ground.
In this free-of-attachment arrangement, the heavy balun acts like a bungee cord in leveling out the stress when the wind blows - elimating the need to have actual bungee cords at each end of the OCF to equalize stress.
This arrangement also jettisons the need for a 30 to 40 foot vertical tie-and-feed point close to shack entrance.
But what about the SWR numbers in a "rabbit ears" configuration, do they match the inverted V numbers? They sure do. The Palstar ZM30 analyzer even up the score when it comes to the numbers.
All in all, the Buckmaster OCF with its solid construction and weighty balun, plus its top perforance, makes this one versatile antenna.
|
|
IRABREN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 20, 2009 15:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Very Good Quality
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This is a pricey - but very high quality antenna. I have the 6 band; 300 watt version. It will tune(with a palstar AT1-KP Tuner ) - 6-80 m.
I can talk on 80m with some added 200w of power.
The best thing is the small size for my lot (50X100) - I have it hanging from a nail - at top of chimney - angle of 120 degrees and apex about 30 ft high.
It is a very good performer for only 30 ft. The balun and wire are very high quality. They ship fast. 1 leg is only 20 + feet and the other is 40+ feet. I have the legs elevated 10ft with painter's push up poles at the fences. I am very happy with it for what it is. It is great improvement over my HS-1800 screwdriver ( on a tripod with 12 above ground radials ). It doesn't take up much space.
It is in back of house, low footprint, I just hope the HOA will allow it.
For those in my situation - I highly recommend it !. If you have more room - get the 7 band 3KW version.
73 and Good Luck, Ira, KE5STP
|
|
N0YXE
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Apr 10, 2009 17:09
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Third or Fourth Review
|
Time owned: months
|
Ok, so why not great? Glad you asked. This antenna works well, just not as well as claimed by Buckmaster and many of the other reviews, but well within the tolerances for an OCF that produces reasonable SWR on even harmonics.
The problem that I was having was with my amp not running on full power with my G5RV, even though I was using a decent external tuner. My Elmer, W5RUM, suggest that I check out the OCF from a couple companies. Since replacing the G5RV, the amp has been very happy.
My Buckmaster is located at 35' off the ground on the deck. The ends are tied to the fence, with a small extension on one side to try to get close to a 120 degree angle near the top of mast. It's not perfect. The short end is running East and the long end is due West.
I have moved the ends a bit, both in direction and in height. Slight changes occur in SWR but the direction pattern is about the same.
WHAT DOES THE METER SAY: On some bands it is possible to eliminate a tuner, while on other bands, you gotta have one! In other works, your built-in (3:1) tuner will do fine. On a few bands and/or frequencies you will need that powerful external tuner. From my experience, don't buy this antenna thinking that you do not have to have or use a tuner. If your rig is small and inexpensive and you just don't want to purchase a tuner you may get lucky with your location. Do you feel lucky? Sorry about that--too much Eastwood.
MY LATEST RESULTS: BUCKMASTER 80-6 METER 135' OCF
3.8 3.0:1:1
3.9 2.9:1:1
4.0 3.4:1:1
I use my external tuner on this band.
7.175 2.8:1:1
7.250 2.9:1:1
Forty Meters can be used with my in-board tuner if needed.
14.225 1.8:1:1
14.270 1.7:1:1
14.320 1.6:1:1
Again, the built-in takes care of this band, or I use the external with the amp, as needed.
18.110 1.4:1:1
Seventeen Meters stays pretty good throughout.
21.275 5.4:1:1 Buchmaster warns you to stay off this band. I wonder why? I use the 3,000 watt model, but I still heed their warning as they do not have a lifetime warranty on their balum like the one from Array Solutions! I have a Solarcom I-Max vertical that brings the SWR down to 3.8:1:1 and with my external tuner I have no major concerns.
24.930 1.2:1:1
24.960 1.1:1:1
Go ahead and turn your tuner off and kiss your Buckmaster and feel proud of yourself. Yea!
28.300 1.5:1:1
28.315 1.4:1:1
28.360 1.3:1:1
28.400 1.2:1:1
28.450 1.1:1:1
28.580 1.2:1:1
28.640 1.3:1:1
29.300 2.8:1:1
29.400 3.1:1:1
Ten Meters is great until you get to the top of Ten Meter FM. Again, I rely on the Solarcom vertical and built-in tuner for good results.
50.125 2.4:1:1
Six Meters is ok with the built-in tuner.
Overall the Buchmaster is a very heavy duty and well built antenna. OCF's seem to radiate in the direction of the sloping ends and while I would love to have more DX, I actually work stations in Europe. The antenna is in an antenna restricted area and I wish it was further from the side of the house. Maybe even five or ten feet higher would be good too.
If you would like for me to e-mail you an excellent article on OCF dipoles, send me a note. I would be glad to discuss my antenna exploits with you.
tbgspaceship@yahoo.com
Good luck and have fun with your OCF dipole!
Terry, N0YXE
|
|
PAULMANDEL
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 9, 2009 10:31
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Just as advertised
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
After a number of suggestions and reading the eHam comments I decided on the 300W 7 band antenna. Installation made easier with a MFJ analyzer. The results mirror the website even though for my location 27' was the best overall height from using the MFJ.
|
|
KJ4ICB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 8, 2009 15:44
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
This antenna is a great choice I worked 197 DX and in 124 different countries during ARRL SSB weekend. I worked 10m 15m, 20m, 40m, 80m I did not use the clusters much at all, I mostly used the turn the VFO and listen. I found it had great RX and my TX power was pointed out more then once in BIG pile-ups where I broke through easy. This is just the start for the antenna, next test is the Boy Scouts and ARRL Field Day GOTA station.
|
|
W1JUS
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Mar 1, 2009 09:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Failed after a while !!!!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I really hate to write this, but the balun failed
causing what seemed to a bad ground . This antenna
has given me fits since 8-08 & I wasted a lot of time checking my ground -- coax -- ect. It also fried the CI-V portion of my IC-7000. When I called Buckmaster they were very helpful & asked that I return the ant since they were aware of water problem with the balun.
When I put up my Alpha-Delta dipole up all my problems went away.
If U suddenly have "ground" problems -- STOP using
Buckmaster !!
|
|
KA4ZPF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 1, 2009 09:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
EXCELLENT Antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I got the 8 band version; works GREAT on 160 with no tuner needed; SUPERB on 80, 40 and 20 with great signal reports from all over Europe. It hears very well, and if I can hear them I have been able to work them with high reliability since putting it up several months ago. SWR is typical less than 1.8 across most bands, except on 75 which rises to around 2.6 around 3900, but the antenna is only about 25 feet at center right now with ends around 5 feet; plan to raise it soon, so may help. 15 meters is over 3 to 1, so tuner needed there; however this antenna is the most broadband (over-all) high performer I have used in any wire antenna design. Very well built AND fast shipping!! It's a keeper; I may get a 2nd one!!
|
|
N1JMS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 1, 2009 05:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Tough
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
We live right on Lake Erie and get lots of ice, snow and wind. This antenna takes it all in stride. It performs better than any other wire I have, even on 160 with a tuner.
|
|
K4JAR
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 17, 2009 06:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great antenna
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I live in an area where the salt air is so bad no metal antennas or towers can be used. I am 100 ft from the ocean and have been using home brew wire dipoles, since I am on salty sand they work pretty darn well. I compared the new Buckmaster 7 band 300 w OCF antenna I bought to my G5RV and 40 meter dipole.
The OCF is in a temporary set up, I want to raise it another 10 feet, currently at 25ft at the balun and 8 ft at each end. The directions say a 120° angle at the balun is best, mine is more like 160°.
I used my MFJ analyzer to show me the sweet spots on the antenna and I was amazed that my results are just about identical to the graph on the Buckmaster.com website for this antenna. I can use it without any tuner on all bands except 15m. I have to wonder if that is because I have it too low, raising it should help. 80m is wonderful, and it loves 20m and 40m.
The quality in the product is amazing, hurricanes will not hurt this antenna!!!
I paid $180 but I think it was well worth an extra $40-50 for the quality over what my home brew would have looked like and cost me to build, and who knows if it would work as well. Money well spent!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
