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write your own review of the Optibeam OB6-6.
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G4JBH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2011 16:00
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Quality
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Made the decision to purchase a new Optibeam OB6-6 for our 6m contest station, having had a superb experience with a second-hand OB11-3 for HF. For the past few years we have used a 5 ele Tonna for 6m, but wanted something with a bit more performance plus we are totally sold on Optibeam's quality.
Antenna arrived this morning in a huge box almost 3m long! More packing materials than most people would use for a fragile linear amp and to be honest, the quality of box and packing is better than some manufacturer's actual antennas!
Quick check of the contents shows everything to be present and "logically" divided into element sections, each being very clearly marked - nice to see so much thought go into making it easy to assemble for the first time - thank you!
Won't have chance to build and test it until VHFNFD at the beginning of July, but we can't wait. Will provide an updated report after that.
Yes the antenna is very expensive @ GBP £650, but you get what you pay for and initial feelings are that it is worth every penny, just like the rest of the Optibeam range.
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DJ5TX
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 24, 2010 18:03
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Highly recommended!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Dear friends,
this perfect 6 Element yagi is mechanically and electrically outstanding! Front/Back,Gain and low SWR range are great! It handles high power and is very easy to assemble.Strong 4-square boom,no guy wires and extra adjustments needed; QUALITY!!!
Just a super antenna.
Good DX,
Klaus DJ5TX
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AH6FC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 16, 2007 17:37
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Top flight antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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About a year ago I began planning a new QTH/Shack, finally in a place with no CC&R's. Part of this station is an OB6-6, 6 meter yagi. This was my first optibeam product; I'm quite impressed. During this antenna construction process, I built the Optibeam, a SteppIR, and M2 15 element 2 meter yagi. The OB6-6 assembly was perfect...no questions, no problems. This antenna is very well engineered. Instructions were pretty good, though a little confusing, perhaps something lost in translation, i.e. sentence structure. Good photos. Even without instructions, however, one could assemble this yagi. Each part was packaged seperately and well marked. Each hole was perfectly drilled and went together perfectly. The element sections are screwed together at the tapered junctions. The top aspect of the element has a larger hole that allows the screw to fit recessed, effectively eliminating loosening or rattling of the element junctions. Absolutely a pleasure to assemble. The quality of the aluminum and insulators was top notch. A very solid performer.
Before purchase I had a number of communications with Optibeam designer Tom, DF2BO. Excellent service and knowledge support. Service as good as SteppIR, which is an exceptional company to deal with.
How does it work? Well, the shack is still under construction. However the swr is 1:1 across the band, at least 50 - 50.5, where I did a quick check. I'm sure it will perform well electrically.
I purchased this yagi because I was looking for a solid and decent performing yagi that would stay in the air with minimal upkeep. I had prior experience with Cushcraft and M2, which work fine but are not nearly as robust...the maintenance thing again.
Downside? Cost...this is an expensive antenna. With airfreight and duty it came to about $800...yep expensive. Pick-up required a trip to the big city airport, 70 miles at the time. Sort of a headache.
Nevertheless, a worthwhile investment for a solid yagi. Sort of the Mercedes of 6 meter yagis....there are others that will do the same, some probably even better, but I doubt there are others that will last as long.
Quite a product.
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