|
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
|
| Reviews Summary for DX Engineering HEXX Antennas and Components |
|
Reviews: 3
|
Average rating: 4.7/5
|
MSRP: $599.95
|
Description: At the center of the new HEXX antenna is the exclusive DX Engineering patent pending rugged cast aluminum HEXX Hub and stainless steel V-saddle clamps. This unique design may be used in the construction of either the classic or G3TXQ broadband hex beam antennas.
For the rest of the antenna frame, high quality stainless steel element clamps rigidly hold the telescoping fiberglass sections at the correct lengths without drilling holes. Exclusive DX Engineering stainless steel element clamps with studs provide secure attachment points for the driven element feed points without drilling, which would weaken the fiberglass.
The unique Floating Element Wire Guides allow independent movement of the radiating wire elements and flexible fiberglass spreaders in the wind without creating breaking stresses. ...many other unique, high quality features.
Available in several forms - from a complete 5-band kit at $599.95 to individual component packages.
|
|
More info: http://www.dxengineering.com/Products.asp?ID=305&SecID=154&DeptID=49
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the DX Engineering HEXX Antennas and Components.
|
W6ONV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 3, 2010 10:00
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Amazing Antenna!
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I wish I would have found out about the 5-band hex beam earlier than I did when I saw an article in QST (March 2009). I had been looking to replace my 6-BTV, which was purchased from DXE back in 2007. Unfortunately in my reading of reviews and comparisons of antennas I never once ran across the hex beam.
In the end I spent a considerable amount on a new "big" vertical, but was not happy with my results on 10-20M. So after consulting a few forums and other hams the hex beam was brought to my attention. It was rather simple to piece together and had a small footprint (turn radius) when compared to a 3-el beam, which was something I was looking at.
While I am in a CC&R controlled neighborhood I have received an exemption to operate using a vertical, so I was going out on a limb a bit by buying and building the DXE hexx beam. I decided on buying a kit as opposed to piecing it together. I liked the construction of the hub that DXE offered and honestly I did not want to wait longer than necessary to piece the antenna together if I were to homebrew one. The other fact was the support from DXE. I have been very pleased with their e-mail and phone assistance every time I have had a question. I think it goes without saying they have quality products and people.
After purchasing the hex I waited for it to arrive, which gave me time to read and reread the instruction manual. I had a good grasp of the construction by the time the boxes arrived. I took all the packages out and took inventory. Somehow I misplaced a package that had all the feedpoint hardware, thinking I had not received it, sent a quick e-mail and a spare package was on the way. Thanks DXE!
Over the course of 5 days I built the hex, step by step. It could have been done in a day, but I did not have that sort of time, so I spent an hour a day or so after work constructing it.
After the hex was built I decided to temporarily mount it on a 10' mast and was thrilled with what I could hear. Actually hear! Never using a directional type antenna before I was amazed at what I had been missing. While 10' was not optimal it was only temporary until I decided where I wanted it.
Thankfully I had another ham offer me a Rohn H20, which I mounted to the back of my garage and then placed the hex on top of that. Currently I am about 20' using the "armstrong" method of turning the hex depending on where I plan on working.
Since getting the hex in the air October, 2009 I have worked areas of the world I rarely could hear on either vertical. Europe was always a challenge for me, but I had very good signals (RTTY & CW) on 15/20M to EU. I worked my first contacts on the African continent. My signals to the west were ever better. JAs were never difficult, but working down the coast of Asia and into China and Indonesia were something I never did. Looking over my log, the contacts speak for themselves.
The only drawback I have, which won't affect my overall score is a bit of sag on the 20M driven elements and reflector. I reconfirmed I cut the wire and the element spacers the correct length. This led me to the hex beam Yahoo Group, where I was able to search for similar problems. In the end I disconnect all the wire from the element spacer and retied all the fiberglass spreaders. Originally I did not tighten the spreaders and they started to collapse into each other. Not sure that is the problem I still have even after sizing and tightening the clamps.
Regardless of this, I am still very impressed with the performance of the hexx beam from DXE. I just wish I could get it a bit higher up. I did add feedline current choke (from DXE) to the top of the antenna. I ran 35' of LMR400 from the shack to the current choke.
Great product! Thanks DXE!
|
|
KC9JCH
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 18, 2009 18:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Hears very well
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I read the prior review... Did he even build one? I am happy to be the first to review this fine antenna. I bought a kit of components from DXE and built a 5 bander. I have it at 50 feet, and it performs very well. That will be a relative term for many of you but let me say this is my first directional antenna, I had previously had only wire antennas and kept my "good doublet" up for a comparison. The hex beam is 2 to 3 s units higher from Europe than my best wire on 20m and 17m. It does seem to hear very well.
Construction is straightforward. The components are first class. All the hardware is stainless steel, the spreaders are substantial. The cast aluminum center hub is a work of art. If anyone is considering homebrewing this antenna, the hub is spectacular. It tunes where it is designed to. I didn't find slotting the fiberglass tubes to be a heinous task, I used a reinforced cutoff wheel on a dremel tool and it worked FB. The measurements of where the wire guides went on the spreaders was off a bit, but moving them up or down the spreaders to achieve appropriate wire tension was easy enough. My mast (a crankup AB-577 military surplus) is just adjacent to my garage roof, so I carried the completed antenna up a ladder to place it on top of the mast before cranking it up, it only weighs about 25 pounds all told.
Having never had a beam before, I wasn't sure what to expect. It is quieter than any of my wires on receive, appears to have several s units of rejection off the sides, but the performance of the broad band hex is well documented elsewhere, including a recent QST article that prompted me to build it. If you are reading this, you probably already know what the claims of performance are. I can't find any fault with the DXE components whatsoever and would certainly buy from them again and at $599, it is a fraction of the cost of some of the other hex beams out there.
Short take... Great product
Looking forward to some sunspots!
KC9JCH
|
|
WA6RZR
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Jul 13, 2009 20:37
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Give Me a Break!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This is probably a great antenna from an excellent company, but to require the purchaser
to slot the fiberglass tubes with a saber saw
or whatever, is a no no.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
