| HB9AOO |
Rating:  |
2023-04-05 | |
| I'm satisfied with it ! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
After 19 years with a 3-El. SteppIR, in April 2021 I replaced it with an Ultrabeam UB50.
The assembly requires some skill and especially a lot of space, which should be flat. On a sloping roof, if possible still with obstacles, I do not want to do the assembly.
The design of the UB50 has apparently been revised recently. The radius of the 90 degree-deflection tubes (curves) for the beryllium ribbons on 30m and 40m is now larger . The fiberglass segments are no longer fixed with insulating tape, but glued with Shrink tubings with hot glue on the inside
My UB50 is mounted on a 18m high tower, 3m below is the feedpoint of the 80m dipole, see QRZ.COM for details. So far, I am very satisfied with this antenna. 8 HAM-Bands with one Cable, no coaxrelais, no traps. An SWR over the hole Bands close to 1:1, how practical!
On 7MHz the influence of the 80m dipole hanging below is considerable. Depending on the direction of rotation of the antenna , the resonance frequency on 7MHz shifts by -40KHz/+110KHz the SWR changes between 1:1 and 1 : 1.6 .
Compared to a 7Mhz wire dipole I could hardly notice a significant difference. The V/R between 30MHz and 14MHz is about the same as it was with the 3 El. SteppIR.
Compared to the SteppIR, the fiberglass (not carbon!) tubes are softer, slacker. The antenna wobbles more strongly in the strong wind than the SteppIR did. By the way, the fiberglass tubes are translucent, you can see the position of the berillium bands from the ground.
The control unit for the UB50 is the RCU-06 with touchscreen. I find the feature of an acoustic tok tok tok during the tuning phase of the antenna helpful. It reminds you not do transmit as long as the berillium bands are moving. The RCU-60 offer also a relay contact to inhibit your TX/PA during this phase.
A heavy hailstorm this summer (measured 120KMh-gusts on my tower) which caused partly high damages in the area, the UB50 survived without damage.
"Negative" points from my point of view:
Possible disassembly of the antenna is probably not easy because of the adhesions (hot clue).
The optical appearance requires some tolerance from the neighbors.
I can recommend this antenna.
Edit Jaynuary 2023:
Meanwhile, solar activity has increased and conditions at 10m are sometimes good again. Unfortunately, I had to find out that the front-back ratio of the UB50 on 10m and also 12m is only 10dB to 12db. Far away from the 30dB specified by the UB50 manufacturer. Countless measurements with calibrated SDR receivers, also with the worldwide online available KIWI receivers confirm this. Measurements on an identical 2-year-old UB50 from a HAM colleague showed similar results. Very Disappointing...... -> minus one star.
At least there have been no problems with the mechanical aspects of the antenna so far
Edit April 2023:
In the edit of January 2023 I wrote.... No mechanical problems so far.... Unfortunately, this is no longer true since last weekend. We had a storm with gusts between 90Kmh and 100Kmh. Thereby the fiberglass element from the driven element tore out of the T-piece. By the way, this poor connection was glued by the manufacturer. I have not only glued the T-connection again, but also secured with a cotter pin, because exactly this accident has already occurred with other OM's with exactly this antenna, see youtube. Fortunately I have a crank up tilt over tower. So it was very easy to get the beam back to the ground. The repair was done after a few hours. If you don't have such a convenient way to getting a beam back to the ground, decide on a Yagi with a construction that is less susceptible to repairs
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| ZL2HAM |
Rating: |
2016-01-08 | |
| Decent RF, but breaks often in moderate wind |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I got my UB-50 in 2012, with the 6m kit.
Assembly was tedious, but not particularly difficult, although getting some of the smaller tubing parts to line-up just right was tricky.
RF performance on 10, 12, 17 and 20 has been pretty good. Decent RX/TX with an SWR that adjusts as I tune the radio (the controller automatically adjusts the element lengths).
Perf on 40 has been poor -- worse than I expected with a single element; not much better than my 1/4 wave vertical. In spite of numerous attempts and adjustments, perf on 6m is terrible. No F/B, and impossible to tune well.
Mechanically, I haven't had any trouble with the motors or the moving parts of the antenna; no sticking or glitching or anything like that.
My biggest complaint is that the design doesn't hold-up in even moderate wind. At about 70 km/h, something often breaks. The dealer has been nice about sending parts and so on, but having to go up to the antenna to make the fix is a huge pain. The joints in the fiberglass tubing are held together with rubber waterproofing tape covered by electrical tape, but between the wind and UV, it's just not durable.
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| PA0ZH |
Rating: |
2015-02-22 | |
| Ultra beam 6-40 2 elm |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Hallo,
Just like every one on this forum, the antenne work great.
But......on 15 meters I can get the best SWR as director and driver have exact the same length.
As I say, only 15 meters, the other bands have a resonable different in legths between driver and director.
Some one have the same expirience ??
73 Bouke PA0ZH |
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| VK4SX |
Rating: |
2014-07-12 | |
| Simply fantastic |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
just a follow up to my NOV 2013 review, my opinion has been fortified immensely, WOW, what an antenna, 7Mhz thru 50Mhz on one coaxial feedline, if that isn't a bonus in it's self, the performance is quite outstanding, I believe from NON Scientific on air tests with EU/ Nth American stations, that the proclaimed figures are every bit accurate,
I have received some wonderful reports from LOW power testing, the Front to Back ratio is stunning really, it belies the fact it is only a 3el mono band yagi, 14-50Mhz,
extremely well built, and it works as well, a Hams Dream.
Cheers
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by VK4SX on 2013-11-12
Hi all, this is an early review for a wonderful antenna, after JAN 2013 floods resulting in the loss of all gear, I decided to condense all antennas from 7Mhz thru 50Mhz to a ULTRABEAM UB-50, I was a little worried the size of the antenna would be too large for my tower, the quality of the materials really have to be seen to be belived, to be honest, it has been a long time since I have seen any quality like this hardware, surprised is just one word for it, goes together like a hand in a glove, wonderful engineering, I put the antenna together using TEF-GEL, the dynamic motors that drive the tape are precise the controller is very easy to use, even for a first time Dynamic antenna user, the whole experience is a wonderful moral booster for a ham losing interest in the hobby, I am sure it will give me a new lease of life,
the actual performance of the antenna, 6m thru 20mtrs is exact as a FULL SIZE beam for the mentioned bands, no traps, no coils, just a resonant length of copper tape required for each frequency, what really surprised me was the performance results on 40/30M, quite astounding really, given I do not have it 20mtrs above ground, max height here is 12.5Mtrs, with still a wonderful result on the 2 low bands,
one run of DXE MAX-400 Direct bury to the shack, and quite a few other antennas removed from the skyline, all in all a great choice for a older type ham, to simplify the station,
great service in VK, from Carsten VK4OA, of RFSOLUTIONS in Brisbane.
worth look guys,
Cheers
Dennis VK4SX
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| IZ2XMK |
Rating: |
2013-12-02 | |
| Warning it is Killing the Hobby |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
With 29 Kg and 0.67 sqm wind area You have the equivalent of six mono band full size and two rigid dipoles (for 30 and 40m) which will allow you to connect everything what you can ear with the power of your radio and just one coax line. Compare by Yourself with alluminium multiband fullsize alternative options and try to calculate how much Kg, wind area and evevation system plus rotators You'll need to setup to get on the same level. There is just one point; this antenna is basically killing the hobby; the "try and compare" game with new and better performing solutions or just the constant "Dreaming about the next .." will come to an end .
Concerning performances you may better sell your amplifier and try by yourself; I have to say I am reasonably impressed by this system and have to neport no problems at all so far. If You are thinking and dreaming to improve your performances in HF not having the possibilities for imponent elevation infrastructures I can hardly imagine You may find a better solution.
Good DX to You all,
73 de IZ2XMK. |
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| SP7IDX |
Rating: |
2013-11-15 | |
| Excellent Performer |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I LOVE this antenna. It's simply the best HF beam I've used, and is probably the best HF beam out there,
The sheer pleasure of QSYing 6-40m
-Perfect match everywhere is only surpassed by the ease of going 180 degrees to check out the long path.
-180deg polar electrical reversal in around 3 seconds
-Terrific front back performance.
-Near perfect SWR wherever you choose to go.
-At the press of a button in the shack you can redesign the antenna and save the settings for forward, reverse and dipole mode, to suit your operating requirements giving better front to back or forward gain.
-Somehow very high performance and materials FANTASTIC !
-They just have to fix the installation instructions for submission of the antenna
I am enormous happy with this masterpiece.
Good Luck & Good DX
Waldi
SP7IDX
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| DL1GLH |
Rating: |
2011-10-03 | |
| To assemble easily |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After I have used a Titanex DLP18 for 10 years it was in the time for a new aerial...
The last week I have built up the new UB50. All parts were prepared very well and mounted in short time.
The matching to feed line is excellent and the directivity and gain as expected for a 3-element monoband yagi (on each band 14-30mc).
Also on 30 m and 40 m the aerial really works like a dipole of full size.
I am curious on the durability of the aerial and will deliver a report later again.
Up to now rating is 5! |
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