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Reviews For: EARCH 40-6 end fed wire antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : EARCH 40-6 end fed wire antenna
Reviews: 26MSRP: $44 including shipping
Description:
End fed antenna for 40-6 meters. A fund raising project by members of the Emergency Amateur Radio Club of Honolulu. HI.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.earchi.org.
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00264.8
K7ZOV Rating: 2012-12-19
They really work Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ran across this site awhile back. I have been collecting EndFeed antenna information since the mid-90's. Many years before PAR/LNR can on to be. (same design concept) I am on vacation now and took the 6-40 meter version. It loads like a dream with my KX3. I have built the 40 and 20 meter versions and made adjustments for 17 meter, 12 meter and 10 meter. In all cases the antenna worked without a ATU. It does not need a counter-poise. Height and angle has little to mostly no effect on the SWR. It is a true 1/2 wave antenna without the hassle of center feeding and tuning issues. HOA, campers, hikers, EmComm or just for back-up. Give the antenna a try. You will be amazed. I was and still am.
KB3NFM Rating: 2012-12-18
My Hawaiian antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
When I got my first HF rig, a Yaesu FT-450D I needed a quick and simple antenna to get on the air. I explained my situation and it was suggested that I try a 66’ version. It’s in a sloper configuration at 8’ to 40’. It tunes up quickly with my LDG YT-450 Autotuner. I like to work special event stations and I’ve made contacts from CT to CA and Canada to Puerto Rico on 100 watts from 6 to 80M. Its perfect for portable or permanent installation were stealth or compactness are needed. Someday I may upgrade to a G5RV but for now this antenna is doing just fine.
MW1CFN Rating: 2012-08-25
Update Nearly a Year On. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
First impressions are not always the best.

So after nearly a year of owning the EARCH end-fed, I can firmly say the following:

(1) Given its simplicity, low cost and ease of mounting, this is a very useful antenna.

(2) Clearly, it is not a beam, so it should not be compared with one. Not being a beam does not make the antenna worthless, however.

(3) The antenna has provided very good DX out to antipodeal points on long path, but it not as good as a delta loop.

(4) If you work portable, or static mobile, then the time saved with the ease of getting this wire up on a fishing pole is worth its weight in gold. On most occasions, especially as this antenna matches up for 40m nicely, I will choose this antenna over something even modestly more complex to put up, because I'm invariably on my own, don't have much time, and strong winds make even a delta loop often quite difficult to put up. On most occasions, a fishing pole can be cable-tied (ty-wrapped) to a fence post, which makes for a much easier time!
W5GGH Rating: 2012-06-21
Best $44 you will ever spend Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have mine set up as a ground mounted end fed vertical on an MFJ 1910 telescoping pole and works like a hose.
KDMSKY59 Rating: 2012-02-03
poor performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I tested this antenna with a solar flux of 141, an A index of 4, and a K index of 1. The antenna was hung vertically from a 40 foot branch. The band that worked best was 20 meters since the 30 ft length is closest tp an end fed half wave on 20 meters. All other band showed very low signal levels and when I transmitted the Reverse Beacon Network showed signals below 10db. In other words there's no free lunch. The only way to get acceptable performance is to use it as a monobander using 1/2 wavelength of whatever band you want to operate into a tuner.

If you want an all band antenna you're wasting your money unless you have an extensive ground system which defeats the idea behind the anrenna - a simple no counterpoise multiband antenna.
W5LXG Rating: 2011-10-10
Inexpensive, stealth antenna with excellent performance Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The Emergency ARC of Honolulu's website provides a capable article on how to build this simple antenna. For those who wish to buy one, a complete kit is available for $44 which includes shipping within the USA. It is also available on eBay.
The antenna covers 40-6 meters and includes a 9:1 trifilar UNUN tranformer in a ABS plastic enclosure with SO-239 socket. 30' of 20 gauge insulated wire is included. 20 gauge might be fine for stealthy and/or QRP but I opted for heavier wire. I also used 66' of wire hoping it would allow operation on 80 or 160 using the rig's internal tuner, but no dice.
Performance is excellent on the design bands. Of special "neatness"...no ground or counterpoise is needed. Another brand of similar antenna is the PAR 40-10 end fed, but that antenna has limited power capability due to the component rating in its matching transformer. I know, since I melted several! I have run my EARCH antenna at 80 watts on CW for extended periods and no melting, even with ambient temps in Texas summer over 100 degrees.