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Reviews For: B&W BWD 1.8 - 30 Broadband Folded Dipole

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : B&W BWD 1.8 - 30 Broadband Folded Dipole
Reviews: 78MSRP: 200
Description:
Folded dipole antenna for 10 to 160 meters - 90 feet in length, #14 copper clad steel wire.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.bwantennas.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14783.6
K5WPN Rating: 2006-01-04
Great Antenna but not on 160m Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna is one of the best antenna I have ever used or owned. I have had great perfprmance from this antenna on all band on but for 160m I don't know if it is the way I have it setup or just the antenna. I am limited to kinda antenna i can use due to my health. But I have gone head to head with other station in a pile up and every time I have nade the contact. I do use a tuner just to make it easy on my 706m2g. I would tell anyone who is thinking about buy this antenna to do it. Just remember readed the paperwork and set it up just as it says and you will be pleased.

Wade Norris
K5WPN/AAA6OK
OKlahoma Army Mars
N8NOE Rating: 2005-09-17
150w NOT 1Kw!!!..... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After Adding a AH-811H amp to the Shack, and running the B&W BWD90, I find it's Actually Rated (in there own parts listing for the Antenna, NOT in the Paperwork) at 150w continuous. I"m NOT Please with this, But the Performace seems a bitr weak also. On 20 Meter it performs the best, but either direction from there it's progressively worse. I'm still using the Antenna as it's past the Return Time, But I'd NOT go this route if you run anything over the 100W Radio. PLEASE read the PART LIST and Specs. of the Balun and "Matching Network" (600ohm Resistor) before you purchase one of these.. This information is there.. ALSO, It's Not a outright lie, but if you look at the RF absorbed by the Resistor, as this is NOT LOSS, But absorbed, it can be VERY HIGH in the 95% Range of RF NOT being Radiated. But again, NOT LOSS, Just NOT RADIATED...
LA8KHA Rating: 2005-08-03
Very good performance Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Hello folks.I,m agree with KF7TY and also N0CMD.Just worked CY0AA on 17 mtr.with FT 1000 MK V Field(100W)under big pile-up and low conds.in S-E of Norway.But of course you cannot compair it with 5 el.tribander 60 feet up,i`ve used that too.Performs a lot better then G5RV,less noice and more bands.Mine is up in 39 feet flagpole in centre and two 30 feet high pine`s at the ends.I`ve also used Butternut HF9V,but what a struggle with radials and so on.So my opinion is:Easy,low money and it works ! 73 from Norway and take care
KF7TY Rating: 2005-08-02
Performs as advertised, very happy with the antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Greetings to all. Just this past salmon season I purchased one of these for our companies Bristol Bay salmon operation to replace some verticals we were using. It is mounted at 40 feet on a Rohn 25G tower with the ends about 30 feet off the ground in an inverted vee pattern. After a summers use of the antenna on both the commercial marine bands to our fishing vessels and processors and also an occasional operation on the ham bands mostly 20 and 75 meters I do have to say the the antenna performs exactly as advertised and works quite well. Flat VSWR so I don't have to run a transmatch, great for the office operators to talk to the boats too and also it was easy to install and has held up very well. All in all a great product, most likely will not replace a dedicated band antenna or yagi for sure but for broadband operation it works great. All the best to you and yours! KF7TY
N0GMD Rating: 2005-02-20
less noise than G5RV and Hustler 4BTV I've used. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used a Hustler 4BTV ground mounted vertical with radials and a G5RV at the same height the BWD 1.8 - 30 folded dipole is mounted at now. At 25' to 30', the B&W folded dipole experiences less noise. I am able to actually hear sations I could not hear before. In comparison, it is great for 160 meter reception. My noise was often S5 to S7 now noise on all bands is S1 to S3 maximum. And that is on a city lot! The noise on the vertical is only one to two S-units higher than the B&W folded dipole

I'm told my signals are stronger by the recieving stations than they had been in the past with the other antennas. I only have 100 watt FT-101ZD to feed the antenna. I have not experienced the 'dummy load of an antenna' that only a few others have experienced with this antenna.

With the ends of the antenna near the trees, one leg of the antenna about 5' to 8' from a large oak tree and with the antenna about 15' - 18' from the roof of my house, the SWR is high on 160 meters. 1 to 3 or higher. I had realized I might have to do something else for 160 transmit and / or use a tuner for this band. That is OK for our city lot. I am just happy to significantly reduce the noise by using this antenna.

I have worked DX with 100 watts with this antenna and no, it was not during any band opening - just normal weekend conditions.

We very rarely have ice that might bring the antenna down. But we do have wind. I expect it to last well. My G5RV lasted well in these same trees,

The local National Guard building has one of these on its' roof. They have used it for may years.

I would recommend this antenna to anyone with the space and supports to get it at least 25' feet high. 73's N0GMD.
VE7ZWA Rating: 2005-02-03
Wonderful Broadband Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Greetings. I live off mile 304 of the old Alaska Hwy with enough land for a full size 160m dipole. Getting back on the air after several years away from the hobby I wanted an antenna to cover the entire hf spectrum. I choose the BWDS-180 and have not been disappointed. My first contact was with a Ham sitting in the middle of a cornfield in the Netherlands (just before field day) and you can't beat that. The BWD's center is atop a 48' tower, with each end raised aproximately 22'. The lay of the land dictated it be raised north-south, so propegation is best to the east & west (where there are thousands of miles of forest, mountains and ocean, but few people). It has served me on all bands with an SWR of 2.1 or less. I run either 100 watts or QRP. I also use a homebrew 20m folded dipole which is superior on 20m and it is oriented so propegation is best to the north & south. If I could have put up a folded dipole for each individual hf band that is the way I would have gone. However the BWDS-180 is one antenna and it allows me to explore the entire spectrum of each hf band.
KD6MXE Rating: 2005-01-26
Great antenna for CAP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used one in a short lot in Calif for CAP and was a great ant on the 2.4, 4.5, 7.6 CAP/SHARES/FEMA frequencies without needing an antenna tuner. You could tweek it to 1:1 with one. A lot of government agencies, National Guard units use this antenna. I have a shorter 65 ft version for field use and always a good performer with minimum set up. I have had it at 40 ft inv-V and slopper and as an NVIS antenna. I use it on 6 meters and works great (with a tuner). From Utah DN41 I have worked Wa, Ca, Ne, Tx on 6 meters at 20 feet at the apex. 14 years with BWD 1.8-30.
KD5HHD Rating: 2005-01-19
I rate this antenna as excellant Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the B&W 1.8-30MHZ folded dipole in the iverted V configuration and have had excellant results.
I have also ran my amertron 811 amp through it and have had good signal results.
I can't understand how a ham can burn up his amp without some sort of warning signs,and I feel the antenna had a short or the amp had a problem.
I have been made fun of for purchaching this antenna because of the matching network;or as refered to as "the big ole resistor".this antenna is a performer.
K0RGR Rating: 2004-12-21
Decent Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had one of these up in California for a number of years, and it performed as advertised. It was suspended from a 50 foot tower, and replaced a G5RV. It worked well on 80 meters and up, including MARS frequencies. I particularly remember working a lot of 30 meters with it, and AMTOR on 80.
K9LEO Rating: 2004-12-21
Horrible antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have done everything i could to get this antenna to perform and no luck. When testing stations said, when i changed back to the Dipole it was like turning a Amplifier on. One thing that it did do, the SWR did not rise above 1.5 through 1.8 thru 30. But the antenna still sucked... I could not send that antenna back fast enough. i was very lucky that the company refunded most of my money back. I am glad i got that, and was not stuck with the antenna.