| W3WJ |
Rating:      |
2004-11-28 | |
| Works Like A Charm |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've used this antennna for more than five years with outstanding results. I think it's an ideal general use antenna for anyone who wants to work the world without spending a fortune. Mine is apexed at about 25 feet, with the ends northeast and southwest sloped at about 6 feet off the ground. Short of a tower setup, this antenna fills the bill. I can easily load it to full legal limit with my SB-220. I have worked the four corners of the globe successfully. It tunes and loads easily, with the possible exception of 160 meters, which is more of a challenge, but do-able. Overall, it's the most versitile antenna I've used in many years of ham radio operating! |
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| W8MMN |
Rating:    |
2004-11-23 | |
| B&W 1.8 - 30 is an "OK" antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have been using the 1.8 - 30 version for 3 years now, mostly for MARS operations. It does an OK job. I MUST use a tuner on almost all bands to get the SWR below 2:1, and DO NOT USE AN AMP WITH IT! It will burn up with consistant use of 400W or more. Overall, if you HAD to have one antenna to do it all, it is an OK choice. At over $200 you would expect better. I have used a Spyder Cone antenna, and it A) has MUCH more signal out, 2) MUCH better receive, 3) is just as broadbanded but are honest about using a tuner, and 4) Costs FAR less then the B&W. It MAY be a good choice for you, but shop around before you spend $200+ for a balun, resister, wire & some PVC pipe (mine even has the usual markings from in the hardware store stuff)! |
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| K3EY |
Rating:      |
2003-12-28 | |
| Worked Ok For Me for Years |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I had one in two different locations. The first one was located where I used to live in a valley with the antenna only being up 15 to 20 feet. I had it up for 10 years until I decided to use an amp and burned it up. It was a legal limit amp. Running it on 80 phone even with an amp did not show much difference to the guys reading my signal compared to guys not running amps using an 80 meter dipole cut for the frequency. I found the most success was on CW. I ran 100 watts cw and worked the world with it. The only problem I found was if you want a kicking signal on the phone bands then get an antenna cut for the particular frequency you’re working and forget this compromise antenna. This is a compromise antenna but does do its job well, especially on CW. The government uses them running 10KW in installations all over the world because they are so broadbanded, they overcome the performance issue with brute power. The second location I used it was only used one year before being replaced with antenna cut for the frequencies I use, but it worked well at this location too. This is a good choice for someone who doesn't have a lot of room and wants to run all bands, but I would refrain from using an amp because the balun will fry very easy and you won’t find a big difference just running barefoot anyway. Have a small lot, want all bands, don’t care about an amp, then this antenna will work for you. |
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| WB8VGE |
Rating:      |
2003-12-27 | |
| Great all band antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Well sure, it does not have the gain of some antennas, but the BWD works all bands with a good SWR. What I like about it is the low noise the antenna picks up. My center feed zepp usually runs S7 to S9 noise on 80 and 40 meters. The noise drops to s2 or s3 on the BWD. Sure, the signals are not as strong as they are on the zepp, but since the noise is lower on the BWD, I can hear them. Sometimes, and it depends on the time and band, the difference is so great it's simply amazing. |
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| N4PMG |
Rating:  |
2003-12-11 | |
| A $200.00+ JOKE |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I had this antenna in use for about 3 months. I was using an FT-990 driving an Ameritron AL-811.
During the third month of low power use it started developing a black ring around the center of the matching device on top. I later bought a legal limit amp but still tuned up at no more than 250 watts. After only two days of legal limit SSB use it literally MELTED and WENT UP in SMOKE & FLAMES! If you think it receives good just compair it with a clothes line or a chain link fence, both will work much better. I still have this expensive wanna be antenna behind my barn for non believers to see! B&W said I ran far to much power through it! I then bought me a Fritzel FD-4 and used it until recently with great results! SAVE YOUR MONEY! |
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| N7BUI |
Rating:      |
2003-10-25 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Strange...I see all of the bad comments about this antenna, and yet I see excellent results on mine. I bought the pieces at a hamfest very cheaply (resistor, balun, and some spacers), and built the 180 foot version. Use on 160 and 80 meters require a tuner which I believe is due to the antenna not being that high off of the ground (40 feet), but on all other bands the match is under 2:1 as B&W advertises. Performance on all bands is excellent, with the quiet receive of a folded dipole. I have used the antenna QRP on 40 meters with levels as low as 1/2 watt and still am able to make solid contacts. Its become my main antenna for all bands. I had my reservations at first due to reading about it, but now I'm convinced that its worth keeping. |
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| KG4URD |
Rating:     |
2003-09-10 | |
| Pretty new at this . . . |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| but I've been using my BWD90 for about 2 months now and having pretty good luck with it. I've got mine installed as an inverted "v" - Center at 45ft, ends at 15ft. I recommend good coax (I'm using 9913) The guys at B&W do also . . . I use a Dentron Super Tuner and recommend using a tuner, however, the SWR's on most bands aren't that terrible that you could "maybe" get away without one. But, I can tune this antenna with a flat SWR on 1.8 - 50mhz. Well built antenna and a breeze to install. Not a bad investment for someone looking for a good multi-band antenna . . . |
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| KF7VZ |
Rating:     |
2003-08-27 | |
| better than expected |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Hi I have owned the 1.8-30 B&W antenna for over 5 years. Use a tuner with it as the SWR could be better. I have not tried 160, but, as a MARS operator it has been used all over the spectrum successfully. My antenna is mounted at 55ft center, ends about 20 ft. I am not a DX hound, but I get reasonable reports using my venerable ICOM 751A barefoot. All in All, I recomend using the mounting kit accessory. For an "all-band" antenna, it is hard to beat. 73 de KF7VZ |
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| N5ODX |
Rating:      |
2003-07-09 | |
| A WORKHORSE ANTENNA |
Time Owned: N.A. |
I have been using the B+W 1.8-30 folded dipole for a couple of years and I am pleased with the performance.
Set up: inverted "V" with apex at about 38 feet, ends at about 13 feet. The antenna is orientednorth/south.
This antenna has never let me down in a pile up, running a kilowatt from a Kenwood 922a. I have no problem competing with the big boys with this antenna just last night I worked PA9DD,SP3EPK,9K2GS,ES1AR and LY2ZZ using a Kenwood TS940s, TL922a(1000watts) and the B+W folded dipole. Made contact first time on all but one and got the PA9DD on the 2nd try.
I am also an Army MARS station and this antenns works well on all MARS frequencies.
If I had a kilobuck beam on a 150' tower I would still have one of these antennas.
A few thoughts:
1. does in most cased require a tuner
2. the inverted V will favor DX more than horizontal.
3.follow the instructions
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Earlier 4-star review posted by N5ODX on 2001-12-17
My B+W 1.8 - 30 has given me access to all HF bands in a small space. The ant. is installed in a less than perfect loction, 30ft from the ground at the center and 15ft at the ends. I mounted the 1.8-30 in a small revine about have way from the bottom and top, the trees are 60 to 80 tall and power lines run parallel to the ant. at about 60ft. Not the best instillation but, it was there or nothing.
As an Army Mars station I need contious coverage. I have worked the South Pole with this ant. with 800 watts from a Kenwood 922a on 20meters. If you have limited space or work MARS this is the antenna for you. Also the thing works on 6meters! The price is my main complaint with this antenna. I have had no problem on 80 meters but on 160 the ant. will load up but performance is terrible. |
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| AA6E |
Rating:    |
2003-07-07 | |
| works but limited |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
To understand this antenna, walk don't run to http://www.cebik.com/wbfd.html, where W4RNL gives the scoop. Basically, you are trading off 6 db loss (1 S Unit) for broadband capability -- at least that's what his modeling shows. My antenna "works" - it is reasonably matched from 80 m up. (It's really NG on 160 m, I think.) It "gets out", but that may just prove that almost anything gets out. I am running a TS-520S at 100w, so my ERP is probably around 25w! But that's enough for lots of QSOs.
I wish I had read the analysis BEFORE buying. I would have stuck it out with my G5RV, and I may change back. I did buy the stainless steel version of the antenna. This installed pretty easily and shows no rust after a couple of months. :-) |
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