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Reviews For: DIAMOND X-50 2m/440 ANTENNA

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : DIAMOND X-50 2m/440 ANTENNA
Reviews: 122MSRP: 99.99
Description:
Gain: 2m:4.5dB 70cm:7.2dB
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/x50.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
131224.6
K5AID Rating: 2013-09-15
tough and awesome! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine in 2006, has been in variety of good and bad installationd and has performed flawlessly!
K7OED Rating: 2013-03-25
No Connection Problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchaed mine 5 years ago - it has been on a mountaintop repeater site ever since in conditions of up to 100MPH winds and temps from 0 degrees to 110 degrees with no problems (even with ice). Doesn't need a second screw to secure it, nor does the X300 I have at home (although conditions here in the valley are more benign). Some Loctite on the threads will help preventing them from coming loose.
N5LUQ Rating: 2013-03-24
Horrible Mechanical Connection Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK I made this post about the Diamond X-50 but it goes for all of the Comet and Diamond antennas. There is only ONE screw and a lock washer to screw into the support pipe and into the antenna. This will not hold the antenna base rigid! After a time this connection gets very loose and moves around like a sail boat tacking with the wind. Why can't Diamond or Comet put two more screws into the support pipe and into the antrenna thus keeping it stable? I cannot belive that I am the only one that has had a gripe about this. It is a horrible, single point, support that never is good in any application! What are the rest of you all doing to keep this from happening. The instructions do not address the issue.......The antenna performs well for its size when it is not swaying in the wind.
N1UMJ Rating: 2012-10-30
good and reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've always run diamond antennas for VHF/UHF, my interests are on other bands but being involved in ARES, RACES, other things I'm involved with, NTS, public service, unfortunately I just can't get away form needing something for VHF anyway. I've run a few different antennas over the years through oves and what not and now run the X50, up about 20 feet off the ground. For what I use ti for, it does what I want, I run LMR-400, have one on the front of the house for the radio in the living room to monitor repeaters for clubs I belogn to, and I have an X30 on the back of the house, same height for the radio in the shack and for what I do, I can't complain about either one. They're well made, I know more people than I can count running them as go kit antennas or the every day antenna, sometimes even both, not one has any complaints. If you, like me, aren't really supposed to ahve antennas up, it's nice then too because it really doesn't stick out all that much. I have people asking me now when I put it up and it's been there almost a year. I've run ti at many special events and go kit setups over the years as well, this antenna is probably 7 or 8 years old I just never used it in a permenent install until this QTH. It ahs a lot of traveling miles on it to local events though.
G0SLQ Rating: 2012-10-09
Stormproof! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first VHF/UHF cost 50gbp in 1989 or thereabouts and stood at 30ft above ground for years. Still works remarkably well for local/semi local 2/70 as well as RX on various others (airband, pmr etc.) if only every antenna lasted 20+ years in the wind on a hilltop location.

Ideal for general monitoring, i.e. non-directional. I use mine with Westflex 103 to mimimise losses at UHF. Can only compare it to a slim jim (no comparison) as never needed to purchase a replacement. A tough, compact antenna built to last and take any weather punishment.

Superb fibregalss co-linear and would replace like for like in the even of it failing any time soon.

K7TCE Rating: 2012-06-23
Excellent antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Compared to a J-Pole, there is no comparison -- this antenna is a dramatic improvement. It's not quite as good as my X300A, but, it's only half the physical size. The X50A is small enough to deploy in the attic, and with the short radials is easy to throw in the back seat of a car. If I could only have one 144/440 antenna this would be it. Don't lose any hardware, as far as I can tell it's all non-standard stuff.
N8DXB Rating: 2012-05-20
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this little guy in my attic for many years with real good results as my bad weather antenna. It works better than I thought it would being attic mounted.
I just purchased another one for the tower to use with my dual-band Rig in the garage.
For the price, quality design, and performance it is a must have.
KX6G Rating: 2012-01-21
A mighty big antenna in such a small package Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna installed since obtaining my technician ticket. For almost 20 years this antenna has performed beautifully. It's small size belies its big performance. I own two antennas in this line of diamond products. I have the X50s big brother the X5000 which I use on field trips, as its nearly 20 foot length would not allow me to fly under the radar with my homeowners association. Diamond makes a great antenna and highly recommend any antenna in this line. No doubt, construction gets a 10 and performance gets a 10... oh wait, I can only go as high as five of this forum.

I recently changed out the co-ax on the X50, opting for a longer piece so that I could use the antenna and operate from my downstairs office. while handling the antenna, I noticed what seemed like oxidation of the white fiberglass. I suppose being exposed to UV for all these years would cause some problems with the plastic components. Nothing serious just something I noticed. I guess that's my only complaint.

It's 5 foot length caused me some serious thinking about whether not try to adapt this for mobile use. But alas a good quality high gain mobile antenna would have sufficed just as well I suppose, so I opted for the more traditional type of mobile antenna instead.

You would not be disappointed if you installed one of these little babies.
IZ2EAS Rating: 2012-01-20
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first X50 has been installed for more than 10 years now, without problems, at my holiday house, on the mountains; it got heavy doses of sun, rain, snow and ice. I was so satisfied with it that I purchased a second X50 for my main station in Milano. It is really a set-and-forget antenna, good performance and no troubles. Wish all the antennas were like that.
KJ6MSG Rating: 2011-11-06
Solid Performance Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Paired with my Yaesu FT-7900R, this antenna has given me solid performance. I receive nothing but good reports on my transmissions and I can clearly hear every repeater and public service/aviation transmission in the area. Very nice antenna.