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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
K6KGW Rating: 2007-10-14
Rugged & Efficient Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Easy to set up. I have mine no more than 15 feet above ground and I can easily reach repeaters 30 miles away.
K7ICU Rating: 2007-03-06
Impressed! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have a Diamond X50NA in repeater service a few hundred feet above average local elevation. The VSWR is excellent as is the "real world" performance. It's very small, lightweight and reasonably durable. The cost is negligible compared to just about any commercial antenna (which it is NOT).

I've had the X50NA in service for about 6 months with no problems. If it keeps on working anywhere near as long as most other reviewers report, it'll have been money well spent and then some.

Those complaining about disappointing gain may not realize the 4.5/7.2 dB ratings from Diamond are in dBi, not dBd.

If reliability and performance are important to you, choose the X50NA (N connector) over the X50A (UHF connector).
KC4FWC Rating: 2007-02-14
Great small antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this antenna for more than 10 years and used it all over the place. It's convenient. In all reality, about the same gain as a 5/8 wave on 2M and maybe 3 - 4 dBd on UHF. It's rugged yet lightweight. It's not designed to run a ton of power, but overall, it does seem to perform very well. I'd buy another one if I needed it. I recommend it over the X300 or X500 floppy noodles any day.
S56OA Rating: 2006-09-25
Great dualband antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Diamond X-50 is great base antenna. Used it for more than 8 years and it still like new. Very well built, reliable and good value for the money.
K4SRQ Rating: 2006-09-04
Tough, easy and a good performer. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Package:

The antenna is unassembled and consists of:

One Element
Three Radial elements with lock nuts
One Support Pipe with lock screw and nut.
Two Mast brackets
Two U-Bolts with hardware.

Man it was rugged. That is the first thing I noticed once I pulled the plastic antenna package out of the shipping box from AES. My cat Cuddles quickly developed a love-bite relationship with that box and at her request it remained here for several days post installation.
You know the instant you grip it that this radiator is not going to easily wimp out to the weather. Removing the antenna assembly from the plastic display pack, I was impressed with how the parts were bagged, wrapped and taped to the white element. No fumbling the falling parts as they bounce scattered to the ground and off to another dimension where lost screws, lock washers and ½ pair socks go.

I read the instructions. I never do that. I have learned by failing many times that it is a good idea. Reading TFM; though lacking in the techie bravado of just digging in, proves to provide a more positive result. I must witness for Diamond as their instructions are not only in US English, but also found to be excellent in detail. First they provide the Description and then into Adjustment (the only adjustment needed is to the assembler for the antenna is tuned from the factory) then step-by-step assembly. Guesswork is leveled in light of the detailed images provided by these great tech writers. Follow that up with specifications and a complete parts id picture. Rounding out this great tome of X-50A knowledge is the idiots disclaimer page where they tell you to not fall off the roof, touch live wires or do several other stupid things that were the points of litigation for someone. I wonder if the same person that did any of that healed and went to McDonald’s one morning for a nice hot cup of Joe that fell out of what was left of his good hand.

When attempting to remove the plastic and multiple layers of tape wrapping around the element, I became a bit frustrated at the person in packaging that suffered from OCD. I carefully cut the tape and plastic at both top and bottom with scissors and even then nicked the shaft a bit. I wish Diamond were as generous with the white coating as they were with the tape!

When attaching the radial elements I used a few drops of Pro Gold contact conditioner on the threads. This is not even mentioned in the instructions but it does seem to add security in light of the sometimes harsh weather we suffer in Florida this hurricane phase. I am of the strange and twisted ilk that would stand proudly atop the rubble of his former residence beaming with joy at the sight of his X-50A impaled in the neighbors’ tree with radial elements still intact. What a testament to diligent assemblage that would be!

Next is the mating of the support pipe with the now assembled antenna. The coax is pushed through the pipe and attaches to the base of the antenna. This provides a fairly water tight enclosure. The pipe is turned to match up the support pipe mounting hole with the hole on the side of the base of the antenna. The supplied nut and lock washer hold the assembly tight.
The mast brackets are designed so that you do not need to hold the nut when turning the screws on the U-Bolt once in position. You will need to verify that your mast brackets are aligned for what Diamond calls the “whole balance”.

Performance:

I had been using a Diamond SG7500. It worked quite well and I was surprised at its performance given its mounting location on the roof of my converted RV.
The X-50A sits atop a 15-foot mast, above the roofline and in the clear. The improvement in distance far exceeded my expectations. From my location, with the SG7500 I would get LOS after about 6 miles from my location on simplex, base to mobile. With the X-50A and its higher mounting, I more than doubled that distance! Not only that but signal penetration was much improved in former dead spots I was now able to get to my base unit. I then tested it with similar environs for dead spots 15-16 miles away and the signal strength provided me with several QSOs via Echolink from my car to my link at home. The real thrill came when I got home and was able to hit a repeater 36 miles away with an S-3 and previously was not able to hit it from the home QTH. A fringe repeater that was at about S6 on my Yeasu 857D raised to 9+. As you can see, the results were great and I am quite happy with the performance increase.

Overall:

In a nutshell, it is easy to put together, the directions are great, the unit is robust and the performance exceeded expectations. I find this to be a great antenna. Diamond, just take it easy on the tape!

Burt
KI4FH
KI4MIU Rating: 2006-08-15
Mount it High and you can work the state Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This antenna is an amazing antenna. The trick is to mount it high up. I have this antenna mounter about 35' off the ground and it out performs my Yagi wich is at the same hight. The price is a bit high but but when you put it up high you will be saying you paid so little. I am able to work repeaters that are about 150 miles away with just 25 watts. This antenna is great for the common QSO or chasing DX on 2 meters or 440. There is no better antenna in my oppinion.
N3ATS Rating: 2006-07-03
Excellent, except... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
...it fell apart on me! I have had the X50 up for around 6 months. It is mounted using the supplied hardware on a 8' galvanized pipe mounted to the chimney.

I was cooking out on the grill this evening and looked down on the ground below my deck. Imagine my surprise when I saw my X-50A on the ground!

I went down to get it and examine it closer. Apparently the bolt that holds the mounting sleeve to the body of the antenna fell out. The antenna must have been whipping around in the wind for a while and eventually tore the connector off.

The GP radials are bent, and the screw is gone, BUT the antenna itself is not damaged at all. As soon as I am done typing this, I plan on finding the screw (I hope), straightening the GP radials, and re-assembling the antenna and putting it back in service.

I am not sure what may have caused this (yes, I put it together properly), but I hope it doesn't do it again!

Now, this antenna radiates very effectively. I can hit repeaters 75 miles away. It looks good, it's got a clean design, and it will withstand a 35' fall (hi hi).

You really can't go wrong. That's why I am gonna put her back together and back in the air!

Overall, it's a great antenna.
KD6ANF Rating: 2006-06-22
Takes a licking, and... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased three of these antennas since first introduced. They perform very well and are of good construction. The currently installed X-50 received a direct contact with lightening early 2005. It sounded like a large caliber canon was fired in the radio room, luckily the antenna still works and without any changes in VSWR, even though my left ear had a distinctive ring for the next five weeks. If your in need of an inexpensive 146/446 compact antenna, this is worth considering. The bottom of the antenna uses a section of aluminum tubing for mounting with the included mast clamp hardware. However, as it turns out, the inside diameter of the aluminum tubing is a good fit for mounting over the tapered section of the antenna mast available at Radio Shack, both five and ten foot sections. When mounted in this way, the coax cable is protected from weather because it is inside the mast and completely hidden from view.
N6CAV Rating: 2006-06-22
Read this and weep... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you've already purchased a different 2M/440 base antenna, then you can get your kleenex now. This is an awesome antenna. I've got it up on a repeater tower 2 miles from my home. It's been there for over a year...nearly unity SWR on 2M. Bulletproof design. Read the other posts on this item and you'll know why you should have bought this one first.
N1ZPO Rating: 2005-06-13
Go get one! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I opted for this antenna based on it's size, (about 5') and wind survival. I primarily use it for ARES use and rugged is a must! When most would be going out to take antennas down, this thing is going up! I am very pleased with it performance v. size. If I could only have one more antenna for the rest of my life this would defiantly be one I would go for. It rides around in the bed of my truck, goes up and works PERFECT every time!

Go get one!