| WM3P |
Rating:  |
2023-11-04 | |
| Alpha Promaster Jr Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is for the Alpha Promaster Jr Antenna. The antenna is no longer offered by Alpha, but I decided to put a review of it in here and this is the closest fit since it IS a Promaster. In short, the antenna is phenomenal! It covers 10 through 40 meters, requires no counterpoise wires, and I have it ground mounted in the backyard on one of Alpha's tripods.
I've been using it now for 7 plus years with no problems at all. It's still standing despite very heavy winds a lot of the time in the NW Las Vegas, NV area. It's in an HOA community and that's why it's mounted on the ground in the backyard so the "HOA police" won't notice it from the front. The top of the antenna just barely clears the peak of the highest point of the house in the back and you really have to be searching for it to be able to see it.
It's virtually invisible from the front and to date, over the years, they haven't seen it yet and/or nobody has complained about it. It's still hanging in there and I've made QSOs over the years all over the US and in overseas areas too. No complaints at all. As long as it keeps hanging in there and the Alpha match on it is still good, I'll continue to use it until the wind knocks it over!
Very impressed with it - performance and rugged durability! I don't know why Alpha decided not to offer them anymore. It's a true performer! The best thing is the lack of counterpoise wires needed for it which, in my opinion, is a huge plus!
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| WB0YX |
Rating: |
2021-04-03 | |
| Easy setup and portable 10~80 Plus 160 optional |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
In this review of the The Alpha Antenna ProMaster antenna, I will try to cover as much as I can about this antenna. It is based on my usage of it.
*The Alpha Antenna ProMaster antenna is best installed at 6~8 feet above the ground, with a 25’ NVIS antenna directional continuation wire along the ground.
*In this configuration you will get the highest performance that this antenna will emit on 10~80 meter bands up to 250 watts SSB Voice. With the 4x 35' NVIS wires in lieu of the 25’ directional NVIS wire you will be able to tune to 160 meters.
*I personally own both configurations, Heavy Duty Tripod, and 40’ of coax from Alpha Antenna at the time of purchase.
*Setup of this antenna takes very little time and was designed to operate in the field in pretty harsh weather conditions as well. Mine has survived on UN-supported/non-guided at winds up to 35 MPH and some gusts up to 50 MPH with no problems or damage as a permanent install site.
*Now let’s clarify on this. Each section of the vertical element has been measured so that 3" are below the cut line for the hose clamp, where I have marked with a permanent ink marker this distance so I can tear down and setup exactly the same every time I move the antenna.
*I would not recommend you install each element section any higher as this is a telescoping vertical section and it gains strength from one section to the other the deeper each section goes into the other. The tip will be your final tune at 16'4" for the entire vertical element.
*I live in a 2 story aluminum sided duplex. The antenna is mounted in the back of the duplex 25' away from the house mounted to the very end of my deck, on a 4x4 post. All raw un-tuned SWR reading are 3.2:1 or less on 80 and 40 meters. 2.1:1~ 1:1 30~6 meters. That's right it tuned 6 meters raw on my RigExpert AA-600, I was so shocked as was Steve when I informed him and sent pictures of the analyzer readings. AMAZING bonus.
*Every piece of equipment and coax is grounded and have lightening arrester's on them. Earth Grounding is very serious.
*With a normal antenna tuner you can expect with a proper install SWR of a 1.5:1~1:1 on all bands as mentioned above.
*Now for the fun stuff! Here is where the Alpha Antenna Pro Master really shows off as a vertical antenna where no others will do this. Let's say you want to setup in the field and contest stations to the East and you have the optional components. You can tilt the tripod or leave vertical to the East and run the “NVIS directional antenna active element wire” to the west of the vertical element to promote an Eastward directional signal. The single 25' or the 4x 35' are not guy wires but do help to stabilize the antenna to a point. Please guy in High winds in this configuration. Also please note the the tripod is very Heavy Duty and one of the legs will needed to be propped up to do this.
*Now for the serious stuff! "Customer Service". I was on the phone with Steve Deines "N0TES" many times with questions to maximize the antenna usage and he was glad to educate me on simple as well as hard questions never getting upset having to answer the same questions twice or go into in depth and detail. Not even the simple stupid ones. He was extremely patient with this old Ham. This is the only Antenna Manufacturer today with this high a level of customer care and product quality in my very humble opinion. I should mention that Steve is the Owner of Alpha Antennas and answers his own phone. Not a paid employee unless he is away of course. But I usually get him if I call LOL...
*I am continuing to test many Ham products on my YouTube Channel "Jeffrey Sanford WB0YX". The Alpha Antenna Pro Master is being used heavily for the last 30 days and will continue to be my main antenna.
* I live in a HOA and so far I have not gotten the "You need to remove it." letter in the mail or the visit from the HOA Manager yet.
*QRZ will show the latest contacts using this antenna as well.
*I like many other HAM radio operators are not sponsored nor am I. I have paid out of pocket for this antenna and this review is my own very humble opinion and findings.
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| KA0L |
Rating: |
2021-01-25 | |
| Alpha Antennas Performance AND Professional Consultation |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
You can't beat the combination of being able to buy a good quality US-built product AND have it backed by not just a material and workmanship warranty but also with professional engineering and deployment support!
I travel with two of the Alpha Antenna products, the portable FMJ ANT in a bag which I use for remote operation in our travel trailer and the ProMaster Vertical which is used at our Winter QTH in Arizona. Both antennas are incredibly well made, versatile and adaptable under various installations and deployments. Always able to deliver acceptable SWR on all my favorite HF bands! Case in point as follows!
Recently had occasion to work on a new setup of the ProMaster at our AZ Winter home and was struggling with structural and deployment constraints that were driving the SWR nuts. The NVIS element was not able to be deployed clear of structural interference and the antenna was mounted above the corner of a metal carport roof which called into question all kinds of scenarios.
I called Alpha Support and was patiently guided by Dave with some good pointers for my issues, which did improve the performance but ANT was still not at it's best. SWR on 40 in particular was over 3:1 and others were going to require a tuner to drag them down.
Hard for Dave to see the true challenges of the setup so I sent a very detailed email description and was stunned to see an even more detailed reply, after business hours, from the founder, Steve! Steve gave me a point by point set of thoughts and steps to follow.
I followed up with feedback on the test results and Steve replied immediately with a few more options we could try to see if the metal roof could be our "friend" as either a huge NVIS or a ground. Neither of these proved out, but in the process we extended the length of the feedline to exceed 50 feet and BINGO, SWR drops across the board, usable (if desired) w/o tuner on all bands!
In the end, a combination factors contributed to the SWR - NVIS location, removing ground line from inside a PVC mast, removal of RF choke on feedline in shack (which I put there to help with RF in the shack but once other issues were resolved, proved not to be needed for RFI and was HURTING performance) and feedline too short, needs to be AT LEAST 40 ft or more for best ground performance.
Really do appreciate the personal and professional support and want to thank the Alpha Team again for standing behind their products! |
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| W5BT |
Rating: |
2019-06-27 | |
| Great Antenna base or portable |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had this antenna for a little over a year now and wanted to do a followup review. This has been an excellent antenna without question. I've used it numerous times over the past year and it still looks new. Several of the times, I've left the antenna up for weeks in all weather conditions without any issues. Matter of fact it tunes easier on 80M than my 43' vertical. I did make a portable ground radial system for the antenna with 12 20' radials that I can roll out/up quickly. Not sure it was even needed, but I do think it helps sometimes in some locations and conditions. I put it up two weeks before Field Day to check everything out and ended up leaving it up. My internal tuner on the radio tunes 10M-80M easily. While I was testing everything before Field Day I was able to make a qso with Slovenia on 20M on the first call. He had a decent pile up going at the time and I was surprised to make the quick contact. It worked great for Field Day as well. Perfect antenna for the occasion. I've taken it on a couple vacations and its been great. I'm not sure there are too many portable antennas out there that deliver the performance this antenna is able to do.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W5BT on 2018-07-13
Purchased this antenna for portable use. It is very easy to set up and take down. It's also held up to the wind. If I didn't already have a vertical for the home, I wouldn't hesitate to use this one full time. Alpha is one of the few companies where the owner doesn't hesitate to call or email you to answer your questions. I would say that this antenna has worked much better then expected. I haven't had any trouble getting through pile ups with just 100 watts and this antenna. I can't say that about many of the antennas I've had over the years. |
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| KC5IIE |
Rating: |
2019-04-28 | |
| Im a Believer! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| After a couple inquiries to Steve at Alpha Antenna I pulled the trigger on the Promaster 80-10 vertical. To say I was surprised would be an understatement... This antenna is awesome! I have a odd shaped small backyard so antenna real estate is pretty limited. I use a 40m loop at low height that hangs in a collapsed triangular shape. While the loop is a great receiving antenna, its limited on transmit. Enter the Promaster. My 1st contact was with a California station who gave me a 59 (I was running 50w), next qso was with a Brazilian who gave the same. The build quality is top notch and the antenna goes up and down in about 10 minutes (currently I bring the antenna down when rocky weather approaches). I couldnt be happier, yes, its a little more noisy than the loop, but I can work 80m which Ive never been able to do, and it performs admirably as a general SWL antenna (Im a SWL first and foremost). BTW, I purchased the tripod to mount the antenna, its one stout piece and will serve well as a portable option once I install a permanent mount for the Promaster. Thanks Alpha! |
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| VA2CST |
Rating: |
2019-03-12 | |
| A different installation than what it is intended... |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Been using this Promaster 1080 antenna since october 2018. It is installed in a permanent install at 30' in a tower rather than at ground level. The tower is used as a counterpoise along with a ground wire as advised by Steve. I must fine tune that installation as I have been suggested to not run ground cable along side the coax which is difficult since the ground wire is bare and it does touch the tower so regardless where I tape the coax on the tower, it will be near ground.
Eventhough it is a vertical antenna, it is NOT a omnidirectionnal antenna when the NVIS element is used.
The radiation pattern rather looks like a steel toe boot. The low angle radiation is happening at the tip of the boot where the steel cap would be and the leg opening where you would put your foot in is the NVIS element shooting up the sky.
In my situation, the NVIS wire is slanted north, that mean the "steel cap" is pointing south for me (I am in Montreal Qc Canada). That means I cover Vermont, New York, Maryland, Virginia, North/South Carolina, Florida up to approx Louisiana. Rarely been able to do California and states west of me so it seem to match the radiation pattern.
Also done a couple contact is south america like Equador, Brazil and Venesuela but these are rare.
Strangely, I have been able to do a couple contacts in Europe which is east to me, away from the highest performance of the antenna at low angles. France, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria. But there is not a lot of contact and I started to noticed that it is always the same stations that I heard over the months.
In total, since October 2018 to March 2019, I've managed to do 300+ contacts in 47 countries mainly on 80m and 40m. Rarely on 20 and 17. I think I never made any on 15-12. Only one night on 10m when there was an opening I've been able to get a couple US stations.
So this is an important thing to remember, the higher performance for low angle DX is on the opposite side of where the NVIS element will be pointing. Think as a steel toe boot to remember.
I've come to the conclusion that I've made pretty much everything I could with that antenna as how it is currently installed. DX is always the same stations from europe and from the US is always the same states. Same goes with south america but there is not a lot of trafic coming from there for me.
Only running 100W here, ABSOLUTELY need a tuner (over 2.5-3 SWR on any bands), my radio tuner cannot handle 80m so I need a wide band manual antenna tuner to work 80m. I get a little bit of RFI from time to time (making light dimmer go 100% when they are dimmed). Did not noticed anything else for the moment.
It is a bit noisy, not rare to have S7-9 noise levels on 80m and 40m. Recently, it became more acceptable at around S4-7. Higher frequency bands are always quieter. I was even able to do a contact with absolutely no signal reading from a station on 20m but it was silent enough I could hear that station (gave 40 RST !). I could also be heard but rather poorly by the other station.
The antenna looks to be based on the same principle as the Comet CHA250b match box to the exeption of the NVIS element which give this antenna 43' of radiating element. It does respond ok on 80m, works better on 40m. It will never be as good as a dipole would be for sure but I would say I got good result with it. I think it would perform a lot better when installed at ground levels but this is not possible for me due to high power lines in my backyard. The tower recommendation from Steve managed to work ok anyhow with the results I got up to now.
Steve always gave me good advise and usually respond promptly. Helpful too at answering questions.
More heavy antenna to install though than the CHA250 and alike. Mast ubolts are for 1-1/2 pipe only so I had to drill new holes to accomodate my 1-3/4 mast. Also the holes on the aluminum plate are way bigger than the acutal bolt size, this is to easily adjust and align the antenna when installed temporarely at ground levels. It got crooked quickly as the ubolt shifted on the support plate in the tower so I will need to drill new holes that fit the ubolt properly at right angle and put it back in the tower.
I was able to saturate the match box in digital modes on FT8 on 80m after 10-15 minutes of operation (15sec on/off) and SWR start to rise at 100W. This has not happend on 40m and other bands.
I am not disatisfied with the antenna. It is a compromise antenna for me, for my particular difficult install situation. It was cheaper than a CHA250b or a BB7V. I chose it for the longer radiating element, price (got it at a nice discount price from alpha antenna, good timing). Bought it directly from alpha antenna website and shipping was quick too to Canada. Nothing to say here.
I hope it was helpful for people that might want to install that antenna in a permanent way in a tower. Need to remember it is directionnal antenna and ground management is not as evident it may seem when installed in a tower. But it does offer workable environment, I think better than the other vertical antennas such as the CHA250b or BB7V and alike. I got better result with that antenna than a end fed random wire antenna with a 9:1 unun. |
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| W0RHD |
Rating: |
2018-12-31 | |
| 10-80M Marine Hf Alpha |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is one of Alpha's ProMaster series antennas. Although listed in the title as Marine, I went with this antenna mainly due to space limitations, cost ($219.00), and after verifying with Alpha Antenna that it could also be used as a land based antenna.
Initially had some issues getting it to work (due to operator head-space and timing). However, after a few back and forth via email with KL4QG, things began to improve. After further discussion with Steve (Alpha Antenna owner), made a few more recommended changes and couldn't be more satisfied with this no-radial vertical. Easy setup (pay attention to the directions and diagrams that come with the antenna). Highest SWR from 10M-80M is 2.3:1 when hooked up to my Kenwood TS-450S.
Customer Service - Turns out that KL4QG knows Alpha Antenna owner Steve, and before I had a chance to call Alpha Antenna, I get a call from Steve offering advice and assistance in getting me up and running. Made a few changes that Steve recommended and problems solved. Customer service with Alpha Antenna is top notch. When the owner calls and works with you, you know that customer support is as important as the product. Would definitely recommend Alpha Antenna to anyone looking for a good antenna. |
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| KL4QG |
Rating: |
2018-10-13 | |
| Grounding Pro Master |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I like edit my first review mainly the importance grounding when using Alphia Pro Master as Marine Antenna .
My Boat 41 feet and grounded to under keel copper plate
I tried KISS compromise I lost 40 % receive and transmit output very hard get contacts -
I connected all my grounds to one point and than grounded to under keel copper plate .This cuts out noise and my Boat never transmitted so good in 360 degrees using Pro Master Vert antenna with NVIS System / I sent the owner of Alpha antenna lots videos ,,,
Of my Marine hook up and me talking to Hams as far away as Australia .
Joe
KL4QG
Kodiak ,Near Island ,Alaska
I’m using 50 foot 240 Coax
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| W4GGX |
Rating: |
2018-08-29 | |
| The Alpha ProMaster is a brilliant antenna |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I am a permanently disabled veteran and took note of the 6 to 80 meter Alpha Antenna. I wanted to be able to use it for MARS and also for emergency services. After receiving the ProMaster antenna, I can say that it's a brilliant base or even portable antenna. Being a prior service infantryman, I like to assist in the development of military radio systems, as I want to help my younger brothers who are currently service abroad. So, I used a tripod with the ProMaster, and even with conditions as they are, it performed well.
Charles Newman Jr
W4GGX |
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| W0CLC |
Rating: |
2018-08-21 | |
| All around, just amazing! (for my conditions) |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Purchased close to a year ago. I wanted something to take out to the field as well as something to try against my G5RV.
I have a seriously odd lot size/location/topography. (I am about 850 above sea level but sit halfway down a steep hillside)
The alpha has out performed my G5RV (set up in an L configuration) almost every time. It is amazingly quiet on the bands I work (10, 20, and 40)
I have an IC-7300 and have hit Croatia, Spain, Mexico, Africa, Curacao, France, Canada, and Italy on 20m easily. (as well as most of the east coast)
For me, and my conditions, I simply can not say enough good things about this antenna. The customer support is amazing as well! Over the last year when I have had a few questions, I give them a call and immediately someone assists me who is friendly, patient, understanding, and knowledgeable.
If you are looking for a mobile site antenna or something 18' tall to be stealthy and the QTH - I simply can not recommend this high enough. |
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