Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

Reviews For: AIR BOSS pneumatic antenna launcher

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : AIR BOSS pneumatic antenna launcher
Reviews: 52MSRP: 59.95
Description:
Launches line into tall trees for erecting wire antennas
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.olahtechnologies.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
35524.7
KC5TNG Rating: 2017-04-20
Tool - Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
When I got mine, it leaked air pressure. I noticed that there was no "thread tape" wrapped around the pressure gauge nor the air intake valve threads, so I removed both, wrapped thread tape around the threads and re-installed them. No more pressure leaks.
I picked up a fishing reel with 20 lb test line but had some line breakage so I replaced the 20 lb line with 30 lb test line...that ended my line breakage problem.
N2CVS Rating: 2017-04-19
It works. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've used a sling shot for putting lines over trees.
This works much better.

Two things:

make shure the valve is closed before you put the weight in the barrel. It you don't the valve could jam. The instructions tell you to close the valve but not why or when.

The instructions say to mount the reel below the barrel. All the pictures show it on the barrel.

I had no trouble getting over my trees.
Not sure of their height.
At least 60'.



K4CWQ Rating: 2017-04-17
Easy to use, accurate Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've tried slingshots and I pull off target and can't get any height. I don't trust myself with a bow and arrow, just too dangerous.
Air Boss is reasonably priced and easy to use. I pump it with a portable car tire compressor. Quickly reaches desired pressure. Release valve took some getting used to, but easy to adapt. First shot was right on target. The only fault I find is the placement of the air valve on the end of the device. I'm afraid I might bend it or break it off.
The only other device that might work better would be a drone, but that would only work if I wanted the line over the top of a tree. Air Boss makes it easy to just shoot over a limb further down the tree. I don't think a drone could be maneuvered through such close places.
K4LZA Rating: 2017-03-18
Works great - better than slingshot Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I replaced my hyper hanger with the Air Boss. Much easier to use. I took the reel off my hyper hanger and installed it on the Air Boss.

Shoots much higher than I could with the tennis ball slingshot.
K3BR Rating: 2017-03-18
This is my rifle, there are many like it....................... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I installed a picatinny rail and Trijicon ACOG reflex sight with daylight fiber optics. After laser bore sighting the AirBoss will place 1/4" MOA all day without a problem.
Just kidding about that. However, it is the very best, well constructed, and accurate line shooter I've ever used. Buy some extra sinkers.
73
W3DIY Rating: 2016-11-07
The best launcher out there Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have tried the sling shot and tennis ball launchers. Both functioned as advertised, but are not suited to launch over the poplar trees at my QTH. The trees here are 110'ft tall with large splayed out branches above 50' The A.B. sinker does not overshoot and tangle in the trees like a weighted tennis ball. The sling shot would not make it to 110'.
To clear the tree tops required maximum pressure.
BTW it comes preassembled, attach your reel and you are all set.
W0CP Rating: 2016-10-27
Worked first time Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the shakespeare reel and a few 2 oz egg sinkers, put some air into it with my compressor and fired it to get a sense of the arc. Next, I shot it over a 50 foot pine and pulled up an antenna. I was done. Very predictable and fun to use. Looking forward to trying it on FD.
K7TAA Rating: 2016-05-21
Excellent antenna tool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've used the Air Boss with the 25 lb monofilament line that came with the Shakespeare Alpha 80 reel. Based on other reviews, it may have a little more drag than the Spiderwire 30 lb line that is recommended, which I will try next. I was able to get the 2 oz. sinker within a foot of my aiming point at the top of an 80 foot evergreen on the first use. The pressure gauge indicated 55 psi. With a couple more shots, the accuracy stayed within 1-2 feet of my aiming point. I have used every method except a bow or drone to put antenna lines in trees, and this is by far the most accurate and efficient method above 45 feet.
NC3Z Rating: 2016-05-10
Great tool for a great price Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using the Airboss more and more as I string up more antennas. I am surprised how accurately I can place my shot.

Saves so much time over other methods.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by NC3Z on 2014-04-03

Just purchased the Airboss the other week and needed to get a line up much higher in a tree than I was bale to with a slingshot. I had maybe a 10' hole in the tree canopy to shoot through to get up an over a 75' tree. Wow, first shot I was able to get through the small opening and clear the tree. Now I am probably a good 30' higher.

The Airboss is simple but highly effective!
KW4CQ Rating: 2016-03-31
Jamming fixed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have upgraded my earlier review from a 2 to a 3 as a result of being able to unjam the 2 oz. lead sinker that was stuck in the barrel. I did this by cutting the barrel about 3 or 4 inches above the trigger valve and prying loose the sinker with the aid of a screwdriver. Examining the sinker closely it appeared to have some raised ridges on its sides as a result of the way it was molded. I took a flat file and filed the sinker ridges smooth and I am no longer experiencing jamming. I went to Home Depot and bought a 1-1/2 inch PVC pipe coupler and cemented it to join the barrel sections together again.
I use a quality bicycle pump which has its own accurate built in gauge to pressurize the Air Boss' air tank. I generally place 50 PSI in the tank for good clearance over my very tall oak trees. Works fine.
The very stiff trigger valve is still very stiff to operate and does spoil the shot a times. If anyone knows if some type of commercial lubricant would loosen up operation of the valve then please let me know.


----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KW4CQ on 2013-07-14

I have a 100 foot tall Oak tree that was begging for me to use for one end of an 160m OCFD wire dipole antenna. Past attempts to get a line over the top of the tree with a wrist slingshot type launcher proved to no avail. The Air Boss did the job with ease on the first attempt. I charged the pressure chamber to about 40 psi (more than needed for this tree) with my bicycle pump and it cleared the treetop by at least 50 feet, maybe a lot more. The Air Boss is great for the occasional antenna project or for field day use. Get one for your club use and share the cost. A quality designed and manufactured product Made in the USA.