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Reviews For: Radio Works Carolina Windom 80 Compact

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Radio Works Carolina Windom 80 Compact
Reviews: 6MSRP: $189.95
Description:
A full coverage 80-6 plus WARC Carolina Windom that is only 69 feet long.
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0064.8
AB4PP Rating: 2021-06-08
Very Good. Highly satisfied. Great asset to my station. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I put this antenna up in the back yard between two trees because I did not have enough length to put up the full length windom I have in the garage. I put it up at 50 feet and work the world with it. I have a HEX beam up at 45 feet and compare the signals with it and a Vertical with 36 radials and this antenna hears sometimes when I do not hear on the other two antennas. Very happy with it. I had a Carolina Beam up for over 20 years and it was set up with the ends folded to 16 feet and it was a lot better performer but at the new house I did not have the same amount of room. Very Happy with this antenna. I wish I could get another one for a backup. It is not very good on 10 and 12 meters but works well on all the other bands. With the recent openings on 10 and 6 meters it has made quite a few contacts but the hex beam does hear better on both of those bands and 12 is not a good ear. Very good for NVIS on 80 and 40 meters is one of the best ears!! Highly recommend it for space saver antenna.
K9YR Rating: 2016-01-30
Fit my lot size Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I needed a multiband wire antenna that fit inside my lot size of 75 feet wide. The apex is up at 35 feet, and it is almost horizontal as I have a lot of trees. The antenna is very poor on 10 and 12 meters for some reason, but works really well on 15, 17, 20, 40 and 80. Since I like 10 meters I had to put up an alternate vertical antenna. I have worked some decent dx on 15,20 and 40 ssb with 100 watts. Haven't used 30 or 60 meters yet. Great ragchew antenna on 75 meters for local communications. A bit expensive but built well.
W1JWD Rating: 2016-01-21
Well made, good materials Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got this last week after reading great reviews both here on eHam and other websites. Caveat: I have not yet deployed it, but just wanted to add my comments that the company gives good service and uses high quality materials in the construction on this highly modified dipole antenna. Will post again once I have deployed and used it on the air.
WA7KPK Rating: 2015-07-05
Does the job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For a couple of years I made contacts with a homebrewed 40 meter dipole at a height that made low-flying sparrows nervous. It worked decently enough for the most part, but wasn't worth a lick below 7 MHz, and I wanted something that would allow me to check in to some local public service nets on 75 meters. After a bit of research I decided to give the Carolina Windom 80 Compact a try. It required less than 70 feet of space, a must for my suburban yard, and I max out at 200 watts PEP on SSB, so power levels weren't a concern. Getting it the recommended 30 feet in the air would be a challenge, and in fact it maxes out at about 27, which doesn't allow the vertical radiator to be exactly vertical, but what is ham radio without a challenge? Thanks to three friends I had the CW80 Compact up in the air after two Saturday antenna parties.

I'm happy to say it meets me needs quite well. The first day I had it up (much lower than it is now) I worked Hungary on 20m JT65 along the gray line with about 20 watts. Since then I've worked Thailand, Ukraine, Venezuela, Brazil, Hawaii and New Zealand, as well as all over Europe, Japan and Australia and more states than I care to count. Signal reports are consistently good, both on the air and from PSK Reporter.

And oh yeah, now I can check into those 75 meter nets.
KB4OIF Rating: 2014-12-30
A five all the way Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ran one of these for about 2 years till my maple tree ate it during a really bad windstorm. Still have it but had to cut some branches out of the maple that made the better half a little mad. OK, a lot mad. Had mine at 38 feet. Limited length of the yard makes it a great antenna for me. Will probably purchase another one after the new year. My 590's internal tuner had NO problems with the tuning. Was not surprised at the construction as the one it replaced was a 40 LP from Jim at Radio Works.
N5TEH Rating: 2014-10-18
Excellent Antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
With limited space and a desire to have a multiband wire antenna that would work well on 80 and 75 meters, I've found the Radio Works Carolina 80 Compact to fit the bill. First, when ordering the antenna, I found Radio Works helpful and prompt in filling my order and in delivery. The antenna was packaged well, included good instructions, and even included an generous amount of waterproofing tape. As I opened up the package and began the process of preparing the antenna for raising, I was pleasantly pleased with the build quality--this antenna is made well!

Installed as a flattop at about 33 feet, the performance has been excellent. I also have a 33 foot Zero-Five vertical with 60 radials so I've been able to do some A-B testing and I've generally experienced a 2 S-unit improvement over the vertical.

When I first installed the Carolina Windom 80 Compact I noticed a little R.F. in my shack on 40 and 15 meters so I constructed an air choke and connected it near the input of the isolator which eliminated my problem.

For a short wire antenna I don't think one could do better. I'm very impressed and would recommend this antenna or any of the Radio Works products. The 80 Compact is a keeper!