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Reviews For: Outbacker Perth Plus

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Outbacker Perth Plus
Reviews: 28MSRP: 329
Description:
HF, 6m, 2m mobile antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.outbacker.biz/index.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00283.5
N0AH Rating: 2009-06-06
@nd Outback FB like 1st- Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is my second Outback antenna. I got my first one at the Dayton convention in 1995. Lasted 8 years. This was the Outback Jr. It worked the world and so far, the Perth Plus has gotten off to a good start. First QSO from Denver was with KH6CB registering 59 and that was before I really had a chance to ground the antenna. I just ran a 1/2 inch ground strap from the car chassis to the fly lead (The antenna ground wire...not all that well explained in manual which is really so-so). Works FB. Not sure why some have complained but my guess is that they may not have extended the stinger out completely. I bought this used. Using three foot magnetic roof mount. Needs an improved manual or I would give it a 5......
N5WRX Rating: 2008-03-16
OK but not the best Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The Perth is OK but is way over priced.
As with any mobile antenna bigger is better.
ANY antenna longer than the Perth (like ham stick or hustler) will transmit a stronger signal.
That is a law of physics.
The Perth is well built and works OK but it is just not cost effective.
VK6XH Rating: 2008-02-01
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My Outbacker covers 80-10 mtrs plus the local Australian HF radphone frequencies and Flying Doctor frequencies too.
It works !!!
I set the whip to give best swr at 7075 and it covers ALL the other bands!!!
I use it daily and it just performs!
I've just bought a Tarheel 200hf but it will only be used when I cant risk it being stolen off the bull
bar on my car.The tarheel has the advantage of me not needing to get out of the car to change bands but the Outbacker just seems to be an ideal daily antenna.
good Antenna!!!!
73 Keith VK6XH
KA3NXN Rating: 2007-06-13
AWESOME Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a 3 magnet mount on top of my Expedition. The trick is NOT to wind the wander lead tightly around the shaft. If you do this, it will introduce additional inductance to the antenna and make it almost impossible to tune. I use it with my FT-817 and worked Texas from central Virginia on battery power, which I found out if the factory setting is left in the rig it cuts back the power output to 2.5 watts to conserve battery. I also worked an EA station with this set up. Both contacts were on 20 & 17 meters respectively.
K6USN Rating: 2007-06-13
Works well for me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have both the Outbacker Tri Split and the
Outreach models. I use them with mag mounts
for temporary mobile work (parked), and mostly for portable operations around the USA and the South Pacific. This is NOT a review of mobile performance, as I don't use them for that.

Workmanship is superb, as it should be in this price class. The Tri Split works DX from hotel balconies with ease, and breaks down for air travel to just 24 inches. The Outreach really produces DX for me! I use a small tripods for both, and some 16'4" coax braid ground leads with Anderson Power powels for mixing and matching lengths for best SWR.

The radio (and antenna) you use is the one you bring along, and I can't think of a more simple
and effective antenna in this category than the
Outbacker. I use mine with both a FT 817 and also my IC 7000 with great enjoyment.

Allen
K6USN
ZK1USN
KC5VOA Rating: 2007-05-28
outstanding Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hooked up the perthplus to my Icom706mkII. SWR was fine. Started at low rf pwr-Level:3 (Approx 30 watts?). From Houston area on 20 meters, I made contacts in the first 15 minutes in Ohio,L.A., Arlington VA, and Florida. I didn't have a pad in my car to write down the calls and cities, I was only testing and I never expected the antenna to perform this well. With the low pwr and transmitting from my car, I was hoping maybe Lousianna or north Texas. Not the outer-reaches of the continental U.S. Excellent investment. Working (2) jobs, Im not available to work the other bands at the proper time of day, so 20 meters is all I tested it on. That's why I'm not giving it a [5] rating. Love the ant.
NM4M Rating: 2006-07-13
Great antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have owned my PerthPlus for over 6 months now. Have used it with my SGC2020 and my LDG AT-11. It is a well built, tough antenna. I use mine with a magnet mount on my truck. I have made several contacts to the Virgin Islands, running only 20 watts. I would recomend it because all the bands are on one, low profile antenna. Gene NM4M
KE4AMQ Rating: 2006-02-27
junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
this is the second outbacker i purchased i didnt like the first but i did it again,,i guess um just stupid..i will try some of the suggestions i read in the reviews, but i dont believe there will be any changes in my ideas about this junk antenna. its a great design if it worked...
W5LXG Rating: 2005-11-13
Miserable performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Been ham 47 yrs. Experienced with Hamsticks and Hustlers. Always looking for better antennas...Perth was NOT. Struggled to achieve decent SWR on various bands. Always had to slide the stinger whip to different lengths on different bands.After achieving a degree of low SWR,bandwidth was shorter and reports poor. Find Hamsticks best of all...easily adjustable, low SWR attainable and bandwidth as advertised.The sales price is unbelieveable. If you don't want single band antenna, buy screwdriver type, NOT AD Perth!
N2GDU Rating: 2005-11-04
Great Antenna - Five Star Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased the outbacker perth plus and the matching tripod from a friend of mine. Had it now for two years. It worked just fine, mostly using 40 & 20 meters for contacts here in the US. Just had only a few European contacts. Always set up with the tri pod on a grassy area hooked up with RG8X coax to my 706,and gel cell 27ah battery power. Used it on field days and lighthouse events. It worked ok but needed to take it off line and switched to a G5RV with much better results.
Then I read the previous posting by K3GO..... DO NOT WRAP THE JUMPER WIRE Round and Round the antenna body. Just have a turn or two and let it hang loose. When you wrap it 4-8 turns to LOOK NICE you in effect add inductance and CHANGE the tuning of the antenna.
*******************************
I read it and took his advice and he is 100% correct... IT IMPROVED THE PREFORMANCE TEN FOLD!!! The antenna NOW WORKS GREAT !!! Now... I can easily work Europe here at my NY State QTH and got a 57 from a Japan station and a 58 from an Alaskan station. So take it from John K3GO and now me ...... Just remember to leave the jumper wire turns out of it!!(use less turns), and you will get NICE flat SWR curves and great performance.

73 Luke N2GDU