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Reviews For: Solarcon A-99

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Solarcon A-99
Reviews: 204MSRP: 57.99
Description:
10-20M Vertical Antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
152043.6
G8JNJ Rating: 2010-05-10
Actual Gain Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After so much discussion on EHam I actually measured the field strength of a signal radiated by a Solarcon A-99.

All measurements were made with the antennas ground mounted and fed against 16 mixed length buried radials.

In order to minimise any slight mismatch problems with the transceiver across the wide frequency range I fed all the antennas via a 3dB power attenuator at the base. The measured gain figures have been corrected for this.

The A-99 was compared against 1/4 wave verticals cut for each band mounted in the same position.

All levels were measured with a spectrum analyser connected to a 1m diameter balanced loop with a 3dB attenuator at the feed point, and mounted approx 10m away from the antenna under test.

Note that these gain figures should only be used as a guide, as the measurements were made in urban environment, not on a professional test range.

Small gain improvements on 18 & 14MHz could probably be made by using an external antenna tuner. However the internal matching network is likely to become increasingly less efficient at lower frequencies.

Frequency Gain relative to 1/4 wave SWR

28MHz +2dB 1.05:1
24MHz +1.0dB 3.5:1
21MHz 0dB 1.8:1
18MHz -3dB 5.8:1
14MMHz -10dB 27.0:1

More details can be seen about 1/2 way down this page.

http://g8jnj.webs.com/currentprojects.htm
NZ5L Rating: 2010-05-09
Overrated Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Since my first review of this antenna, I have had a chance to own and use three other commercial verticals designed for multi-band amateur service. They all performed better, by one to two "S" units, then the A-99. This seemed to be the case even on 10 Meters, for which that antenna was designed.
I now believe that my results in '02 must have been skewed by a then-friendly ionosphere, and suspect other favorable reviews may have been similarly influenced. Under the right conditions, a wet clothesline will produce contacts. (Not likely at present - May/'10).
I have "recycled" my A-99, and would not presently buy another, nor would I recommend it to anyone other than a CB operator. You would do better to erect a standard dipole. At any reasonable height, it would perform rings around the A-99. I am not casting aspersions on all verticals here, but have concluded, after several years, that there is nothing at all special about this design.
WA5ZKO Rating: 2010-03-02
not bad so far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a Solarcon A99 at a thrift store in Kerrville, Tx for $15. I didn't think it would do much after reading the reviews here and at DXZone. But, being curious about this antenna I mounted it this afternoon at a height of 15 feet off ground and no radials.

I am using a FT990 with builtin tuner, So far, I have been able to tune this antenna 20m-10m with no problems and low SWR on all 5 bands.

To really try it out, I went to 20m this afternoon and found TI8M trying out his station before the ARRL DX Phone contest. Nice pileup and I was able to bust through! He gave me a 59 and he was a solid 59+ here.

Then I went to 17m and worked 6Y5WJ on cw with a 559 report. Not great, but not too bad with 100w and this antenna.

I plan on using this antenna during the phone contest this weekend. If I can bust phone pileups with 100w and this antenna, it will work for me!!
KB3PXZ Rating: 2010-01-02
just works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought it about 2 1/2 years ago to use as a cb antenna but quickly got bored with cb. After about 4 months I had my general ticket and started using it for HF. With mt LDG AT100 tuner I can tune to 40meters although I haven't made any contacts that far down. I live in Maryland and my log is full of 10/20m contacts from California to Maine,Canada and most of Europe too. Just in the last few days I've worked Califonia,Germany,Netherlands Italy and Mass. Not too shabby for a cb antenna

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KB3PXZ on 2008-09-12

I have had this antenna for a year now and find it to work very well on 10 meters. I have an LDG at100 protuner that will allow me to get down in the 20 meter range. The antenna went through a couple of bad storms this summer that took out trees all over my area but its still standing. It is mounted on a 24 ft pole. My log is full of contacts I made all over the midwest, the southern US and one in western Canada from my Maryland QTH. I just talked to the Maritime net controller down in TX a few days ago with no problems on 14.300 mhz. For the price I don't see how anyone can badmouth it
N0MUD Rating: 2009-12-20
So what if it's a CB antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Yup so what, it works great on 10 meters. This last field day here in Colorado Springs back up against the mountains I had my Antron 99 up about 20 feet or so and one of my field day contacts was Puerto Rico. I had one and sold it, and remembered my cousin had one I got it from him for free and all I had to do was sand the fiber glass and then painted it sky blue. I will keep it because when I go camping I take it with me along with my Comet CP-9 and when up in the high country I set up both. If you can find an Antron 99 somewhere either pay no more than $50.00 to free and you can't go wrong. If the rings haven't been touched then the antenna should be well within the low SWR's, otherwise be very careful in tuning the antenna, it tunes very nice. So have fun and enjoy your antenna.

Mike, NØmud
KF4RDF Rating: 2009-12-20
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hams should be more objective on antennas. The A-99 works very well on 10 thru 17 meters.
For the price you can not beat it. I have used one for years. It is a 1/4 wave on 20 meter with with a ground plane.
Also you should not review something you have not tried.
Just because it is cheap and not a mega dollar bunch of metal and wire does not exclude it from the ranks of very usable antennas.
Try one before you make fun of it. The laugh maybe on you who give such nonobjective reviews.
73s
WB4JHS Rating: 2009-10-27
A99 at CQ WW Contest Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one of these mounted up 15 feet strapped flush against to a palm tree to hide it and painted green adn brown and grounded. During the CQ WW I heard them all for the most part and worked EU, west Africa, Gallapagos to SA andd the Carib area on 100 watts. Not bad for the current solar cycle. IF you don't like yours...email me and maybe I'll buy it when this one fails. It has been up there for about 4 years. All the best WB4JHS jmahagan@bellsouth.net
KA0AGC Rating: 2009-10-20
I give the 99 a 100% Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just had to step in here on the 99. I have had three of them and they work well. Yes there mostly used for 11 meters BUT they do work well on other bands. I use them on 28, (29,FM), 17, 24, 21, MHz with no problem. Tune the two black rings both of them to just one twist from the very top. There you can work the about freq with no problem. Sunday I was trying to work KL5O on 21.274 I moved thu all the antenna and got a 5x9 on the 99. Yes it's just wire in the sky but it's a proven work horse when the bands open on 28 Mhz you will enjoy the 99. I have work many a DX station on 17 meters with the 99 also. I don't used the radial kit but I can see it helping. It's a cheap way for a new ham to get on the air. The only problem that I have had is in the Florida sun after there up for a couple of years you will need to be careful when taking them down or you will have a hand full of fiberglass in your hands. Just mix up some rosin and re coat the 99. When you put the radial kit on don't tighten down the radial arms too tight use blue lock tight and snug them. I have seen many of the radial arms busted of because of over tight them and a year late when you take it down snap they go.
K9FON Rating: 2009-10-20
Of course hams will down it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Its because it is marketed as a CB antenna thats why and we all know what seasoned hams think of ANYTHINg related to CB! My opinion is it is a decent enough atenna to get me on some local 10 meter nets. It works on 12 and 15 as well but it is mediore at best on any other bands.
W3TEZ Rating: 2009-08-30
very picky Time Owned: more than 12 months.
works great on 11 meters, okay, these antennas are only made for 11 meters, even though it says its made for 10,11,12,15,17 meters, i think thats a lie. I have a mfj 945e tuner in line with this antenna and i use my president hr2510 and hr2600 alot. This antenna will work great and tune to a flat swr on 29MHz and 27MHz, but the swr on 28MHz is 1:7, and i tried 12 meters, that don't work good at all either. So next spring or summer, this antenna is coming down and i am throwing it in the garbage.