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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
W4ETB Rating: 2008-03-08
ST HELENA OSO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just worked ZD7X on St Helena Is with my FT 2000 and the A99 on ten meters with a 59 report. I love the A99,...... Also worked PY2Dxx, PY2DU PY2SRB & PY2RMY with just 100 w.

C/U down the log.....

Ed
de W4ETB

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W4ETB on 2008-02-29

I have had my Solarcon A-99 up at ONLY 30 ft the last 15 plus years. Cut it back 11 inches [11 v. 10 meters] and it is just OUTSTANDING. 700 PLUS QSO the last six months on 10 meters. Worked the 2008 Ducie Island DEpedition on 10 meters on 17FEB08 on the first call. I do have a new Yaesu FT 2000. If you can work VP6DX, on 10 meters at the low point of the solar cycle, for ONLY $80.00 just buy one. 10-X # 65655 C/U down the log on ten meters [28400]. Best of numbers, 73
KD4LEC Rating: 2008-02-10
12 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had mine up for 12 years. 20 feet up. Have antenna restrictions but it can't be seen easily.
I can tune it down to 15M and have worked contacts there.
Most of the time if I can hear them,they can hear me.
KC2PFC Rating: 2008-01-29
A99 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the A99 for about 5 years now and used it primarily on 11 meters (Yes, I was a CB'er in my past life and still have friends there).. Now, I also have a Hustler 5BTV vert and a G5RV dipole (not including my 2 meter setup). The A99 does a great job from 10 - 17 meters and I would not use it outside these bands. This antenna is rated to work in the bands I have stated and does a good job for what it is. For the money? Much better then the 5BTV hands down in these bands..
KC6KIM Rating: 2008-01-21
20 years & still a going ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hello Everybody,

I did say 20 years! Painted it camo to blend in with a oak tree 12 years ago, used a non-conductive plastic paint. Helped seal the fiberglass.

I have had it up @ 25` at the feedpoint (base) 10,12,15,Flat SWR & 2:1.1 on 17M. Now at my new qth the same height above ground; first contact was 90 miles to Sacremento, ground wave from the coast in the Point Reyes NP.

ALLWAYS GROUND THIS ANTENNA! Get it up at the least 16`6" (half wave). I do not have the radial kit, don`t know if it is worth it... ?
M5TAW Rating: 2007-12-28
good 10m antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First of all, don't forget that this antenna was designed for 11m / 10m use. if it works beyond its design frequency, that's a bonus - just don't expect it to be as good as a dedicated antenna for that band.
The antenna is lightweight enough for mounting on a lightweight mast, construction is OK, mine has survived 3 years of typical UK weather. Can be bought for approx £50 in the UK, I think this is a fair price. I have had my fair share of worldwide contacts on 10m with it. I can hear stations on 20m - 15m but not as strong as with my Cushcraft R5 - this is exactly as expected.
NT4I Rating: 2007-12-24
Stay away from it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Junk! Period.
N2PET Rating: 2007-12-24
WORTHLESS Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This antenna has got to be one of the biggest POS ever sold. Absolute garbage.
RADIOBOB92121 Rating: 2007-10-31
Poor Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Buying a amateur radio and plugging it into the wall isn’t too difficult. Running coax along a wall and out a window or a small hole isn’t a very tough task either. You can even get it with the PL-259’s already attached. The real work when setting up your base station takes place when you have to install your station antenna. Perhaps this is one of the reasons the A99 has become a favorite antenna for those who don’t have the knowledge to install an antenna, tower, or other more complicated antenna mounts or systems. Little effort, little signal..
W8ZNX Rating: 2007-10-27
a dog Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
can not see how anybody that has used
any other ten meter antenna would rate this above poor

using it on 15 meters
tell me more lies
poor as it is on ten its even worse on fifteen

remember swr means nothing
a big 52 ohm resistor has a flat match

if you have never used a good ten meter antenna
you might just think the A99 is a good antenna

its not
quality control sucks
you may get one that works
you may get one that does not work

the one i had would not work
opened it up and found a loose connection
hell it was not even soldered

fixed it put it up
its a dog

if you want something cheap
and are to dumb or lazy to build a antenna
and don't mind having a 3 rate antenna
the Solarcon A 99 may be the antenna for you

took it down after a few months
and put up a 15 dollar swap and swindle
used ten meter Ringo

the diffrence was like night and day

the A99 is now in the land fill where it belongs

mac
W5ONV Rating: 2007-10-25
Great for me ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had mine up for 7 years now and I like it alot. I have the ground plane kit on it and it's up about 35 feet. I use it only on 10 and 15 with 1:1 SWR on both bands all the way thru.
Not bad for 79.00 bucks. 73, Jim