Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Solarcon A-99

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 : 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
M0EDY Rating: 2007-10-25
very good /cheap Time Owned: more than 12 months.
a very good and cheap ant my ic 7400 atu tunes
on 17/15/12/10 meters works well tested next to a cushcraft r5 on 10 and 15 the a99 was 1 s point higher on 17and 12 was the same
why pay more ?? for a ham ant when a cb ant works as well ??? some times better

M0NYW Rating: 2007-10-24
17M - 10M Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My friend owns one and it is mounted 6ft off the ground he uses his LDG at-11mp tuner and it will tune 20m aswel, but he did say it was crap on 20M and only uses PSK for local contacts.

But it stated it works better on 17M - 10M than his G5RV.
He has worked falklands on 12M during the day
"WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR"

I have two in the box waiting for new QTH, Just have to put up with my 20m wire in the loft!!!!
G7EMD Rating: 2007-05-21
great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have used one on the roof for 3 years ,and i have worked stations in the u.s , the pacific coast of canada and asiaic russian.
i have just mounted another at ground level and find it as good as my other one try it
KM5TC Rating: 2007-05-18
Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one in 1996, worked very well on 10m.
73's KM5TC
KB5KWO Rating: 2007-05-17
Good Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I dont have anything to compare it to but the A99 has done a great job for me. Working the world, if I could hear them, I could usually work 'em. Russia, Asia and Europe are in my 10M logbook as well as many others. It would be nice to see a side by side comparison with other radiators..but I'm keeping mine. A nice coat of car wax will slow down the fiberglass shredding and I use lock washers in between the elements to keep it tight..
..ps.. I picked up my second Antron just today. I consider it a good deal for $25.oo..
KA9GIX Rating: 2007-04-02
Ok for its purpose Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got it for CB, use it on CB, works for CB, enough said. Real hams build (or sometimes buy) antennas that work.
W2UOY Rating: 2006-12-22
Great on 20m w/radials Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A number of years ago I had set up an A99 on a water-well casing with 60 radials and low-loss coax on poor Maine soil. As a 20m ground-mounted vertical, this setup worked extremely well. It also worked fairly well on other bands with tuner. I kinda of still miss the setup because it worked DX well and I broke pile-ups.

I think any vertical will work well if properly grounded with appropriate radials, good coax and appropriate length. I think that inconsistant A99 reviews may be due to inconsistant setups. - Wayne W1UOY
ROMEODELTA1 Rating: 2006-11-28
A fair deal Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used an Antron 99 for more than fifteen years near the ocean until it started to shred. (the antenna, not the ocean) When i took it down it was still working perfectly. The reviews of A99 types are so inconsistent I can only conclude that the quality control must be bad, otherwise how could some be so good and others junk? The Solarcon A99 is reportedly an improvement quality wise. Its sold primarily as a simple, inexpensive and very effective CB antenna. If you buy it as that, its a great value. It may not suit other purposes nearly as well.
N8ERM Rating: 2006-11-20
Junk Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I guess if you had nothing to compare it with you might think it was OK. Along side any other antenna it is junk. I have a piece of 9913F7 on my tower. It is not hooked to anything. It receives as well as this antenna on 10 meters. Need I say more?
KI8DJ Rating: 2006-10-19
A-99 works just fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a solarcon a-99 and it is an excellent antenna on 10 meters sometimes outperforming my neighbors beam.This antenna is very poor on 20 meters,however it is at least as good as my mosely trap dipole on 15 meters,works good on 12,and 17 meters and is within reach of my rigs auto tuner on these bands.The construction quality is very good for the price. I know some guys that have 15 year old ones still going. I don't thik it will handle a kilowatt and it ain't any good on 20m but for $50 I have no complaints. Gary ki8dj