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Reviews For: Maxcon OCF Dipole

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Maxcon OCF Dipole
Reviews: 45MSRP: 79.95
Description:
Hand-built off-center fed dipole complete
and ready to hang with 3KW 4:1 current
balun. Operates 10-12-17-20-40-80 meters
without tuner exhibiting low SWR. Total
length 123 feet (88x45).
Product is in production
More Info: HTTP://WWW.MAXCONUS.COM
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00454.9
W2PP Rating: 2022-07-23
Actually are broad banded with low SWR- Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As always I call em like I see em. Check out my other reviews.

Works as advertised. Low SWR and broad banded, well made and durable.

\Yep they actually work.
Peter
K4MK Rating: 2022-05-14
Excellent OCF antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I' ve been using the Maxcon model OCF-5K-160 for several years. I got it primarily to replace a 160 meter dipole that came down in a storm. I installed it with a 4:1 balun and a line isolator and placed it at the 100 foot level on the tower. The performance on the bands it was designed to cover has been great. I do not have or use antenna tuners, so I was pleased to find that one was not needed. The SWR is very acceptable, and is even usable on 30 meters. As I will probably be downsizing soon, this will be the antenna that I will most likely keep, while removing the yagis and other wire antennae. In 66 years, this is the only wire antenna I have purchased instead of making my own, and I'm quite pleased with it.
W3LI Rating: 2022-05-14
Poor performance on 30 and 40M Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I took the time to follow the center and end heights above ground as per the the instruction information. Raising the ends made no difference. OK on 20M and up.
Using the external ant tuner I was able to use it on 80,40, and 30.
KX2T Rating: 2022-05-13
It works! Best Antenna Buy out Today! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just moved our QTH from LI,NY to the west coast of Florida, for many years I have been using a HB modified ZS6BKW at my last QTH and it has worked very well for a simple multi band wire without the use of a tuner. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and after getting most of the house belonging moved and set up it was time to put the shack room together, I spend more time on station grounding and lightning protection cause this state has lots of T storms almost daily. I Ordered one of the Maxon 80 threw 10 OCF wire antennas which after 50 years in this hobby this is maybe a first for me cause I have always built my own wires. This antenna is built very well, the balun seems rugged, the wire used with the two conductor multi strand wire looks like something the telephone companies use for a drop line and everything is well crimped ready to go. I installed the center about 60ft up and the ends are over 45ft up broadside E/W and did use a better quality RG8X with non contaminating jacket, 98% tinned copper shield plus aluminum foils, this coax is rated for 1.3Kw at 30mhz and feed the antenna at the top then droops down to the base of the pine then buried to a switch box
then about 60ft of RG213 to the shack. No RFI had been detected and the SWR on this antenna is fantastic under 2:1 on every band except 30&15 meters. I don't do any FT8 so everything is old school SSB and CW so for the little time its been up I have worked bot US/Canadian/Mexico contact along with some DX on 75/40/20/17/10 and even some US east coast on six during the contest. I am very impressed with this simple to install easy to use multi band antenna and for its coast its a no brainier cause for $79.95 you cannot buy decent wire and a good balun for this kind of money these days, Maxcon did an excellent job!

This is over 2 year update, I decided to upgrade to his New Higher power model, same antenna but a bigger balun that will handle more power with ease around 1.5Kw. I don't run that type of power just around 1Kw but ya never know when a good used legal limit amp comes by. This antenna is amazing, easy to feed and no ladder line that changes swr during heavy rain plus the swr is very acceptable. On 80m its resonate at 3.6 and 1.5 at 3.750 creeps up around 2:1 around 3.850 and over 2:1 at the high end. On 40m again lowest at 7.05 and 1.3 around 7.150 then 1.5 at 7.3, 20m its 1.5 at the low end at 14.005 1.2 at 14.2 and 1:1 at 14.350. On 17m its 1.3 almost across the whole band and it doesn't seem to have any real swr performance on 15m which is over 3:1 but 10m its around 1.5 or lower around the first 1 megacycle and slightly higher above 29.1. I now have a 2 element Hy Gain tribander for 10,15&20m but still use the OCF for times I need to pick up someone from another direct fast instead of swinging the beam around, the beam is always better but there are times that the OCF does a very good job. The performance on 40&75 meters is really good, no its not a pair of phased verticals or dipoles but its not that far down and on 40 it acts almost like an extended Zep but with broader patterns but on 75m it works as good as a standard dipole but with far better bandwidth. I am very pleased with this product, I have always built my own antennas but this worked great out of the box and has seen some harsh rain and wind storms but is still standing. His higher power OCF is just under $150 USD and is rated at 2Kw CW 3Kw SSB at 100% duty cycle, I like having an overkill rating so if you have to use a tuner for touch up there is no worries.
K4STI Rating: 2022-05-13
Excellent antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finally found a dipole that really works without the need of a tuner, most bands stay pretty closed to 1:1.
I recommend this antenna, just be sure that you have the space for it, I'm using a 60 feet tower, but you can find a tall tree and do the same.
I purchased the 3kw version, but haven't test the antenna with an amp yet.
N9AMI Rating: 2022-03-19
Could be better Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The antenna is okay for the appliance operator but the balun did not hold up using 300 watts AM on 75 meters. It would heat up and I would slowly watch the VSWR go up. So after opening up the balun I was not very impressed by the craftmanship. And the antenna wire is some sort of odd twin wire deal. Its not anything like flexweave. I am sure it works for some but I can't recommend this antenna. I went and built my own with 2 240/61 cores belden polythermalize wire covered with the proper tubing and that has held up to 1KW am. This antenna might light on fire. If you upgrade your baluns which means you will have to up your price then you will have an antenna that will last years of abuse.
KA4ETV Rating: 2022-02-14
Best Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have had OCF-2K75-S working for around 4 years. It's been a great performing antenna. Added 160 with the OCF-5K160. Nothing wrong with the original but wanted the 160 coverage. Now running two of these fantastic antennas. These are top quality. A previous reviewer noted they are "overbuilt" That's a fact. Nice components, durable, hand made. Nothing mass produced here. Looking forward to switching back and forth between these two and my other antennas. My advice would be to buy one. You will not be disappointed.
WB8CAC Rating: 2020-11-01
Absolutely love this antenna. The isolator... not so much. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
For years I ran a 40 meter dipole at 35 ft and an 80 dipole at 12 ft. I had to do something to improve 80. A couple friends were running the OCF-3K80 with great results on multiple bands. I ordered one and the Maxcon isolator.

I put up the combination at 35 ft as in inverted V. The antenna worked well but had extremely high reflected power on 80 and 40. I used it with a tuner until able to make improvements. Neither of my OCF friends were running the isolator. Instead they wound coaxial chokes on toroids. I wound the choke they described and waited for help to change out the choke (too old to climb ladders these days). I finally got the new choke up. I no longer need the tuner for anything other than the 75 meter phone band.

Everyone familiar with my signal, for the last few years, say the improvement, with the OCF-3K80 is nothing short of amazing. I'm quite happy!!!
K4CWQ Rating: 2019-12-07
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought my Maxcon about a month ago to have an antenna to work most HF bands. I mounted it as an inverted-V, with apex at 30 feet.
I’m well pleased with results, with SWRs as good or better than advertised. Have received many great signal reports.
This antenna is ruggedly built, with strong metal buckle wire connections, water-resistant balun. I also bought the line isolator. The price is about half that of other similar OCF antennas.
I highly recommend this antenna to anyone who wants a dependable, rugged wire antenna. Can’t beat it for the price. Ready to put up, right out of the box. Fast shipping.
W4UV Rating: 2019-11-24
CQ WW CW Results Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I typically build my own antennas, including verticals, wires and beams. I've heard people using this antenna on 75/80 meters and wanted to get one to use for this band primarily. For the price, I decided just to buy this one. This antenna is built very well. I ordered the line isolator as well. The antenna center is at about 45 feet and the ends at 30 feet high. This weekend was the CQ WW CW contest, so I decided to just use this antenna exclusively. I'm not serious about contesting and never submit logs. I worked a total of 83 DXCC entities with this antenna since the contest started Friday night. That says it all. The bands I worked were 15, 20, 40 and 80. If I would have invested more time, I'm sure I could have broke the 100 DXCC count in one weekend. As I write this the contest is still taking place. These antennas perform excellent for a multi-band antenna.