Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Diamond V2000 Antenna

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Diamond V2000 Antenna
Reviews: 47MSRP: 150 - $175 Average (2/2003)
Description:
Tri band (6m/2m/70cm) omnidirectional base station antenna.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15474.4
N2CLB Rating: 2008-04-08
top notch Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have this on top my tower for repeater use and local simplex fm and i will have to say for that it is a 5/5 now if you are looking for something to dx on 6M with this is not what you are looking for i had a ham ask me how well it worked for that it's a 1/5 for dx on 6M get a yagi like a M2 6M5X for that hope this helps.

73,
Camden
N2CLB
KC2FTN Rating: 2007-12-29
7+ years now Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As I mentioned in my first review a few years back, this antenna is EXCELLENT! It has been totally encapsulated with about 1/2" of ice during the winter which made it unusable for a couple of days, but that's not the antennas fault. Mine's mounted about 33' from the ground to the antenna tip, and I can work simplex stations out to about 25 miles with 10 or so watts on FM. Additionally, I've worked about 15 or so states with 100 watts on 6-meter FM, and this antenna does fine on 70cm as well. If you're looking for a good tri-band vertical, you've found it.
K3ICH Rating: 2007-10-13
Easy FIX for SIX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am hesitant to give this antenna a "5", but after an easy fix, it DOES work great on all bands. To me, their ad implies that it is a compromise. "Similar in construction to the X200A dual band, the VX2000A has an additional counterpoise radial - adjustable for 6M...". The simplest of logic and antenna theory will tell you that an antenna like this with only one shortened radial will be directional. I found it to be just that way, having a slight edge in the direction of the radial. The SWR was a bit squirely on six also. That, plus the performance on six was acceptable for this less than ideal configuration. However, there seemed to be a way to improve it.

Since that loaded radial appeared to be the root of the antenna's problems on six, I added the three radial section from an old (chicken band ??) ground plane with the radials cut for 52 MHz. The GP was designed to mount on a small mast, so it fit perfectly a couple inches below the V2000A's normal own radials. I probably didn't need to, but I ran a braided ground strap from the GP mounting plate to the screw on the Diamond that holds the antenna in it's mount. Up close, it looks kludgy, but up in the air it looks OK. I also removed the loaded 6m radial and substituted a straight 19 inch threaded rod to match the other two.

The SWR on six is now flat from 52 to 54 MHz and the antenna does not appear to be directional. Performance on 146 & 440 are not changed.
W8HDU Rating: 2007-04-22
My luck with the V2000 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've got two of the V2000 antennas. They are OK, but the vertical beam is a bit wide, leading to lower gain. It didn't stop me from working some 52.525 FM skip one day. There is a reason they call six meters the magic band.

My first attempt to use the V2000 was in a side mount on a tower. That failed. There was too much reflections between the antenna and the tower, and doing a graph of SWR reading across the band showed it to have some real peaks and valleys in VSWR.

I also found out, (the hard way), that the antenna does not like any near field objects. When the antenna was on a pole by the garage, again there were hills and valleys in the VSWR. However, just twenty feet away was a utility pole with both grounds and cable TV & phone coming down the pole.

The antenna works the best when mounted on the top of a pole, and making sure that the pole is grounded. My first attempt at top mounting was not as good as I hoped, and I needed to do some tuning to the antenna, centering the match on 52.525. This took a little time to do as I had to put the antenna on a temp pole and have a friend hold it up in free space while I took a measurement. Finally, the match settled in to 1.125 : 1.0 at 52.525, and at my repeater input frequency of 53.630 I had a 1.211 : 1.00.

I've run up to 100 watts (FM) into it, and it seems pretty stable. I think the biggest two things about this antenna is that it be in clear open space, on the top of a pole with nothing within 40 feet of it. And, tuning is critical, but tuning has to be done in free space. At least put the antenna on a temp roof mount. Trying to tune it in the back yard at ground level won't work.

And, yes, Diamond is one of THOSE companies that don't seem to helpful. I've e-mailed them and written to them, and have yet to receive a reply. I have no opinion what they don't respond, but because of it, my newer antennas were all purchased from Comet, M2, and Telex.
KI4CRA Rating: 2007-02-25
Superb Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my V2000 for almost 3 years now. I still have it up approximately 33-34'. I pull it down once a year go over everything makeing sure it is right and tight. I have NEVER had any problems with this antenna. The V2000, does extremely well on 2m/70cm. it also does extremely well on 6 meter FM. I read the instructions, and where they give you 3 or 4 settings for thr 6 mtr radial I just added them together divided by the number of settings and got my length haven't touched it since.
I would reccomend this antenna to anyone who wants an antenna that will give you the preformance you are looking for!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KI4CRA on 2004-10-17

I've had my Diamond V200A for about 4 months now, have been using it steadily now for about 2 months, had to take it down for a month or so due to those nasty hurricanes that hit the Vero Beach/Sebastion last month. Having said that this antenna is outstanding! I've used several antennas for 6/2/& 440, most have done OK, however the V2000, does extremely well. I have it mounted on a 30' pushup pole with an additional 5' added to that, all in all its up 35'- 37'. On 2m and 70cm the antenna does very well, I'm hitting repeaters that I haven't been able to hit before. Now then, on to 6m, this is where the antenna really shines. Although it is very narrow banded it does exceptionaly well for what is designed to do. While there are very few 6 meter repeaters in our area, 2 in fact- one local and one about 50 miles away. Our local repeater I could hit with a coat hanger if I were so inclined, thats how close it is to my QTH. As for the other repeater that is 50 or so miles away, I've used my GAP Challenger, a homebrew 6 meter beam, all to no avail. I cranked this puppy up and lo and behold BANG the very first time I hit this repeater that has elude me for over a year now. Did some expeimentation, I tried hitting this repeater at varying wattage. I can hit this repeater consistantly with 10 watts power! I do so like this antenna, Diamond has a great antenna at a decent price (shop around, I got mine for $145). Now that we don't don't have to worry about hurricanes (I hope and pray), I would like to get an antenna party together, and put this baby up about 45'-50' and see what she does then. I'll keep you all posted. 73 all,

Mark AI4HO
KR4K Rating: 2007-01-23
Excellent for FM Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have base at 56 ft. Using TS-2000, 100 W typical, 100 ft. LMR-400.
I got it to work repeaters and simplex in the texas Hill Country. Works well on all 3 bands. 2m Simplex range typically is 30-35 miles to mobile, which is good given the hilly terrain. Can talk to a mobile 2m simplex in Austin. No problem using 6m, 2m, and 3/4m repeaters over the entire area.
Wanted one antenna to put at top of tower for FM, and it does the job.
N3RSJ Rating: 2006-04-03
V-200A good for VHF/UHF ONLY! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I originally got the v-2000a used in mint condition at a local hamfest for a bit less then a new one everything was complete with it.I installed it and got poor results SWR on 2M OK,70CM OK /6M 3.1 almost like it was'nt for 6M?
I checked the tunable trap it was ok the leangth was adjusted around 22 inch for 6 Meters but SWR was rocking but 2.1 at 53.995? so the groundplane was not long enough so I extened it to 47 inches in order to get that 2.1 SWR to a freq of 52.000.
But cannot run anymore then 20 watts or SWR goes up? diamond would'nt comment me? I als tried cross band repeating the antenna desenses it's self!From 2m to 70cm or 2m to 6m? But not from 6M to 70CM.Used DR610TQ AND FT-8900R for this test.
I also had RF into stereo system audio amp and satalitte system from transmitting off this antenna?I just aquired a DB201 folded groundplane tunned it and no high noise level as compared to the V-2000A and greater transmit signal both into a repeater and simplex then the v-2000A I am so happy now I have had my experinces with other diamond antennas and had no previous complaints
best to buy a ringo AR-6 6m vertical I have one up on a simplex link and it's a performer!
AFTER SEEING WHAT A DIFFERANCE THE DB201 (decible Products) makes I removed the 6 m trap off th v-2000A aded an old ground plane from a x-500 that lightning dismantalled last year an d v-2000 is a great 2m 70cm antenna now. my experince on it don't bother getting one. x-500 is an exallent antenna for dual band op's 73's
WR1H Rating: 2006-03-27
Bad Experience. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am very disapointed with the antenna.

I have had it since 2000 and I have used it very very little. I recently started to use it, and noticed that my power output was fluctuating as well as my receive strength.

Checked / Replaced connectors, cables. No improvement.

Checked antenna, could not find anything wrong.

Replaced it with a Comet. Everything was good.
K1ECW Rating: 2006-03-12
Excellent Value & Performance Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had mine up for about 6 months and it rocks!

The Diamond v2000 is mounted on a 70 foot tower atop an array of Cushcraft 26B2 2 meter FM boomers. I use it for omni reception and then move the array to improve the incoming signal.

The v2000 usually gives about 2-3 "S" units below the highly directional boomer array. I haven't worked a station on the boomer array that I didn't work on the v2000, too. The array makes the very weak ones easier on the ears.(It makes you wonder if $1000 worth of antennas, rotor, cable, etc. is worth it!)

I've tried the Comet line (i.e., GP-9, etc.) but definitely prefer the v2000 for its size, price, and performance. In fact, you're better off with the smaller height (i.e., 6 ft. vs. 17 ft.) in storms and you don't miss a couple of db gain difference when compared to the taller VHF / UHG verticals. My v2000 has withstood 90 mile per hour wind gusts and sustained winds of 50-60 mph with no problems.

The assembled SWR readings were: 1.3:1 - 2 meters, 1.3:1 - 70 cm, and 1.2:1 - 6 meter FM portion of the band. It DOES NOT detune in wet weather.

If you like VHF / UHF FM, want good performance, and don't want to spend a small fortune, this is the antenna for you.

N8RGQ Rating: 2006-01-25
One of the best! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ran the V-2000 for over 12 years , I set the 6m ssb omni 1/2 wave below the V-2000 to reinforce the groundplane on it. The swr never went above a 1.8 across the whole 6m band! On 2m and 70cm the swr never went above 1.3! I have worked from cuba to canada with this antenna! I tryed the comet gp-15 it was no where near as good as this one. The V-2000 was the best $120 I ever spent on a antenna ! I wish I could give it a 10!