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Reviews For: Alpha Delta DX-SWL/SWL-S SWL Slopers (MW-30 MHz)

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Alpha Delta DX-SWL/SWL-S SWL Slopers (MW-30 MHz)
Reviews: 3MSRP: 120.00
Description:
The Alpha Delta DX-SWL Sloper antenna offers exceptional features and performance! Hams have been using slopers for years because slopers offer some unique advantages not found in other antennas. Sloper (or slant) antennas require only one elevated support (25 feet (7.6 meters) or higher) while dipoles require two elevated supports. The DX-SWL Sloper offers coverage of the 90 and 120 meter bands, bands often "forgotten" by other antennas plus medium wave (AM) too!


Alpha Delta DX-SWL-S shortened version - only 40 feet (12.5 meter) long covering the 90 through 13 meter bands.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pdf/DX-SWL%20installation%20instructions2.pdf
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0034.7
N6JPG Rating: 2022-04-04
Big Improvement Over Straight Longwire Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this antenna in anticipation of purchasing an Icom IC-R8600 receiver. I have a homemade long wire I had previously attached to an old Realistic DX-160 receiver. Results were mediocre at best which I chalked up to the marginal abilities of the 45 year old 160.
I set up the AD DX-SWL near the shack on a gentle slope using a 20' mast near the shack running on a slight downhill to a 10' mast in the yard. As the DX-160 has only screw terminals for the antenna connection, I utlized alligator clip jumpers from the PL-259 coming from the DX-SWL; one from the center conductor the main terminal and another from the shield to the ground. I was immediately impressed with the results. I was able to copy WWV on 15 mHz which was impossible previously. I was able to bring out a few sideband signals on 40 and 15 meters. I was even able to copy a few sideband signals from San Francisco Air Traffic Control around 10 mHz to a few planes out in the pacific. I was never able to hear any of these signals on the 160 previously.
I then connected the antenna to my Icom 7600 and compared signals on 40m between my GAP Titan DX vertical and the AD DX-SWL. There were some strong stations on the band at S-9 to about 10 over on the GAP. The DX-SWL would bring in the same signals at 10 over and 15 over respectively. I have not had a chance to yet check the SWR on this antenna for transmitting purposes but will do so in the future. Alpha Delta does advertise that it can be used to transmit on the ham bands with a proper tuner. I'll let the antenna analyzer make that decision for me in the not too distant future.
I am now looking forward to buying the new receiver and hooking up this antenna.
N0TLD Rating: 2017-12-24
Good antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used a DX-SWL sloper off and on for a lonnnnng time -- I first set it up over 15 years ago. Occasional maintenance and pulling down/storing for a while (when using other antennas) has kept it in good working condition all this time.

It has never failed to bring in even weak signals, though it is no match for other types like the Wellbrook loops or other active antennas, but for a low noise antenna it's very, very good at what it does, and it does exactly what it is claimed to do.

I've never been a fan of traps but in this case they seem to work, well enough at any rate. I'd still prefer to have a longer wire and no traps but I didn't design and manufacture the antenna and since it works well I can't really gripe.

If you acquire a DX-SWL sloper antenna, be sure to do a few things with it before setting it up -- replace the supplied plastic sloped end insulator with a stronger, less UV sensitive type such as a good thick ceramic dogbone (my preference); make sure the spacing between the two wire elements at the top of the sloper is uniform, and nothing is bunched up but straight and neat; and as with any outdoor antenna, use some silicon gel in the feedpoint SO-239 to keep water out and keep the connection easy to unplug/unscrew. You'll be very glad you did, especially if you like to set up different antennas over time.

Not a truly 'great' antenna, with the traps it's a bit lossy and from the factory it needs a little tweaking to really survive outdoors... but it IS a damned GOOD antenna and worth every penny.
KD8ZCM Rating: 2016-06-09
Great Shortwave antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received my Alpha Delta DX-SWL-S Sloper. I first built a long wire and beverage antenna for listing on shortwave. The Alpha Delta has almost doubled my receive signal into my HF rig and very clear audio. As a HAM Technician I like to listen to a lot of short wave radio and talk on 10 Meter. I can also talk on this shortwave antenna when I run it threw my MFJ-929 tuner and works great!! Love this antenna!!! 73'S KD8ZCM