| N3YV |
Rating:  |
2020-11-18 | |
| The best engineering available today |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Coming from so many antennas throughout the years like, Mosley, Cushcraft, Steppir and Force12 nothing comes close in performance and masterful engineering like Optibeam, The OBLY 14-5 is a pile buster every time , reports are unreal almost all the time 59++ and the SWR is flat everywhere , awesome to say the least. |
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| F6EMA |
Rating: |
2020-11-17 | |
| Amazing antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
My objective was to replace a KLM KT36XA and a Create 248A antenna (for 18 and 24 Mhz : 3 and 4 el) to get :
- A better SWR curve on all bands (1.1 to 1.5, whatever the frequency)
- A simple set-up : one antenna with only one cable
- Good performances (i am very impressed by the results in comparison with the two former antennas)
- A good support (thanks Tom, DF2BO,for your availibility !)
In conclusion, this antenna meets completely my expectations !
73 Christian F6EMA
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| GI0LDI |
Rating: |
2020-09-09 | |
| First Class Antenna and Great Customer Services |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I first contacted Optibeam in mid 2019 regarding a replacement for my TH7DX and Tom was really helpful in recommending a few different antennas in Optibeam range that would surpass the performance of my old Hygain.
The OBLY 14/5 arrived just before Christmas and due to Covid19 was not installed on my tower until August 2020.
The antenna was a pleasure to build with many parts partly assembled at the factory. I would descried the build as easy and a pleasure to put together with typical German precision engineering and high quality components.
The performance has been impressive so far with the antenna at about 23 meters on a three section tilt over tower and turned by a Yaesu G1000DX.
SWR is FLAT across all bands running the UK legal limit (400w) and rear rejection is impressive compared to my older array (TH7Dxx and PKW THF3E).
I have operated both phone and CW without having to re-tune my old amplifier, the antenna is truly broad banded as the specifications stated.
With regards to Tom, (DF2BO), he gives solid advise and delivers on great products with first class customer services with answers to questions within hours in many instances.
In short, if you are considering this antenna, you will not be disappointed, i have worked around 100 countries using the antenna in the first month and find the antenna a joy to use.
I can be found on QRZ and i'm happy to comment further on the antenna if necessary either on air or Email.
a video of the installation can be found on my QRZ page.
Best DX to all and hear you on the bands,
Keep safe,
Damien (GI0LDI) |
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| DK8FA |
Rating: |
2019-12-29 | |
| just a GREAT Antenna ! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
After the previous LogPer made in Italy, fell from the mast in a storm Feb 2019, a replacement was needed. We are now using the OBLY14-5 on the roof of the "Museum for Communication" in Frankfurt am Main, at DL0DPM since July 2019. The results that we can achieve with our IC7600 without an amplifier and the Optibeam are absolutely convincing. The antenna is mechanically in a absolutely high quality, stable and last but not least, it also has excellent high-frequency properties. Therefore highly recommended!
73 de Ralf, DK8FA |
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| K5SES |
Rating: |
2018-05-08 | |
| Date of first QSO, mounted height, construction, results |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I purchased the antenna in the summer of 2017, but because of hurricane Harvey on Aug. 25,2017 I was not able to get the antenna up until December 1,2017. The antenna is mounted on a Heights Tower
System tower with a NN4zz tilt plate at 72 feet. I am a new ham and that Dec. 1st was my first QSO.
The results through May 8, 2018 have been far better than I ever imagined. The results speak for themselves. During this time I have worked 132 "countries" and all fifty states. I now have QSO confirmation on 101 countries and all fifty states. The first 70 countries were worked on 150 watts without an amplifier.It was hard to make the decision to buy an amplifier but I finally took the leap. I could not be happier with this antenna. Check out the QRZ.com page for k5ses,where you will see the antenna and at the very bottom you will see the radiation pattern. A great thank you to Tom and others at Optibeam for personalized service.--- |
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| WA9GON |
Rating: |
2018-03-31 | |
| Excellent antenna |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Well engineered. Easily assembled with clearly marked components. If you have any questions, Thomas replies quickly. |
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| IN3PBO |
Rating: |
2017-11-29 | |
| The best antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I saw the OBLY14-5 displayed at the ham fair Ham Radio 2016 in Friedrichsfafen in Germany and immediately was interested in this antenna.
The electrical concept as well as the mechanical realization absolutely convinced me, and so I purchased it.
The antenna was delivered to me in September 2016.
It was shipped in two boxes, all carefully packed and extremely well organized.
Many parts come factory pre assembled, and everything is clearly marked.
Assembling the antenna was pure pleasure, and what I already enjoyed to see at the ham fair now even more impressed me, having it in my own hands.
The assembly instructions are straight forward and all is well illustrated by many pirctures and drawings.
This antenna is optically very attractive, and it is built like a tank: a stirdy square boom with a 4mm!! wall thickness, a massive boom to mast plate, a well designed boom truss system, rock solid cleverly tapered elements which appear to be almost horizontal, and excellent high quality aluminium.
It is not a cheap beam, but no doubt, here it definitely counts, you get what you pay for.
The antenna is installed on top of my 4 story hotel, supported by a roof mounted tower. You can see details on my QRZ.COM page.
After using and testing it just for one day I was just amazed about the electrical performance, and this first impression was manifested over the next couple of months.
All for sure confirms the marketing „not a usual logarithmic periodic, it is a Log Yagi“.
The OBLY14-5 shows an enormous directivity, no brought horizontal beam width, if you turn the antenna you do see the signals coming and going, the front to side and the f/b ratios are absolutely impressive, the very long distance dx signals appear to come in with ease and the SWRs are fantastic accross all bands.
Performance definitely is the same wherever I am operating, at the very bottom, the centre or the upper end of the bands.
Calling cq dx now delivers even some pile ups on me, and breaking pile ups is not challenging any more.
OptiBeam claims that this antenna performs identical to five individual three element monoband Yagis, and all I can say from my more than one year experience using the antenna is, at least !
This is the „smallest“ of four fiveband Log Yagi models which OptiBeam offers, and with a 7.50 meter long boom it is not that small, but who has enough space should try the bigger models, if this antenna already does what it does, unbelievable what then the bigger brothers will do.
And there are some other interesting Log Yagi models OptiBeam offers, this new Log Yagi concept for sure is innovative.
I always would buy this antenna again and only can highly recommend it to everybody.
Best 73s, Bruno, IN3PBO |
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| IK2YFT |
Rating: |
2017-11-22 | |
| My best antenna |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
My previous antenna is a 4 elements quad, a 4 elements steppir DB36, a cubex 3 elements, a dynamic antenna 5 elements
I installed the obly 14-6 at 18 mt in my tower.
The Optibeam log is undoubtedly the best antenna I've ever used.
Beautiful to see, simple assembly, all the elements are marked, no need calibration, mounted and working, no trap, no motor, no moving part, no problems. Reliable and always ready to use.
I do not regret my old antennas
the picture and video in my website www.qsl.net/ik2yft
best 73
Joe IK2YFT |
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| OE8HWQ |
Rating: |
2017-11-18 | |
| Great antenna - excellent support! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've the OBLY14-5 now abt. 1 month on my tower in 14m and I like it every day more and more! Even I've no other beam to compare I "feel" it outperformes my previous 3 El. Stepp-IR (never trouble-free!) and all the other antennas I used in nearly 40 yrs of HAMing. No, it's not the "Pile-up Breaker" BUT for the size and neat optic it's a real great performer with an absolut flat SWR all over the 5 Bands - no matter if you're in the CW or SSB portion from - no need for an ATU - Transistor Amps will like it!
About the used material and quality is not more to say than "German craftsmanship" in every detail... The communication with Tom is great and nearly in real-time - his service is second to none - he stands behind his products!
The assemling tooks some time but it's straight forward due to Tom's preassembling and I need the Manual only 1 time... I managed it in a "One-man-show" to get the beast (With his weight it is...) in 3 parts on the (tilt-over)Mast - even with that, quite a hard job...
Now my conclusion:
...is it expensive? Hmm, compared to some competitors YES, but due to the 1st-class material and the very good Ant-design it's worth every Cent - therefore a clear NO!
...would I buy it again? Of course YES!
...would I recommend it? Absolutely YES, if you're looking for a perfect working/looking 5-Bander, this is the right choice for you (As any OptiBeam would be, Hi)!
Cu on the bands!
73 Hel, OE8TTR |
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