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Reviews For: Arrow Antenna 146/437-10 and 146/437-10WBP

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Directional (Yagi, quad, etc.)

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Review Summary For : Arrow Antenna 146/437-10 and 146/437-10WBP
Reviews: 48MSRP: 139
Description:
Portable Handheld Yagi for 146/437 mhz primarily used for satellite DXing. However, it can be mounted on a camera tripod and used for groundwave communications. 10 watts maximum for handheld operation/150 w maximum when mounted. Elements are made from aluminum "arrow" shafts. Lightweight, and made for quick assembly/disassembly. Weighs about 22 oz.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.arrowantennas.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00485
K7SHR Rating: 2023-02-25
Very Clever Design Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like many other hams, I was looking for a handheld Yagi that I could use for satellite communications. The Arrow Antenna fits the bill perfectly.

The arrow-shaft elements are a very clever design. I ordered the split-boom model so that I could transport it easily. Similar to what I saw in another review, I took a minute to file down some burrs on the aluminum boom to make assembly and disassembly a little easier.

I had a question on sliding the coax cable beneath the foam grip. Customer service was excellent (a little isopropyl alcohol on the grip allowed me to easily adjust the length of the coax cables from the grip to the antenna).

This is a cool, clever design, from a company with terrific customer service.
K5TGS Rating: 2018-02-11
Simply the Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using this antenna for satellite communications. It is a very solid build. Works great on both vhf and uhf. I have used this with a camera tripod and handheld, either way it performs nicely. I also use the duplexer so I only have one antenna coax to my HT.

The company is also great in answering my questions, very helpful!
KD5QHB Rating: 2017-03-05
Great Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought amused arrow antenna. First night I got it worked two stations on 5w with FT1DR. Can't ask for more than with an antenna!! Thanks Arrow Antenna!!!
KJ4FGI Rating: 2016-03-26
My choice over the elk antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was a tough choice, but the most rewarding choice. I Read the reviews on the elk antenna, also the YouTube videos and checked a lot of people's websites.

The reason why I chose this antenna, not only because of the fantastic reviews, but reading a lot of articles on the elk antenna, they stated you have to put a bend in the coax cable to adjust the SWR, this means every time you put the antenna together you need to check the SWR,

I didn't want to have to mess with checking the SWR after transporting and deploying it. Also this antenna is a couple of ounces lighter, not that it makes a difference holding it but if you put it on a tripod it's the counterweight.

Every time I attempted to make contact with the satellite, I succeeded. Looking at all the web reviews on this antenna it was suggested to label the elements after installation to help with future installations.

What a piece of cake you can have this antenna together in just two minutes. If you purchase this antenna you will not be sorry.
Eddie kj4fgi
W9DPY Rating: 2015-11-02
Great Antenna, Super Service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 146/437 - 10 Arrow for about 8 or 9 years. It doesn't get as much use as it did; due to the declining population of "Easy Sats". However, I do you it for the occasional BSA camp out or other mobile venture.

For me it's not just the antenna (which is just fine mechanically and electrically) but the service from Tim. About 3 months ago my antenna fell off the shelf I keep it on in the garage. All three of the 2 meter elements on the "non-stub" side broke or were bent beyond repair. I emailed Tim and asked how much for replacements. He asked what was wrong and I told him. He said "I have you covered". Less than a week later I have a box on my front porch with the three elements.

I have three Arrow products (this satellite antenna, a 2M/440 open stub J and the 3 element 2M yagi). All three work great and are well constructed. This is a great company run exactly the right way. Tim knows that customer service is paramount when you are catering to a small, specialized audience like hams. Keep up the good work!
KG5FQT Rating: 2015-07-05
Awesome! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Just echoing everyone else's reviews. Great antenna. Hooked up to my Baofeng HT, I easily hit Satellite when it passes over and no problem receiving on same. Just a complete night and day difference between trying to use a whip on a HT versus this antenna to hit the sats. Great purchase.
W7UFX Rating: 2013-10-12
Highly recommended Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wanted to have a portable antenna for two reasons; I live in northwest Montana and wanted to have a decent antenna that I could break down and set up quickly when I'm out in the back country. Secondly I became interested in making contacts through SO-50 using a handheld radio.

My decision to purchase rather than build my own antenna pretty much depended on the cost of materials and the availability of tools. After reading a lot of blogs and articles on the 'net I determined that it was cheaper to purchase one instead. It then became a choice between the Arrow or the Elk. The arrow is cheaper if the duplexer was left out; I thought $59 for the duplexer was unreasonably high. There is information all over the Internet about the construction of this simple device, so I purchased the circuit board from FAR Circuits, the inductors and capacitors from Digi-Key and Newark, and a couple of BNC-BNC patch cables from Universal Radio. Total cost: about $12.
I purchased the 146/437-10BP (the split-boom model. The total cost after shipping was $94.

I received the antenna very quickly and well-packaged. As was described by other reviewers on this site, the quality of workmanship is excellent. While assembling it for the first time, I realized that I would need to take the plastic end caps off the 70cm elements and measure them with a tape measure. It would have been nice if the elements were labeled; with the red end caps installed some of the elements were measured so close to each other it was extremely difficult to determine whether it was part of director 2 or 3, 4, and 5. Directors 3, 4, and 5 are the same length, but D2 is only 1/8" longer. I printed up some cable labels at work and affixed them to the elements of my antenna. With the antenna completely broken down, inlcuding separating the boom parts, I can assemble it in under 4 minutes.
Broken down, the longest piece is 21 1/2", making it easy to stow in a backpack for portable use while hiking in the mountains.

How does it perform? I had to wait for the right opportunity for a satellite pass to occur at a reasonable time, and I am right up against the mountains so I have to have a pass to the west of me at a decent elevation since I'm surrounded by tall pine trees. Recently I had a "perfect pass"; nearly directly overhead at 2030 local time. Using my Kenwood TH-D72A I was able to work a couple of stations with excellent signal reports. I could have done a little better but I am still a "satellite n00b" and still learning how to "drive" my new handheld. The antenna has a broad enough beamwidth so your aim does not have to be perfect- it is more important to twist the antenna for proper polarization. It is amazing how twisting a few degrees can either bring the downlink signal to full-quieting or lose it entirely. Adjusting the downlink frequency for doppler shift is also critical. 5 KHz makes a huge difference in being able to receive.

I am very satisfied with this antenna, and I definately recommend it. The only criticism I have to offer is 1) The elements could be labled and 2) There is no reason why the duplexer needs to be so expensive. $20 is reasonable- $59 is just rediculous. Buy the antenna and build the duplexer yourself.
WB8RJY Rating: 2013-10-01
unbelieveable performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received it on thursday. worked many stations on friday, saturday and sunday mornings using nothing
more than a Yaesu FT 50 handheld radio !
signals were strong, noise free and received many
great signal reports.having as much fun as when i was a novice 40 years ago !shipping was very fast.
could not be happier.great product.
It assembles in less than 5 minutes !!!!
thanks you
wB8RJY
NM3B Rating: 2013-08-25
Super Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My XYL and I recently returned from Newfoundland/VO1 which was a vacation/Satellite DXpedition. The Arrow 146/437 was assembled before we departed the home QTH. Our vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado X with plenty of room for antenna and luggage. This model does not have the duplexer so use two 15 foot mini coax cables which I wire tied together forming one small coax. It takes less than 30 seconds to mount it on a camera tripod. The laptop with satellite tracking program is in back of Jeep by antenna. I worked from seven grids while in VO1 land and worked stations from Texas to Germany on all four of the active amateur satellites. To me this was quite a feat with such a small compact antenna. I have never used an Elk antenna but the way the Arrow performed have no desire to even bother with an Elk antenna to make any comparisons. The number of QSL cards I am receiving from this vacation/DXpedition speaks for itself. Anyone with any questions/comments I would be happy to reply.
KV6O Rating: 2013-08-01
Great antenna, great service. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these, one is a split boom that I purchased probably almost 10 years ago, the other is a solid boom that I won at a ham meeting, probably 6 or 7 years ago.

I have used them for sats, VHF/UHF rover ops, T-hunting - and have been very pleased with the performance and portability.

I recently ran into Arrow at a local hamfest and received above and beyond customer service for a minor issue - wasn't expecting it at all but it's nice to know the company stands behind their product - one that's many years old!