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Reviews For: BevFlex-4X Receive Antenna System

Category: Antennas: VLF/LF/HF Receive only

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Review Summary For : BevFlex-4X Receive Antenna System
Reviews: 14MSRP: 349.95 USD
Description:
The BevFlex-4X, now manufactured by Unified Microsystems, is an improved version that builds on the success of The unique W8GNM designed BevPro-1 and JK BevFlex-4 systems. The BevFlex-4X is the basis of the best low band, low noise, antenna system for your station and property size limitations. Build a Beverage, Beverage-On-Ground (BOG), EWE, FLAG, or VE3DO loop type antenna.

These antenna configurations normally receive in one direction, but the BevFlex-4X allows you to instantly switch to the reverse direction. The BevFlex-4X Beverage/BOG configurations use inexpensive RG-6 coax as the antenna element.

The unique design allows feeding it at any point along the antenna, not just the ends, so you can feed it at the point closest to the shack.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.unifiedmicro.com/bevflex4x.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00144.9
K4UEE Rating: 2014-03-28
Recommend it ! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I installed the BevPro-1 reversible beverage prior to my departure for FT5ZM. My home is on an .8 acre lot in a suburban subdivision and long beverages are out of the question. The ability to feed the antenna anywhere along it's length made it possible to squeeze in about 400 feet. It was fed at about the 300 foot point, and aimed directly at Amsterdam Island.
W6IZT came to my home station during our Dxpedition, and using the BevPro-1, got in our log.
I believe it works about the same as a conventional beverage of the same length. However, the flexibility as to where it can be fed and of course, switching directions on a single antenna makes a great investment for those who have a similar QTH situation as mine.
N4EDT Rating: 2014-01-24
Great set of Ears Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A respected amateur friend suggested that I try one of the Pro-1 magnetic loop antennas.
I read your material on the web and watched the video and was impressed but very skeptical. When I discuss this with some local hams at breakfast 3 out of four of them had never heard of a Mangetic loop antenna and the fourth ham had one that he had bought at Hamvention last year and it was still in the box. I asked him if he would loan it to me that I might try it.

Simple to assemble and, Iinstalled it in the attic over my ham shack. Recption is unbelievable. Received signals are strong. I am running 12 to 18 db of attinuation on 160 thru 40. The noise is in most cases non existent. I have copied more DX signal in one evening on 80 meters than I have in 5 years of DX activity using a long wire. Until tonight I had never copied a 160 signal over 200 miles from my QTH. When the ham that loaned the antenna to me manages to steal it back I will be buying a replacement.

Wonderful product, simple, readable instruction and it works great.
NE1B Rating: 2014-01-24
Excellent - Low Noise Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My interest in the BevPro-1 was to improve my EU reception. I have previously installed single wire beverages which are sometimes still very noisy and none with good EU signals. This is mainly because to my NE, I can only go 200' to the public road. In the reverse direction I am limited by neighbor properties but could go about 250' SW. So total length would be 450'.

In late November I had installed the 250' SW leg and termination unit with ground rod, followed by the 200' NW leg. Finally, on Dec. 7, 2013, I installed the Feed Point Unit. The final feedline runs were done in 2" of snow! Hey, all antennas work better in bad weather! Anyway, I got right on the air for the ARRL 160m. contest. Did not have time to adjust the trim pots. Off and running, I noted a 10 dB F/B NE to SW. Good for nulling stateside. Europe was loud. Better than my West 500' unterminated single wire beverage and my 200' East unterminated beverage which was also very noisy. The bi-directional antenna had very low noise. Further tests showed 18 dB F/B with local US stations.

Part of my slow installation process was the planning to route it away from all my other beverages (NW, W, SE and E), towers and TX antennas. I had to run it thru some heavy brush, prickers and thick forest with fallen trees. In summertime it is filled with deer ticks (Lyme disease) and mosquitos. So, I was not too keen getting out there in the summer, but they don't seem to like snow!

So now I will do some more pattern testing and trim pot tweaking.

BTW, for my 10 hour limited operation, I worked 77 Sections and 17 countries with 315 QSOs. So I am very pleased. This solved my restricted lot and EU directional limitations!

The only negative I encountered was losing some washers in the leaves while connecting the ground wire to the termination unit.

KN2M Rating: 2014-01-17
It works!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was pretty dubious about this product. I had the need for a long beverage at my location to improve 160m capability into EU. My previous attempt to manage this with a ladder-line bidirectional antenna was not successful as the line was constantly twisting in the wind and required frequent repairs. I mapped out a 950' long path through the woods at my property, used a GPS so I would maintain a straight line and put it up. I used rigid galvanized conduit cut into 5' lengths as stakes to hold 10' PVC where I needed additional supports. I took tension off the antenna where I could by using tape around the RG6 and coax staples onto boards or trees. The feed point is mounted about 100' from one end and I have two 750' transmission lines going into the house. The antenna has a superior S/N ratio to any of the other listening antennas and is about an S-unit stronger in the Reverse direction than my modified DX Engineering Circle 8 array in the same direction. I attribute the S/N ratio to the exclusive horizontal polarization. It hears EU stations on 160. Longevity should be better than the ladder line antenna based on the materials used and my careful construction techniques. As far as I can tell the only drawback to this antenna is the dual long transmission lines. The enclosed manual with the antenna is much more descriptive and informative than on line materials. It looks far better than any previous beverage I have had and I hope it will be easier to maintain and will stay up without deterioration.