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Reviews For: 3 element 14MHz OP-DES Yagi

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

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Review Summary For : 3 element 14MHz OP-DES Yagi
	Reviews: 2	MSRP:
	Description: 3 element 14MHz OP-DES Yagi
	Product is in production
More Info: https://innovantennas.com/en/shop-page/66/8/hf-ham/14mhz-yagis-all/3-element-14mhz-op-des-yagi-4-2mInnovAntennas%20shop.html
# last 180 days	Avg. Rating last 180 days	Total reviews	Avg. overall rating
0	0	2	3

SA7KZA	Rating:	2024-05-28
Low quality, lots of false information on the product page.			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered this antenna in February 2024 from Germany-WiMo. It came to me about two weeks later. I was surprised the parcel weight is 25kg. It was the first hint there is something wrong with this antenna. Later on, I found out there is more no correct information on Innovantennas page about this antenna. I wrote to WiMo and to Innovantennas but after two months incorrect information are still on Wimo and Innovantennas pages. 1) The weight of the antenna on pages "Weight: 12.79Kg / 28.19LB" is not correct! Boom only weight is 8kg. Whole antenna weight is 22kg. It is almost twice as written! 2) "Unique double setup feature - set elements for maximum gain with less F/B (full band coverage) or a little less gain with lots of F/B (full band coverage). You choose and can change any time!" Simply another false information, there is nothing like high F/B setup in manual you will receive with antenna. You will receive poor written manual with one setup only. The gain of these setup is 7.42dBi. - remember the number. I asked Innovantennas for F/B setup. After about two weeks and four emails I finally received setup where all elements were exactly 70mm longer and gain is the same 7.42dBi. I asked again because I did not want setup for lower frequency with the same gain but I wanted high F/B setup where the gain (bye diagram) is 7.17dBi not 7.42dBi. I explained the setup I received does not much the F/B diagram from their web page where the gain is 7.12dBi Answer was that this is the setup... Ok, but F/B option has gain 7.17 not 7.42 and it will hardly be done by slightly longer elements only. I received this answer: "YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEEDED!" 3) "This antenna has a flat SWR curve covering 14.000 - 14.350MHz at 1.3:1 SWR." - Not exactly…, SWR is relatively flat but it starts at 1.32 and ends on 1.55. Measured on 25m long cable so real value is even slightly higher. I did not succeed to reach lower SWR value after spending whole day only with this. 4) The quality and design are poor. Aluminum is the same you can buy in any specialized market and without any surface treatment. Highest diameter tube 35mm does not feet to 30mm tube. Not possible to connect it up firmly. Other diameters fit well. "Even a digital caliper is used (with an accuracy of .01mm)" - It is trick only as the antenna's accuracy depends on how exactly you will assemble components and accuracy of your own measuring. No any mounting marks on elements! You have to measure every element part yourself. Inner tube is inserted only 10cm or 8cm (depend on setup) in outer tube. It is not enough for long life use and strong wind! The antenna part “DR-OP-DES” is wrong made and it is not possible to install it without modification. Plastic ring on the end has hole diameter 13mm and of course it does not feet to 16mm tube on reflector where ring has to be installed on. I asked WiMo for new rings – no answer jet. All holes drilled on boom parts on are too big and because of this the sections are possible to move about 2mm out or in. You have to tie screws firmly to have boom of stable length and without moving. The connecting material is of good quality. Antenna experience: Antenna works, not problem to make SSB QSO using 100W with VK (from SM) but the sides and back beam make it not as good as I expected. If the postage was not so high, I would return this antenna. This is not what I wanted. I thought about buying a 20MDY3 (EAntenna), but since it has 20.5 kg and according to the review, there are problems with the green insulators used on this antenna (which disintegrate over time) I preferred to buy the OP-DES. That was wrong decision. Now I have an antenna that weighs even more than 20MDY3 and my OP-DES uses exactly the same insulators. If you will buy their "Current Balun (Choke)" 1-80 MHz which is not included in antenna package but is strongly recommended to use it, then the next surprise will come. There are 30 ferrite rings on picture but only 20 is used on balun you will receive. Label on balun is „WiMo” not “Innovantennas”. I received explanation: New, better material rings are used. On balun is label WiMo because the two companies have some cooperation. ( I received private info explaining that antennas ordered from WiMo are manufactured by WiMo but take it as unverified information) Now I wonder what new ferrite material used in HF bands has appeared in the last 20 years…. If someone else has this antenna please write if you have same experience as I have. Why until now (antenna is in production for 3 years) has no one found out that they are producing a defective parts? Did anyone mind that there is only one setup in product manual? (I received Revision 1.4, 2024 with antenna). No one noticed the double weight? Why is the information on the pages not corrected according to reality? Isn't it strange? Update May 28: Yesterday I received new drive element end-parts with correct sized ends rings. Thank you WiMo. The question is Why the weight of antenna on your pages is still 12.79 kg? You confirmed me at email the weight 22kg.... so why it is not changed in antenna's technical specification yet? Using: Comparing our club antenna (3 element 3 bander) I have slightly better signal even if my antenna is placed on lower mast (20 vs 12m). Antenna shape itself is designed well. I am satisfied with signal strength. But... My OP-DES antenna started produce cracking/vibration noise at wind speed about 4-8m/s. I don't know why yet. I have to put mast down an check it. I'm guessing it's a connection between the 35 and 30mm tubes as there is enough place as they do not feet correctly to each other. It seems that the wrong design and poor quality has started to show. I expected it but after couple of years not couple of weeks of using.

2E0EIC	Rating:	2022-07-07
great antenna in all respects			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased this around 12months ago , i had a issue with the jubilee clips at first (which you sorted quickly) The beam has been remarkable over 12 months use on one evening and following morning one day a week . I have managed over 100 contacts to either VK_ZL-or JA all long path on low power. and 100s of other great dx contacts world wide. what i like reasonant on entire 20m band great front to back good gain good build quality survived some very high winds compact and light so not to much strain on the rotator good price being a mono band beam so no traps never have a problem breaking pile ups I have had two other beams on my tower a cushcraft A3S , which had shocking build quality with over 300mm error between the elements and faulty traps. The other was a pkw tri bander which was better but had issues with the driven element which was double stacked and would twist out of shape in high winds. very happy with antenna and at a bargin price my log book contents is the envy of my local radio club

Category:

Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

Product:

3 element 14MHz OP-DES Yagi

Summary:

Rating:	Time Owned:
Great! Good OK Needs Help Poor Awful!	0 - 3 Months 3 - 6 Months 6 - 12 Months More than 12 Months

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