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Reviews For: Alpha Delta DX-EE

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Alpha Delta DX-EE
Reviews: 82MSRP: 100
Description:
Multi-band dipole, 10-40 meters, shortened for 40 meters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alphadeltacom.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00824.7
KB3RA Rating: 2016-01-30
Outstanding Antenna !! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having moved into my new home in an HOA community about a year ago, I was limited to what antenna I could erect so I chose an Alpha Delta DX-EE. I installed it in my attic and couldn’t be more happy with its performance on all bands. Had to do a little shortening as I operate mostly SSB. My home is 52 feet wide so the antenna fit nicely in that space with room to spare and is up at a height of about 20 feet. As this was a new home under construction at the time, I asked to contractor to install an non metallic ridge vent so as to avoid decoupling issues with the antenna. He gladly agreed to do so and I believe that strongly contributed to the antenna requiring very little tuning to obtain a low swr on all bands and with a usable bandwidth on 40 from 7.125 to 7.300 with the ATU of my Kenwood TS-590S. The performance of this antenna has simply been outstanding and I get consistently great signal reports.
GM1EXK Rating: 2015-11-30
Robust multi-dipole antenna with good performance on 40m Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've been using this antenna for a while now and here are some Pro's and Con's to help you decide if it's right for you.

PROS
--------------

3 1/2 wave dipoles giving natural resonance on 20M/15M/10M bands and loaded coils for 40m. So tuner not required and line losses very low.

Only 40ft long (And in inverted V configuration will take up even less horizontal space) and probably the most efficient way to work 40M in such a confined space.

Heavy Duty solid core wires will not stretch. Insulators, rope and dipole centre also heavy duty and feel 'home built'

Says it will handle 1KW. I reckon it could handle more!

CONS
-----------------

40M bandwidth is very small (see my SWR points below). You will need a tuner to use the whole band.

When the loaded coils get wet the resonance on 40M drops in frequency about 0.1MHz. With my inbuilt tuner I can only tune up to about 7.1MHz and effectively lose the top of the band until it dries.

To tune the 20M section you need to adjust the length between the dipole centre and the loaded coils. There's no easy way to do this.

The thick wire is near impossible to get kink free. It's good that it's taut because it keeps the dipoles separated. But you'll be there all day trying to straighten them out perfectly.

The dipole centre is simply that. No balun or anything built in. I suggest adding a choke balun. (I used 8 turns around a FT240-43 toroid with RG58 which is about right for the antennas frequency range).

Will tune up on the non resonant bands between 40M-6M but performance is poor with high losses. Something like a G5RV or Windom would work better on those bands, but this antenna works better on the resonant bands -1/2 dipoles are hard to beat!)

Each dipole element is connected to a long bolt on the dipole centre with a nut. I've had these nuts come loose twice now. So I've used locktite and tightened them right up.

All bands have a peak resonance below 1.5:1 except 20M which never gets below 2:1 but still has good bandwith at this point. (I'm in an inverted V config)

3 heavy wires and a heavy duty dipole centre make this heavy and cumbersome compared to a single wire antenna.

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MY SWR freqs at 1.5:1 or better in an inverted V config (except 20M where bandwith is for 2:1)

40M = 7.115-7.125 MHz (except when wet and drops 0.1MHz)

20M = 13.785-14.120 MHz (I need to shorten this but can't easily -see above)

15M = 21.131-21.281 MHz

10M = 28.065-28.240 MHz (kept it low to also cover 11m band)

My inbuit tuner (FT-991) will tune 1:1 for the whole bands except when it's wet and it can't match the top half of 40M
SV1EQE Rating: 2015-04-09
Great Antenna, requires triming and tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an update of my recent previous review.
In my case, I used an antenna analyzer from Rig-Pix and I shorten both element for 40/20m (19cm). Now I'm able to tune on 40m but usable frequency is too narrow. SWR is 1:1.5 from 7040kHz till 70140KHz but out of that skyrockets to 1:8 and more.
I also had to trim the elements for 10 and 15m. 9cm and 16cm accordingly.
Now I enjoy less SWR in those bands and my LDG-PROII tunes more efficient.

Overall is a nice antenna, well made to last many years, I guess one of the best choices you have as radio operator for limited space environments.
VA6KOA Rating: 2014-12-13
Need help Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I read the reviews befor purchasing this antenna and thought, would be great in my small yard... So far I can't get it to tune... Tried on a 30 foot pole first, could not get 40 to tune and did not like the look of the antenna as it is near impossible to get the kinks out, so I tried the attic. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I can not get resonance anywhere on 40... Contacted Alpha delta and this all they offered

"As the instructions say, shorten each end of the antenna by 3 in. each. That will bring it in to the 40 meter SSB section. Also, note that attics couple to and load the antenna so it is best to use a wide range antenna tuner for attic installs. Again, details are in the instructions."

We'll I tried all that and no good, my next thought is to rebuild the antenna using flexible wire so I can get the kinks out and try it at 30 feet again......
KB6HRT Rating: 2014-08-28
My antenna of choice for 40m! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have used AD antennas for years because they just work for me, the DD is a good example , don't have much room where the antenna is installed, it just fits , wanted it resonant on both 40 & 75m, had to add 30" per leg on the 40m part of the antenna, its now flat SWR 71175-7300 an is 1 to 1 on 3915 3 to 1 at 3875 an 3960 do use a tuner for the rest of 75m. Use a Balun Design 1 to 1 1115u balun, this antenna combination outperforms every 40m dipole antenna I have used in this spot. am very happy with this setup it makes long range connection that you can hear easy with a dipole.
KD2ACO Rating: 2014-08-27
Limited Space? Good Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm a New York City Slicker. Antenna space is limited here. I have just enough room to fit this antenna on my roof. It's a real winner for sure. You probably want a tuner on 40 meters. I went upstairs a couple times to tweek the tuning to fit my style (SSB parts of the bands) and it really makes the contacts. Eastern US and DX to Eastern Europe is clear and easy. It is up about 40 feet on 3 Rohn roof tripods (6 ft tall). Others have had trouble on 40 but if you pick the portion of the band you want to work and can deal with the limitations of a shortened antenna, you will really like it.
K3BR Rating: 2014-08-15
QRZ? Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Since installing my DX-EE in March of 2014, I have worked over 500 contacts and DXCC (117 entities), including A45, JY, 3D2, VK, ZL, JA, 9L, 6V, FK8, many EU, TA, 4X, most of NA, etc. That says a lot about the antenna. Oh, did I mention that it is installed in my attic and I run QRP with an Argonaut 509, CW only? You will need a tuner for 40M.
'Nuff said.
W3BRF
W2DI Rating: 2014-06-11
2 yrs and still like new Time Owned: more than 12 months.
2 year+ update

The DX-EE is a well made antenna that just works. I have it flattop at about 25ft and it does well on all bands covered.

I have no trouble getting good reports on 40 where it is shortened, but the end loading is more efficient than other methods.

I lowered it yesterday and everything is in excellent condition. Nothing loose, corroded or otherwise distressed. I decided to try a mod. I never used 15 much, but always liked 17. So I did some calculations and added 23" of wire to each side of the 15 meter dipole.

All the resonate points remained virtually the same except for 10 meters (it went higher, but was low to begin with).

Now the antenna works very well on 17, 1:1 across the band. I heard and contacted 2 different stations in Kuwait City, yesterday and today, both giving me a 5/8 after just a few calls in the pile-up.

So now I have a DX-EE that is resonate on 40, 20, 17 and 10; the latter 3 needing no tuner at all. 40 needs some flattening near the upper end.

I've considered trying other antennas but don't want to 'mess with success!'

Thanks, Joe -- W2DI

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2DI on 2012-04-16

I have the DX-EE, flattop orientation, about 25 feet off the ground fed with 75 feet of RG-8x. It's outstanding...even on 40 where it shouldn't be since it is shortened by the iso-res coils and it is electrically low (must be NVIS and omnidirectional). I do use a tuner to flatten out the SWR.
Reports are consistently good and sometimes on nets I'm told I am one of the loudest signals. All with 85 watts out of my FT-450. I've thought of trying other antennas, but I hate to touch something that is working so well! So it stays where it is.
The materials and construction are exceptional. Highly recommended.
KB3VNK Rating: 2014-04-21
swr's Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
update i guess it was a factory error after taking
measurements of each leg. it came out short by 1.5 feet. made up the differance. all bands tune up with ease.


i had purchase the alpha delta dx-ee for my attic to run 40 meters it about 30 feet off the ground. after assembling to antenna check the swr's it pinned the meter in the red. coax is good. checked size's on all radials that's fine i have to use a tuner on 40 meters and 20 meters signal's are fair. i can't tune in 15 or 10 meters. i guess the only thing to do is call alpha delta during business hours
WD5IKY Rating: 2014-04-13
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was given this antenna a couple of years ago when we were still living in Mexico but never had it up. I was hooked on my tri-band beam and never thought I'd go back to a wire again. When we moved back to Texas and into the new QTH I wanted to get on the air ASAP but knew the beam would have to wait. So, after many months of fussing and fuming about having to run a wire antenna, I put up the DX-EE. Running it horizontal strung in the trees at 30 feet in the back yard. Had bad run of coax right from the start so a couple more months delay to get that straightened out and then finally this past November I put it back up with new coax. WOW! Am I pleased! Totally flat on 20 and with my little Kenwood auto-tuner it covers all of 15, and 10 that I want to use and with just a little adjustment it came nicely into the phone band on 40. Getting great signal reports from all across the continental U.S. and bagged a bunch of countries during the big DX contest a couple months ago with 100 watts. I still miss my beam but this antenna is no longer a temporary solution it is and will continue to be my main antenna.