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Reviews For: Hustler G7-220 (220MHz Verticle)

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : Hustler G7-220 (220MHz Verticle)
Reviews: 7MSRP: 150.00
Description:
10Foot Verticle. 222-225Mhz coverage. 600watts. 7DB gain.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074.1
VE3ES Rating: 2021-06-22
Old school antenna. Buy something modern. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this antenna new in the box for a repeater project back in the mid-1980s. At the time the reviews were that the Hustler G7 antennas were a good product compared with the main competition like the Cushcraft Ringo antennas. Back then it probably was a worthy product but moving ahead nearly 40 years these old school antennas suck. For nearly 40 years the Austin 220 mhz vertical that has been in use finally crapped out. I dug out the NOS G7-220 and put it together. What a piece of junk. Sorry old timers, it clearly shows it's age and old design compared with a modern Diamond or Comet antenna. The G7 has multiple pieces that have to be put together "just so" and the manual that came with it must've been written for something other than a G7. Dimensions that were clearly not correct and multiple parts that barely fit together.

Will ultimately use this antenna but on the roof of my house about 30' AGL rather than at the repeater site on the roof of a 22 floor apartment building where it will take a lot more punishment. It is paid for and hopefully it works. It will replace another old school piece of junk, a Cushcraft Ringo for 1.25m.
WB0YLE Rating: 2020-09-30
Great Antenna for the Price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've mounted, as of now, 3 of the G7-220 antennas for repeater use since 2010 on various structures from side mounts on towers (and replaced the tube radials with solid stainless rod..) and tops of poles up 40' above roofs (guyed poles) fed with a combination of heliax or flooded RG400 and these just work. Yes, you can go out and spend 8-900 USD for a stationmaster (which will eventually break if you don't install the tip stabilizing bar), but, for the money, on 220 (and we know that there is a distinct lack of hardware variety for this band), if you follow the directions, check your measurements when assembling, replace any steel fittings with stainless, use anti-corrosion between the joints...it performs across the band with < 1.3 SWR out of the box (which you can tune with an anritsu or other device) to get it to less than 1.2 if you're careful.

It takes the 70 or 100 watts from the duplexers just fine at the end of 75' of commercial quality coax/heliax, and the gain over lesser 220 ham-grade antennas is noticable.

No, it's not a commercial grade antenna, not like having a dipole array from Comscope or the like...but it does the job, and works just fine.

I doubt it would last on top of a 1000' structure in a hurricane, but, for most of us, it's worth a serious look if you're building a repeater (or need a base antenna) for the 80-percentile of operators or clubs.
WK2M Rating: 2020-08-18
Good for base operations.Questionable as repeater antenna. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good overall antenna for base operations. Does not replace a "commercial repeater" antenna. I found the weep holes clog and the threaded elements come loose after time. It is a high maintenance antenna. If you have good access to the antenna to maintain it, its a good antenna. If you plan on using it for long term repeater use look elsewhere. I would give it a better rating if it was designed better. I had to take it down 2 times in 3 years for issues.
KC4GMY Rating: 2006-05-16
High gain and lasts for over 10 years. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These antennas are big and bulky but they radiate well and hold up to weather for years.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC4GMY on 2004-03-16

Has worked great for a year now - good performance and a low SWR.
WB5ITT Rating: 2004-05-24
Best 220 rptr/base antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have used the G7-220 (and G7-144) since the early 1980s...excellent construction and GAIN! It WORKS! (Out does DB224 on 2 or 220 at same location...have done this many times)...BUT it does NOT like lightning...so if you mount on top of tower, make sure you have a lightning rod taller than it or watch the phasing coils splinter like bamboo on a direct hit (the rptr stayed on the air though thanks to the direct DC grounding of the antenna! The top element was found to have a deep burn of 2 inches long in it!!! Now that impressed US!)
If you want the best rptr antenna for your money, you cannot go wrong with the G7...just make sure you WEATHERPROOF it right....otherwise, you can kiss it good bye...the Type N on the bottom I did not like..it was not strong enough in my professional opinion...had to use small jumper to main line...Also change the hardware to stainless....the screws will rust unless Hustler has changed them!
224.5 Beaumont, 224.88 Daisetta and 224.8 Conroe/Houston, TX has used the G7-220....and never looked back :)
KC4FWC Rating: 2002-01-02
Good performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great VSWR and gain. Definitely the triple 5/8 wave design is a winner. I like the type-N connector as well. The only problem with most any hustler is the ground radials breaking off when side mounted on a very big tower. Ice can break them right off distorting the pattern greatly! I have used 3/8 inch solid stainless for some that I intend to have up for many years. Hustler makes great mono-band antennas but beware of the G6-270, I have had three where the feed has blown up. This was several years ago but maybe they have fixed this defect. G7-220, I recommend highly.
KC2GOW Rating: 2001-08-31
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It is a great antenna. It lasts a long time. I have had my G7-220 for more than 2 years and is still in use.