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Reviews For: Hygain Explorer 14

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

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Review Summary For : Hygain Explorer 14
Reviews: 23MSRP: 549.95
Description:
Broadband Tri-Bander Beam with 40 or 30 Meter Option. Covers 10/15/20 Meters. EXP-14 has a
unique Para-sleeve concept that optimizes edge-to-edge bandwidth.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hy-gain.com/hy-gain/products.php?prodid=EXP-14
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00234.7
AJ6FN Rating: 2024-04-16
Warranty Service from MFJ is aweful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently assembled a Cushcraft D40, a Mosley TW-33-XL, and a HyGain Explorer-14. The Explorer-14 arrived with 4 broken trap caps. The traps were not wrapped in bubble wrap or in any way protected from the antenna tubing bouncing around in shipping.

It took me almost 30 minutes to reach someone at MFJ (MFJ bought HyGain) to request replacement trap caps. They didn't confirm that they shipped the parts so two days later, I called them to confirm. After another 45 minutes, I was given a FedEx tracking number. The parts were indeed shipped out. Of the three antennas I purchased, Mosley was clearly the best by a long shot and the Explorer-14 was by far the worst in terms of fit and finish.

When the hose clamps were clamped down on the slit ends of four pieces of tubing, the slits were completely closed but the tube inside that joint was loose. I had to remove the hose clamp and use a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to widen the slits so that the joint was tight. The plastic boom end caps that came with the antenna were 1-1/2 inch caps but the boom is a 2-inch boom. I went to Home Depot and bought rubber caps with integrated hose clamps. These are used for ABS pipe caps.

I finally got the antenna on the tower along with the other two antennas. When I hooked up my antenna analyzer, it shows that the antenna is open. It is most likely a problem with the balun but it could also be the PL-259 connector that I installed. I'll crank everything down when I get the time and look into the problem. The issue has been isolated to somewhere between the bottom and the top of the tower.

My hope is that the performance of the Exp-14 will balance out the poor initial fit, broken trap caps, and poor service from MFJ.
EA2EGZ Rating: 2023-04-03
Acabo de adquiir una hy gain explorer 14 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Acabo de comprar en Diciembre una hy gain explorer 14 con el kit de 40 metros, sin estrenar del año 1990 en Alemania, que no he instalado todavia. He visto en el foro que funciona muy bien, si alguien puede decirme sus pros y sus contras.- Ahora que llega el buen tiempo la instalaré a 7,5 metros del tejado.-
Gracias
AG7JN Rating: 2019-08-17
Great antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After obtaining an old tower that came with no documentation I was leery about putting up a large heavy antenna that the tower may or may not have supported. The EXP-14 with the 30/40 meter kit was the lightest antenna that would do what I wanted, which was cover 10-40 meters.

This antenna has surprised at every turn. Sitting at about 65 feet it functions extremely well. I did outfit mine with the DX Engineering heavy duty balun which is recommended if you run high power.

The antenna assembles fairly easily although it does have a LOT of parts. Installing the 30/40 kit left enough extra tubing to construct a 6- meter vertical! Hardware is adequate but it's a good idea to replace the supplied boom-to-mast bolts with stronger, grade 8 hardware. Make sure that you drill a hole through the mast and insert a bolt through the bracket and mast. I live in a very high wind area and didn't do this at first, with predictable results. Use locktite on all hardware connections.

Assembled this antenna is light, at 55 lbs and is easily rotated with a HAM-IV or equivilant rotor.

SWR across all bands is very good, and above 20 meters does not require a tuner. Although it is more of a rotatable dipole than a true yagi I am impressed with it's performance.

A lot of bang for the buck, a great antenna if you have weight or size concerns. I expect to have this antenna for some time to come.

K4TK Rating: 2017-12-09
great moderate cost HF antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my EXP 14 with 40 meter kit OVER 27 years now! And I bought it USED!!! I've had it up at a location in South Carolina as well as two locations here in Alabama. I get EXCELLENT signal reports....bust DX pileups often. Especially of note, is how well the 40 meter kit (just a rotatable dipole) works at 50 feet. Granted, I do run an amp (at about 1200 watts)....but I consistently bust DX pileups on 40 with JUST ONE CALL. And again, i get great reports on all 4 bands.

I've even tuned it up on 12 and 17 meters before i added a WARC yagi. I have a Mosley TW-22M about 6 feet above it....which is indeed a compromise installation (to have it that close). But that was all the room/separation I could get on the mast. I'm pleased to say both antenna still work great, and I've documented the slight interaction on my QRZ.com web page.

So between the EXP 14 for 10/15/20 and 40....and the Mosley for 12/17....I'm getting great reports and busting the pileups with no problem.

The quality of the HyGain is fantastic. Granted, this version is from back in the day when HyGain was still HyGain (before MFJ bought them out). I just know mine has lasted the test of time. It's also been thru multiple Hurricanes (granted, some 150 miles inland....but winds still exceeded 80-90 mph at my location). The antenna took those winds (I turn the boom broadside to high winds like that.....rather have the large diameter 14 foot boom face the wind....than the 42 foot 40 meter element face the wind!).

I've had to replace the rope that supports the 40 meter element 2 times in all these years..the boom end caps once....and I've replaced some of the element end caps. THAT IS IT.

I couldn't be happier with quality, performance and cost!
WA3GIN Rating: 2017-09-08
QK-710 Trap Failure Info Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Explorer 14 w/QK-710 kit is a great value. I've used this 40m version at 50' AGL for several years.

However during the 2017 VA QSO Party the antenna showed high SWR on 40m. I removed the QK-710 traps and found the portion of the coil closet to the other traps was scorched such that several turns of the coil were shunted with cooked insects.

I used a wire brush to remove the burned insect material. Then polished with a SOS soap pad, then rinsed and dried the coil.

The problem is there is a large opening at the end of the trap where the aluminum cover is connected to the element.. The opening is too large and allows moderate sized insects to enter and build nest inside the trap.

I drilled a 1/8" weep hole in the center of the trap and sealed the opening where the tap is made.

The antenna now has normal SWR readings.

I think It would be helpful if the coils for the OK-710 were made with enamel coated copper instead of bare aluminum. The Insulated wire may prevent nest from shunted the coil. The added insulation would be well worth the extra expense or at least offer the copper as an option. The insulated wire might even increase to rated power on 40m.

It would also be helpful if the manual warned about the possibility of insects collecting in the traps and shunting the trap coils making the antenna useless while also explaining how to restore normal SWR, etc.

73
Dave
KB8BAB Rating: 2012-09-27
30yrs old Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I found a ham that sold me the antenna (+40Mtr kit), rotator and 45ft HDX tower for $500.
Include he had the original manual...it was dated 1982...
Upon re-assembly of the antenna...the swr's were nearly the same across all bands as what was recorded in 1982...
Simply amazing and it works fantastic!
AA8OY Rating: 2011-07-20
Excellent small beam Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I installed my Explorer 14 in 1994 and other than replacing one trap, have had no problems with it. It's at 50 ft. and have worked 339 countries and have mixed and CW Honor Roll. I installed the 40 M kit and am really glad I did. It's an outstanding small beam for residential lots without room for a larger beam.
K3AJ Rating: 2011-02-11
Works as claimed, built like a tank Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I held off reviewing this antenna until I had it up for 18 months, including two winters. Overall, I can highly recommend this antenna. The only comparison I have is my old Cushcraft A3-S used at a previous QTH. Althought the A3-S gave good service for many years, there is no comparison to the robustness of construction - the Hygain is built like a tank. The Explorer works well on both CW and SSB segmnents of 20-15-10, exactly as claimed - my internal transceiver ATU can handle the match easily. There are a LOT of parts to this antenna, but the instructions are clear and it went together well (I did a lot of preassembly indoors and then assembled the element halves to the boom on the driveway). The brackets and clamps are well designed and very stout - this beam should last for decades. The only complaint I had was that there is no way that the smallest diameter element segments can be assembled with the SS hose clamps provided. The segments they telescoped into were way too hard and the slots way too short to allow the somewhat oversized hose clamps to tighten. I stripped every one of the clamps in these places before the elements would snug up, and yes, I know not to overtighten the clamps. I went to Home Depot, bought smaller hose clamps for these places, and it went together fine. Despite that glitch - go ahead and buy the Explorer - you won't regret it.
HC2S Rating: 2007-06-21
EXCELLENT ANTENNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent antenna and design, I have the Explorer 14 with the 40 meter band kit, for one month now in a 56 foot tower, the results, 85 countries worked, better than more bigger antennas. Just one set of measures and you have a comfortable bandwidth. If you look for less cost, light weigth and small area antenna for 3 or 4 bands, this model have the best performance in the market.
K2MK Rating: 2007-06-14
Excellent service & performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had an Explorer 14 with the 40 meter add-on kit installed on a US Tower TMM541 at my previous home from 1990 to 2006. At 41' high its performance was outstanding. An excellent DX antenna on 40 meters.

The SWR was very flat on 10 through 20 meters. The SWR on 40 meters was good as well. Nowhere higher than 2:1. The only maintenance problem was very minor. There are plastic spacers holding the matching bars parallel to the driven element. One or two cracked at the end but the matching bars stayed where they were supposed to until I got around to replacing the spacers several years later.

In 2006 I gave away the antenna and tower and the antenna came apart with ease. The stainless hardware held up beautifully. As far as I know, it's up in the air again providing lots of DX.

I really miss it at my new home where towers are not permitted. In today's market I would probably put up a 3el SteppIR with the 30/40 meter trombone element. But if cost were an issue I wouldn't hesitate to get another Explorer 14. That antenna plus an 80 meter inverted Vee hung from the tower makes an awesome arrangement for 80-10 meters.