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Reviews For: Van Gorden G5RV

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Van Gorden G5RV
Reviews: 38MSRP: 28.95
Description:
102 Foot Dipole, Covers 3.5-30 MHZ
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00384.4
KD5TJW Rating: 2004-01-19
Great antenna for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the best entry level antenna that money can buy. I purchased this antenna through AES about a year and a half ago for fifty big ones. I tried several configurations and found a V setup is the best. I play mostly on the 20meter band barefoot with this antenna up twenty feet. I have excellent reports from California to Maine while operating in South Texas. Sometimes I can hear everybody and they cannot hear me, and visa versa. Must be band conditions. Well, for fifty bucks and a tuner this antenna is the best for multiband operations.
KF4PN Rating: 2004-01-15
Can't beat the price// Stealth antenna works very well Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had the 102' model w/ 300 ohm/70' RG-8X coax up for 6 months now. It is in the most undesirable configuration, apex up 8' in an oak tree with each end stretched out & zip tied to a 6' wood privacy fence. The transformer is laying in the grass. I put it up just to see how it would work in an emergency / portable setup.

I've been pleasantly surprised by its excellent performance. I've worked tons of DX on ssb/cw on 80,40,30,20,17,15,10,with MARK V FT-1000MP 200W, FT-857 100W, use it daily for LF MARS nets, evening ragchews on 75 w/ the gang, 60m on a modified IC 706MkIIG,QRP CW on 40,30,17, w/ FT-817 and worked SSB CQWW '03 getting 50-60 new countries.

Both the internal tuner in the '1000 and external Kenwood AT-230 will tune the antenna.

There are certain points on 10, 20, and 80 where SWR is <2:1 and I go straight through then.

So far I've seen no degradation in performance after heavy rain, still works well.

Even after I erect my new 50' Rohn Tower I'll keep this G5RV in its stealth location. It has proven itself to be a great backup antenna. I've considered the B&W 90' folded dipole on the tower, but I'll probably put up a G5RV first to see how it works up high.

I've also got a G5RV Jr up 25' in the same tree, but most of the time the fullsize works better than the JR.

I really can't bash this antenna since it's worked so well for me so far. I'd highly recommend this antenna to anyone needing a single antenna for all bands.

Even if you can't get it up high, give it try down low. Obviously it's not the most efficient at radiating at low elevations, but mine tunes well, hears well, and has worked every HF frequency I've tried it on.

This is the best $50 I've spent on ANY ham radio item.

73, Mel

KD7PNY Rating: 2004-01-13
solid performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have my G5RV installed in a horizontal configuration right around 60'. It's nice having trees on the property for this kind of install. The antenna tunes up nicely on 80/40/20, and slowly on 15 and 10. The first big rain I had soaked into the little transformer but was remedied with a hair dryer and some better sealant. My next problem ended up being a poor solder at the pl-259, easy fix though. The antenna is rugged, and the connections are very stout, it looks like it might live for a number of years at this rate. I have the 102' model and have heard that the full size 200'+ design outperforms this one on the low end; I just wish I had more room. In closing, if you don't want to make one, this is an inexpensive means for getting on the air and it performs very well.
73's from the Oregon Coast
KD7PNY
WB8CAC Rating: 2003-10-05
Great Antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the third QTH I've had this antenna up at. Two months ago I moved here and did not have time to get all the other dipoles up, so I put the G5RV up with the center at 38 feet, one end about 40 feet up and the other about 20 (just the way it worked out, not a planned install). I have been using it on 160 (as a "T" against ground with the tuner), 80, 40 and 20 with great results. Got a real shock when I put the resonant 40 meter dipole back up and in comparison tests, with no exception, the G5RV was reported slightly stronger.

As an installation note, it should be stressed more that the twin lead MUST be kept away from mast pipes and metalic misc. of any type to get best results from the G5RV. Once, in a hurried installation, I put it up with the twin running straight down the mast and couldn't talk to anybody. After using nylon line to pull it away from the mast as far as possible, the thing worked great!
W3LOW Rating: 2003-09-28
Worth the Money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
5 out of 5 for Van Gorden.

Ran mine flat-top up about 30'. Outstanding antenna for the money. Great signal reports on 17,20,40,75 and 80 meters. Buy it!!! You'll like it!!!
KD5TXL Rating: 2003-09-14
Make a bargain better! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought my Van Gorden G5RV because it was a complete unit and even included feedline twin and coax. The cost of the coax really offset the cost of antenna.

I have had it up almost a year. I was not thrilled with performance, but height was only about 25 feet at center and 15 feet at ends.
I did make some contacts, but RST reports were usually poor.

After doing some research, I decided to remove the balun. I cut the twin lead and the coax so I could solder them together without the balun.

This made a BIG difference in the operation of the antenna. My signal reports are much better and I can work 80 thru 20 with my MFJ tuner.

Hard to beat the value here when you get a complete system ready to hook up. Maybe the balun works if you can get more height or if you have more power (over 100 watts) but with my rig and QTH, removing the balun made a significant improvement.
NH7FL Rating: 2003-07-03
Works Ok, poor quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Being in the military, single, and living in the barracks I wanted to get on the air. Not having the room or the time to build an antenna I ordered the Van Gorden G5RV.

I installed it on the barracks roof in an inverted vee configuration. The results were so-so. It tuned up well, but every time it would rain I would have the swr needle jumping all over the place. I remedied this by dumping some silicone sealant on the pvc joints. The soldering job is poor.

You make the call. I would get the one from Radio Works.
K4CDK Rating: 2002-11-30
Very Good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Needed an antenna that could cover all bands in a small space. Wanted a wire dipole, figured cost and found could buy Van Gorden already made cheaper than could buy material. Put it up and improved my coverage greatly over 4 wire dipole was using. Easy to install and matched up to my TS-570S across all bands. Has been a great help as I am listening and studying code. Had to get help checking match by a fellow ham with general license. He was amazed at the good match.
W5VK Rating: 2002-11-11
G5RV w/300 ohm+coax Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Quality of materials good. Operates as advertised. All bands 80 thru 10 except 30mtrs with my auto tuner. Price reasonable. Bought another for different location.
KF9VH Rating: 2002-11-11
Poor life span Time Owned: more than 12 months.
While it was working it worked great. After two years it failed. I guess for the price what can you expect? I feel it should have lasted longer.

Going back to a dipole.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KF9VH on 2001-09-14

I run 1.2kw almost every night on 75 meters. I have a 3-1 swr with out the tuner in line.

I had a wire up cut for 75 and when I went to the G5RV the guys I talk to could not see any difference.

About the same on 40 meters. I have run the same power and swr there with no problems.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KF9VH on 2001-09-14

For the money you can not beat this antenna. For years I ran a vertical planted in the back yard. I put up this antenna about 4 months ago and it has preformed like a champ. Much better than the Butternut. It tunes well on all the bands with the exception of 15 meters.

For those that think you have to have a wire up for each band, have at it. For those that want to maintain peace in their neighborhood and not look like a nut case put up this antenna and have a great time.