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Reviews For: Diamond X-510MA

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

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Review Summary For : Diamond X-510MA
Reviews: 41MSRP: Greater than $200
Description:
Dual-Band Base/Repeater Antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
23.5414.3
EI7II Rating: 2023-02-13
The Diamond 510 working fine here but heed the install tips. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Am puzzled by the negative reviews on this antenna.
It is working a dream here and allows me to open a repeater 60 miles ! away.
Yes, it has a design flaw. The Aluminum pipe ,in which it is clamped to it's supporting mast, is too weak. That pipe should have been made out of stainless steel or heavy galvanized steel. Diamond knows this but instead of fixing it decided to give us 2 bolts now on the later models, instead of one as it did previously on the earlier models. Diamond PLEASE MODIFY THIS DESIGN FLAW. Take great care on putting it together... MAKE SURE you waterproof the two sections where they are joined. . ALSO... CRUCIAL !!! do NOT NOT block the tiny drain-hole next to the N or SO239 connector ! Over time condensation will form inside the fiberglass and it needs to escape. Realize that it is a TALL antenna, will sway in the wind and may cause fading in a heavy wind, especially on the 70 cm band.
On the whole though... It performs well and if YOU look after IT, IT will look after YOU. Expect over many many years of use that hairline cracks may form in the fiberglass if you are in a area where temps can swing hard between summer and winter seasons.
DO NOTE: the 300 shares the same concerns as I outlined above. If you bear this in mind, there is no reason this antenna will not give you good and reliable service.
KC9RPX Rating: 2023-02-12
Poorly made antenna for a high price. SO239 just fell off. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got out very well. But the construction of this antenna is very poor. Gets water inside very easily. SO-239 just fell off of the antenna. I do not recommend, very cheaply made, for the $200 I paid for it, I would expect a better-made antenna.
IU1KAE Rating: 2022-11-15
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna (X-510N) keeps what it promises. Installed instead of an X-300, I notice almost 1s more in reception. I bought two: the second is for qth in the mountains. 73
KU4XO Rating: 2019-01-04
Excellent! X-510HDM Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great for 2m FM simplex, height is 50ft to base of antenna works out 30+ miles
Sealed all joints with silicone and has withstood all weather wind/rain/snow/ice been up for over 7 years with no problems
Marketed as dual band 2m/70cm but also works well on 1.25m (220 MHz) quick check with CAA-500 analyzer shows 1.3:1 SWR from 222-224 MHz.
Best choice for money only costs slightly more than the smaller verticals but has far better gain. Did I mention triband capable?
G7RHF Rating: 2018-09-03
on my second x 510 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
bought my copied x 510 decade back ,still got it ,70 cms gave out ,so i got another copy for general vhf/uhf work ,great gain from this antenna i have work france and scotland on 144 ssb good performance on on fm can open repeaters 80/90 miles away im a happy camper
WA0UAY Rating: 2017-08-04
Very good performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Another operator recommended this antenna to me as I was looking to replace my J pole, actually another excellent antenna for the money. The 510 base is only about 15' off the ground. It hears things the J pole couldn't. As matter of fact the antenna works so well that when listening to more of a local repeater, I also hear distant repeaters in the background. The performance is outstanding and no rotor, etc. as needed with a beam. A little expensive but worth it. As others have mentioned the instructions are not the clearest in the world but adequate considering the antenna can only go together one way. I would recommend using LMR 400 coax, a good choice for VHF/UHF operating.
N0FQN Rating: 2016-09-25
Works well enough for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As the trustee for the Klamath Basin repeaters I have to listen out for any problems that may arise. I've had the X510N up for over 7 years and finally had my first fault with it. After looking everything over and checking capacitance values I couldn't figure out why the SWR was at 4:1 on 2M and way higher on 440 MHz. I finally looked down the base tube and there was the dead body of a miniature wasp. Tapped the tube gently to get it low enough to the end of the tube and pried it out with a long screwdriver. It's gone and the SWR is now back where it belongs at 1.2:1 and 1.4:1 respectively. Can't complain about the antenna. Learned to check for bugs first.
K5TXA Rating: 2015-05-02
Good perfomance, bad construction Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When i first opened the box and had a good look at this antenna i had my doubts about its durability. It performs great but only 1 month the wind broke it over at the bottom of the antenna. The fiberglass is so thin you could crush it with your hand if you wanted to. If you are serious about getting this antenna, get the next shortest one and maybe it will not break as easy. This was a waste of $180. Will never buy another one. It is about half the thickness of an Antron cb antenna that i've had for 20 years and never broke due to wind. Bought an Arrow jpole to put up in its place so i wont have this problem anymore.
VK3TQ Rating: 2014-12-04
Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi Guys, I read some interesting reviews on this antenna, I have 3 of them, so they are solid performers. If you commission them properly they don't leak, and they are also good repeater antennas if they are prepared to do that job, i.e. further sealing and gelcoat paint VK3RWN is Melbourne is just that been going 7 years and counting. I live 90km from the repeater, x510 to x510 at strength 9 on D-star 25W repeater.

I love these antennas but in VK we use 430-440 so they are resonated too low in the 144Mhz section so they work, just, in the 430 section I wish Diamond would produce a fully designed antenna that Fo was 146 and 435 suitable for those markets that use it Rather than a world market compromise

Other than that, love them, use them and recommend them

Peter VK3TQ
President VK3 D-Star Users group
AF4RK Rating: 2014-05-23
Better than a 4 el beam! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using a 4 element 2 meter beam from Arrow. I was not able to get the beam up high enough at my QTH, so I put up the X 510 which is about 10' higher than the beam at the top. Reports put the vertical twice as strong as the beam and full quieting on repeaters that the beam won't reach. I am getting 59 in Plantation on Simplex and I'm in North Miami (25 kM). I used the advice from KF6PYF on using epoxy and fibre glass to seal the joints along with the LocTite. SWR - reflected power on the Daiwa meter barely moves the needle. 17' gives me an easy way to get higher without a tower and the gain is impressive