| KF2TI |
Rating:  |
2006-06-25 | |
| 1 year later |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Remarks: 1 year of Turbo Tuner/ Little Tarheel II
WOWSERS!!! One of those purchases that actually makes you glad you spent the $$$ From the 1st class customer service/knowledge base of Cindy and Robert to the absolutely 1st class materials used in its construction I can't speak highly enuf about the Little Tarheel
Many many miles, over 65,000 to date (the antenna is on the car 99% of the time, the other 1%, it comes off for garages and car washes), many tree limbs (well not that many) Numerous bug splats and at least 1 bird hit. An Ice storm and several blizzards, this antenna keeps on ticking
Combined with a Turbo Tuner... got to be one of the best combinations for HF DX I could think of
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| KI3Y |
Rating: |
2006-06-12 | |
| The Absolute Best Choice |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I was always told that working HF mobile would involve facing special challenges. My commute to work and back every day is two hours. Why not make good use of the time? I started with Hamsticks, but found that dodging traffic while changing out sticks was not fun. A fellow ham, K2ERG, suggested I check out Tarheel antennas. I had never heard of them, but checked the eham reviews and was very impressed. I called them and the first thing Cindy asked me was what kind of car I had and right away I knew I was dealing with the right kind of company that took a personal interest in each customer even before the sale. I ordered a Model 100, Simple controller and MP-1 mount. I was very impressed by the way my new antenna was packed. The design and workmanship was excellent and well thought out in every respect. The biggest surprise was the way it performed! The bands just come alive with stations (depending on conditions of course)I never thought an HF mobile antenna could perform that well! I have always been given consistant S7 to 10 over S9 signal reports by other stations out to distances I never thought possible on mobile HF. But beyond all that was the concerned support and follow up on the part of Cindy and Robert thoughout the adjustment phase of grounding my car properly to insure the best performance. The antenna performs as advertised and then some. I use it back and forth to work almost every day now. Talking to friends in upper NY from PA on 75 in the morning and into the Mid-West on 40 meters going home. Also having fun on 17, and 10 meters, with swr readings well below 1.5 and 100 watts. If you are currently considering moving up to a motorized antenna, do yourself a favor and check out a Tarheel. No, I am not related to Cindy and Robert, but the way they treat their customers makes you think you are "family". If you have any questions about the Model 100 or want some installation photos just let me know. 73, Tom N3XQ tstonej@aol.com |
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| WW4DX |
Rating: |
2006-05-29 | |
| Great antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I purchased the Model 75 while at Dayton due to my other motorized antenna would not work with the Turbo Tuner/Tarheel Tuner. This is an excellent antenna! I had been waiting for Tarheel Antenna Company to market a higher power short model that would cover 75 thru 10 meters (and slightly above). This is it! I have it mounted up high on the upper tube of the spare tire carrier rack on my Bronco, and it works great. I’ve ran right at 400 watts PEP in to it, no problems at all. The workmanship of this antenna is second to none. Robert was very helpful, and answered all of my questions. Highly recommend…
73 and Good DX
WZ4I – Mark
Hickory, NC |
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| K5MV |
Rating: |
2006-05-01 | |
| Excellent |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Thanks Tarheel for a great mobil antenna! I just installed the new model 1000 (Big Bubba) screwdriver antenna I purchased at the Belton Hamfest. Everything works great. I put 100,000 miles on the model 100 before buying the model 1000. I also installed the Turbo Turner this go around with the model 1000. I highly recommend it for added safety when driving and changing bands. Tarheel folks are very helfull to deal with on the phone as well, if you have questions. Both of these products are excellent and I highly recommend both.
Jeff, K5MV |
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| WD9FMB |
Rating: |
2006-03-22 | |
| Exceeded Expectations |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Purchased the Little Tarheel and Turbo Tuner at the 2005 Dayton Hamvention. Mounted it on the front lip (next to the cab) of the bed of my Silverado. Have used it for about about 10 months. Nothing but good reports...excellent quality and workmanship. Would purchase again, but it seems this one will last a long time. |
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| KI4KWX |
Rating: |
2006-03-13 | |
| Tarheel Model 300 - OUTSTANDING |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The Model 300, much anticipated at this QTH, was packed with TLC and arrived in perfect shape. The installation - performed by W4WLC, who had already done 3 installs and got better with each one - came off without a problem. I chose to run RG-8 (not RG-8X) coax as I am very picky about HF coax runs, and it was tied in through a Comet CF-360 duplexer (with a 6m hamstick connected via the other side), which ran to the HF side of my Yaesu 857-D.
After a careful "pre-flight" check I tuned for minimum SWR - first on 10m, then 15m, 20m, 40m, 80m, and finally 160m. The antenna tuned to an SWR of 1.1:1 or better in every band. The limit of performance with the 5' whip in the 160m band ("limit" being an SWR of 2:1) was 1.86MHz. From that point up it was possible to achieve an SWR of 1.1:1 or better.
The bottom line is that this is a highly reliable product that does exactly what it is advertised to do. Being a "talkative" sort, I had a lot of email and phone communications with Cindy at Tarheel. This was not for product issues but rather because I was (and am!) pretty darn excited over my new screwdriver antenna! The folks at Tarheel are rightfully proud of their product and if I had needed actual support I have no doubt it would have been available any time.
My only complaint is that I now am being told by my local ham community that I am stronger on our 10m net when I'm mobile than when I'm using my base station (an Icom 756-ProII and a WA5NAN G5RV) - and this from my driveway! I have no worries about my ability to reach across the country using the model 300!
If you are going to get a screwdriver antenna this is the one. Don't ask questions, don't fret, just open your wallet and do it. Make sure that you have a quality installation - by your own hand or by that of someone you trust - and this antenna will not let you down.
I bought the Simple Controller but have ordered the Turbo Tuner after seeing its reviews on eHam.net (http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5022) and will be selling my Simple Controller. Will update this review twice: once after installing the Turbo Tuner, and once after this year's Florida QSO party, when I will be operating mobile. 73, and when you're ready for the ultimate screwdriver antenna, call Tarheel. |
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| G1ZRN |
Rating: |
2006-02-18 | |
| Model 300. Excellent |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Model owned Tarheel 300.
What can I say that hasn’t been already said? A superb antenna that works well.
I got my first taste of screwdriver antennas with the Yaesu ATAS120 and a FT857. The FT857 wasn’t to my taste I much prefer the Icom IC706MkII2G and as I use top band mobile on a separate whip I though it was high time to get an all in one antenna that would cover all HF bands and 6M.
Out went the FT857 and the ATAS120 and I replaced it all with an IC706Mk2G and the Tarheel 300.
The 300 arrived in the UK approx 7 days after I placed the order, very quick considering as it was sent over the Christmas holiday period. Cindy at Tarheel was very helpful and quick to reply to my questions via email.
First impressions when I unpacked it was “wow, what a work of art” It is extremely well made, a very solid feel and a superb finish that even after nearly three months of being exposed to the salty roads of a winter in the UK it still cleans up nice when I wash the car.
I mounted it on the rear of my 4X4 a Toyota Hilux Surf on the spare wheel carrier with a heavy gauge negative battery lead as an extra ground connected just below the antenna mount and fixed to the chassis.
I put a slightly shorter whip on by approx 6 inches and it now covers 1.9MHz to 51MHz. I’ve lost 1.8 to 1.9Mhz but gained 50-51MHz. When in use the important part of the antenna that does all the radiating is above roof height. Photos will be on Tarheel’s web site soon.
Results are impressive, works really well on 160M 20M 17M 10M & 6M but still to use it in anger on 80M & 40M, but a quick call into the WAB net on 80M showed that I could be heard under noisey conditions with it and just 100W.
We all spend lot’s of money on radio’s and yet very little on antennas. For the sake of convenience if nothing else to have all HF bands and 6M on one antenna that performs as well as the 300 is worth every penny and I’d recommend to anyone who is serious about operating HF mobile to forget about carrying and changing whips and get one of these, you will not be disappointed
Now using a N2VZ Turbo tuner for automatic tuning, see my separate review of the Turbo Tuner, a perfect combination.
Hope to catch you all on the bands.
73
Mike G1ZRN
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| K4WPX |
Rating: |
2006-02-11 | |
| Outstanding! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have used my 1st Tarheel Model 100 in Africa. Travelling thousands of miles in sometimes 4x4 only roads... This antenna lasted and I worked my new countries with it. I now use a Little Tarheel II and this antenna is blowing my mind! I installed it two weeks ago and worked 18 countries on 20m alone while driving to work every morning. The people at Tarheel really know the meaning of great customer service. Great folks to deal with. Your product and service convinced me. Thanks for a great product. |
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| W4PIG |
Rating: |
2006-01-18 | |
| BEST ON THE MARKET!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I HAVE A BABY TARHEEL 2 THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST MOBILE ANTENNA I HAVE EVER RUN I PURCHASED A TURBO TUNER WILL INSTALL THIS WEEKEND I HAVE HEARD SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE COMBO SO I WILL UP DATE THIS LATER WITH MY RESULTS. ROBERT AND CINDY ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THEY GO OUT OF THERE WAY TO GIVE YOU GOOD SERVICE.THAT IS HARD TO COME BY THESE DAYS!!!! |
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| N1LF |
Rating: |
2005-11-24 | |
| Simply the best! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
My installation is on a Chevy Colorado 2005 truck, with the MT-3FB (Fold Back) trailer hitch mount, Tarheel Model 300 antenna and Turbo Tuner automatic antenna tuner.
While a trailer hitch mount lacks some performance over an antenna that is mounted above the vehicle in the clear, I find it the best compromise between appearance and performance.
The Tarheel Model 300 installation took about an hour, replacing the Hamstick HF mobile installation I had used previously.
The Turbo Tuner is an option, but one that is worth every penny. You never have to take your eyes off the road and the antenna easily tunes itself to the best possible SWR match.
My primary amateur activity is public service work (six weeks of service during Hurricane Katrina/Rita. All over the Gulf Coast) and this combination is perfect for operating outside the amateur bands. It easily tunes my Yaesu FT-857D up on SHARES, FEMA, MARS, and other frequencies.
The antenna ships with a 5 foot stainless steel whip, which gives acceptable performance even on 80 Meters. For more punch, I carry both a 102" fiberlgass whip (which can work mobile, keeping the antenna just below the 13.5 foot limit) and also a 12' MFJ telescoping whip when the vehicle is parked.
Subsituting these longer whips results in much better low band performance. I highly recommend them for public service work, with a lot of ARES nets being on 75M.
The Tarheel Antenna is built with aircraft quality parts and is built like a tank. Customer service from Robert and Cindy is second to none, with great communication via phone and e-mail as I was selecting the best model for my needs.
No product is perfect, and the only weakness I can find in this one is an instruction manual that can be a bit light in places. If you've installed HF antennas before, it's adaquate, but if this is your first install, you might have to call or e-mail Cindy and Robert with questions.
However, that shouldn't detract in any way. My recommendation is simply...buy it. If you're not pleased, there are lots of us Tarheel owners who'll be happy to take it off your hands!
Hats off to a quality amateur product built by dedicated amateurs. Corporate America could take
customer service lessons from this small company.
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