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Reviews For: Diamond X 700 2m-0,7m base antenna

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

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Review Summary For : Diamond X 700 2m-0,7m base antenna
Reviews: 14MSRP: 399.95
Description:
7,2m long omni antenna
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00144.9
2E0DDV Rating: 2020-10-04
Not the best on 70cm. 2m works great. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For 2m it works absolutely amazing.
Swr on both bands are 1.1 or 1.2 so pretty good.
If it is long distance you require for 70cm then steer clear. The radiation pattern is way too low to any distance on UHF. Local signals within 5 miles radius are much stronger compared to my X30.
I can hit the Daventry repeater on 70cm with my X30 where as my X700 can't hear enough to work it!
Slightest bit of wind and the thing wobbles like a fishing rod but so far it hasn't come down yet...
I would probably go for the X510 next time I make another dual band antenna purchase.
N1EE Rating: 2018-12-26
The ultimate dual band base antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this after having trouble with an older next size down dual band. I always wanted one of these but cost prevented me for many years. I’m in a relatively high location 500’ in Coastal Connecticut. It mounted on a 30’ with LMR 400. I’m using a comet duplexes. I wish I bought a diamond as those work better

I drove my former antenna with a 160 watt brick with a high gain GAsFET preamp. This antenna is served by an icom 9100 with 100 watts on VHF and 70 watts on UHF.

I test propagation using repeaters. I can key up 49 2 meter repeaters with some duplicates at s8 or above and the same number on UHF at S3. I wasted my money on the 1290 MHz module and have not made one contact on that band using a different antenna.

Like it’s next size down little brother it suffers from swaying in windy conditions. This is more noticeable on uhf. We gamer a fair amount of wind here. I’ll huess swaying is less of a problem with this antenna that the smaller one but that one a guess.

At some point I’ll hook up a preamp. People are amazed when I hear them on the input of repeaters at high signal level. The often start bragging about there own antenna when mine is doing the heavy lifting.

I prefer simplex however there is less of that lately.

I’m hoping that diamond comes out with a tru bender that includes 1200 MHz as more people get on that band.

I found a group of friends that are more widely dispersed than in the past and we do meet up on various local repeaters. With this antenna I can dial back the power and no stress my radio. I can also dial up the power to QSO with mobile units at great distances. I once tracked a friend from Rhode Zialand to Allentown PA using five different repeaters. Now ising digital modes that sort of thing is not a big deal.

Bottom line? If you want the biggest possible RF footprint on a vertically polarized omni directional antenna there is none better than this antenna. It won’t overcome a horrible mounting location but if you get it up high you will be amazed at it performance. Couple that with a pre-amp and good power levels you will feel like an RF god.
H
SV6BAT Rating: 2018-05-03
Excellent, durable, efficient Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am returning to the previous report I published in 2002. The X-700 antenna was purchased in 1991. It is currently positioned in its place without any support and continues to offer valuable services in VHF and UHF communications. Its acquisition has become self-evident. The conclusions are excellent.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by SV6BAT on 2002-02-07

I have & use this antenna about 10 years. Very good construction, endurable to long time. I don't know some other antenna more effective of X700. Manufactur specifications exists 100%.
N1RIK Rating: 2017-10-24
So far, awesome Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got this antenna to replace a failed Hy-Gain V-42R on my 145.270 / 444.700 repeater system at the Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst NC. It came highly recommended to me for repeater service by WA4PXV, K4JDR, N4WFU. It's been up over a month now and is working great. I did make a PVC top sway brace for the antenna which is mounted several feet below the top of the antenna, so it doesn't bend all over place causing duplex noise and slapping the tower. I used the gray, UV coated PVC for the brace. Performance on this antenna is much better than the former antenna, and I was also able to take off the extra VHF pass cavity that was in front of the transmitter on the 2 meter repeater and still have no desense. I recommend this antenna to anyone setting up a 2m and/or 440 repeater IF they have it side mounted to their tower and have a top sway brace on it. This antenna is VERY floppy, but with the sway brace, it's not going anywhere. I don't know how much ice it can handle. Down where I'm at, we rarely get ice.

73s
Bill, N1RIK

K4PEW Rating: 2017-09-21
Absolute Best 2m/70cm Vertical Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Run twice-weekly Simplex Net from QTH. This antenna replaced an Opek UVS 300 that was rated at 8.3db gain on 2m.

The Diamond X700HNA rated at 9.3 db on 2m has outperformed ANY antenna I have used, both on transmit as well as receive.

Construction is solid and durable. Save up your money and buy this antenna; you will NOT be disappointed.
G3VES Rating: 2017-08-25
An absolutely fantastic antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
An absolutely fantastic antenna which performs just as the advertising blurb says. I can hear and work repeaters and simplex stations 80 miles away, couldn't even hear them before on my discone.

Mechanically it is a bit of a monster and bends a lot in a strong wind. Mount on a 2" pole on wall brackets. For best results feed with a very low loss feeder cable.
W7TKX Rating: 2015-09-06
Superb 2 Meter Ant. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Diamond X-700 is a Superb 2 Meter antenna in all respects. The antenna is tall (23’) and flexible, it requires a strong mast and mount to handle wind flex loading - it does flex and wag!! The antenna construction is excellent, well crafted and designed for long trouble free service. Assembling the three antenna sections is clearly documented and easy. I took a few extra steps during assembly; cleaning and applying a dab of silver conductive compound to the internal antenna wire joining points and using a drop of thread lock on the joint set screw; lightly wiping the external radome coupler threads and gaskets with silicone grease before joining; after joining wiping the external couplers clean and wrapping the joint with flexible coax tape, securing the beginning and end of the wrap with a zip tie so it won’t unravel. Definitely use a good low loss VHF coax like - SSB EcoFlex Ten Plus from Vibroplex.
The X-700 performance is truly amazing! I mounted the X-700 on the house, 6 W/L above ground giving me Solid Simplex contacts over high hilly terrain at 200 miles, full quieting on distant hard to reach repeaters, with less then 50W on a TS-2000. And, almost flat SWR across the band - 144MHz 1.2:1 / 146MHz 1.15:1 / 148MHz 1.3:1
Go for it, it’s worth it!
VK3FMJA Rating: 2015-01-13
MASTERPIECE Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had this antenna as soon as I have passed my STANDARD license. It's worth paying AUD $399.00 because it will provide you a satisfaction. This piece of art not only can HOLD a STRONG wind but can also reach miles and miles. I use this antenna for my echolink and ALWAYS receive a good report. I will recommend this antenna to any body with pride. Another great work from Diamond!



73...

VK3MJA
NK4K-1 Rating: 2011-12-30
Good performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We used one of these near top of a 225' (69m) tower for an X-1J4 packet link. It stayed there for about 15 years without problem. But MAN! when you get even a 10 mph wind, i.e. NONE, this behemoth would point to 2:30pm every time. Upon removal, the issue became the top tip slapping the tower for 15 years. Seeing as how steel is much stronger than fiberglass (in this case at least), I must insist on this antenna being mounted with a sun proof (UV resistant) horizontal mast about three feet down from top. Yah, glass was pretty thin at top from all the years of slapping the tower. It would have failed (water intrusion) within months if it hadn't been taken down.
M0FRH Rating: 2009-03-14
Excellent antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had used for 3 years near to the coast and not a problem even in 60 mph gusts. highly recommend.