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Reviews For: NI4L CUSTOM RESONANT DIPOLE

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : NI4L CUSTOM RESONANT DIPOLE
Reviews: 18MSRP: 35.99
Description:
LEGAL LIMIT ++ CUSTOM MADE CENTER FED DIPOLE Made with the same components used by our military forces today Custom made to YOUR FREQUENCY of operation
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ni4l.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00184.7
WR4N Rating: 2021-03-09
FAN Dipole: Simply The Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Years ago, I became a Huge Fan of NI4L Fan Dipoles & Mono-Band Dipoles. Sadly, when I moved, I wasn’t able to take them down. My wife & I have now moved to our “Forever” Home, which of course required NI4L Dipoles. The first was a 80/40/20 Fan Dipole. Simply put, Chris’ Dipoles are built like tanks - nothing else compares! The Signal Reports are Superb and RX is equally excellent. I have only one Dipole Maker: NI4L - Great Builder and one of the Nicest Guys around.
WA4APB Rating: 2018-12-24
Really an OCF 11 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
With the prop moving the effective operating frequencies lower, I decided to add a 160 meter antenna. After researching antenna options, I selected NI4L’s 8 band OCF Windom. My supports (a sycamore and cherry tree) were about 230’ apart, so if I wanted a full-size antenna, I needed something that I could slope at the ends. I emailed Chris to ask him if he thought the antenna would work OK with sloped ends. He immediately replied that it would, so I placed my order. My first impression is that the antenna is very well made. I placed marine blocks at about 70’ in each tree for ease of raising and lowering the antenna. I then tied a slip knot on the support rope, which I placed on each end of the antenna wire and sloped the wire down about 35’ and tied the insulators off lower on the support. So, the antenna effectively became an inverted “U” or a half-square.

Putting the antenna on the air impressed me. It tunes perfectly 160-6, which effectively makes it an 11 band antenna. First, I listened to 40, 80 and 160 and switched between my old 80 meter Windom and the new one. The bands seemed more “alive” and signals received with the NI4L were several db stronger, even from areas that favored the 80 meter Windom orientation. I then worked a station on 160 with a 599 report.

One nit might be that I also purchased 200’ of support rope, but it would not fit through the insulator eyelet. So, I used the rope for the marine block pulleys and tied the ends of the insulators off with some 12 gauge insulated wire. I asked a lot of questions about the antenna and installation, which probably annoyed Chris. Still I’m giving him a 5 for the quality of his work and effectiveness of the antenna.

I am looking forward to using the OCF 8 on other bands and seeing how it works chasing DX. More later.
N4TMM Rating: 2018-04-22
OCF 8 Bander - Awesome + Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a great deal of research, I got an NI4L OCF 8 Bander Windom Antenna (270' long) with Flex Weave covered line. I hung it about 80 feet up in the Georgia Pines in my yard. Before I could try it on the air, a strong wind brought a neighbor's pine down directly on top of the balun and severed the short leg. I extracted it from the pine tree mess and Chris kindly offered to fix it for me - involved re-swaging the line and a new balun to replace the old one. I hung it again and tested it with my RigExpert Analyzer, then reversebeacon to see how it was getting out - strong signals from stations everywhere on all bands including 160. On the air, I get strong signal reports on both SSB and CW, including QRP 5W on CW. I also have a full wave 80M loop which I have thought is a most excellent performer from my intown Atlanta QTH. But this antenna is quieter and gets out even better than the loop. So it appears that all the excellent reviews I have read about these antennas were right on target. The best antenna I have ever had at my QTH by a significant degree. Strongly recommended.
W4AMP Rating: 2017-11-29
Fantastic service and price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Chris makes excellent antennas for just a few more dollars than you can buy the parts yourself. He makes them to last, unlike the cheap imitation trash that others are trying to copy Chris with. Accept no imitation with a flashy name, buy from Chris and the antenna will last.
AE4NR Rating: 2016-02-25
OCF 10-80 dipole Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a delay in getting this antenna due to Chris being out of hand with supplys. Finally got it from Chris so far this antenna is dong really well it is a sloper right now one end up 35 feet the other about 20 feet the center is only about 5 feet off the ground and it is doing really well for being so low,Well made I bought the heavier duty version of the 4:1 balun only down side with that is getting the balun up in the air if you can run this as inverted V you would be better off. I can't wait to get this up higher and see how it does
K7QA Rating: 2015-12-05
160/80 dipole with W2AU balun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered this antenna to install at my new MT QTH as an inverted Vee with center at 50 feet up. Chris first sent the model without the balun and cheaper end insulators by mistake. I returned it for the correct model and he covered the shipping. The next antenna received had a 4:1 balun installed instead of 1:1. Again Chris apologized and paid for return shipping. When he sent the correct model, (third time is a charm) he upgraded to the large 5kW balun plus a spare for free. I finally got it erected before snow and subzero weather hit the area for the CQWW CW test and it worked beyond expectations. With only 50 watts and a tuner, I worked 160 thru 10 and made contacts with every station I heard and called.
Chris is a champ and stands behind his products like no other I've dealt with. Highly recommend! Tom K7QA
N0DSQ Rating: 2015-09-21
not what I wanted Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
10 meter dipole, 29.600, 1.6 SWR, used a EigExpert analyzer, no extra wire for tuning, built like a tank, useless to me. Sad, I like the quality.
AF7OA Rating: 2015-09-14
Excellent Windom Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The NI4L Windom is an excellent antenna and Christopher, the proprietor, is excellent to work with.

I lost all my antennas, coax, etc to the Eastern Washington wildfires of 2015. We were refugees for over two weeks. I emailed NI4L on Monday (Labor Day) that I needed an antenna ASAP. He returned with a phone call Tuesday, I had the antenna in my hands on Friday evening and set up and busting pile ups on Saturday morning.

The Windom he made to replace mine is better made than what I had. The materials and engineering are better than mine. The NI4L Windom will be easier to take down and set up in an emergency than my Home Brew.

Let me make a suggestion to new Hams. I was told to build your first antenna. If you want to start off enjoying your new hobby buy your first antenna and get on the air.
There will always be time to build and experiment with antennas down the road.
You can trust Chris Fox, NI4L to take good care of you.
73 AF7OA (aka kg7miy)
N2DTS Rating: 2015-01-25
not even close Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
80 to 10 fan dipole, they include nothing to keep the antenna,s separate, you would need 8 ropes to 8 mounting points...
I made some separators and put it up, it is a bit longer then I had space for so it sags a bit in the center, but not bad.
80 meters, 1.3 to 1 where I wanted it,
40 meters, low swr at 7580???
20 meters, 15.250???
15 meters 22.15???
10 meters 29.6 that is ok.

I make my own antenna's mostly, they can hold the trees up strong, this antenna is very light duty and will be coming down.
VK6NSB Rating: 2014-11-21
Top value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got a 40mtr caged di-pole off them and straight out of the box it was 1.3:1 at 7.90mhz and VERY BROAD banded. Unpacked with ease and was up in 10 minutes. GREAT value and very good people to deal with and I wiil buy of them again