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Reviews For: Tram 1480 VHF/UHF Collinear Base Antenna

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

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Review Summary For : Tram 1480 VHF/UHF Collinear Base Antenna
Reviews: 54MSRP: around 70.
Description:
2 Meter/70 centimeter two piece omni. 5/8 X 2 VHF (6dB) and 5/8 X 5 UHF (8dB). 200 watts with a SO-239 connector.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.k1cra.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00543.9
AD5VJ Rating: 2006-05-06
Something changed GREAT ANTENNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The only thing I can figure out is that something has changed since the last reviews on this 200W dual band antenna.

It seems to be sealed now with a soft insulating material to keep the water out, for one thing and the rest is written below:

This antenna came as a recommendation from a local dealer and Ham in Arlington Texas Tom Stack wq5j http://www.qth.com/wq5j who has always been very fair, accurate and upright in his dealings.

I have this antenna installed in a temporary installation while we wait on our new house.

I have the antenna mounted on a painter's roller brush extendable pole, which is mounted to the patio cover at about 10 feet, just outside the patio door, with the RG-58 and PL-259's feeding it after it goes through my BNC to PL-259 adapter from my takie and am running it through the door jam to get inside the house with it.

(SYSTEM ERP!? YOU FIGURE IT OUT Hi Hi)

Not your recommended installation to say the least. But it took me all of 20 mins including assembling the antenna because it is so well designed it was effortless to assemble.

I have had rave reviews from Hams on the repeaters all over. One Ham who was on a repeater about 50 miles away, couldn't believe I was transmitting from my IC-V82 Handie Talkie with only 7W and even hitting the repeater. He said I had about 20% noise on the signal.

I haven't even hooked this up to my TS-2000 (100W on 2M) yet, but expect to do MARS AIRMAIL AND PAKCET APRS with it when I do.

I would recommend this antenna to anyone.

No it doesn't have stainless steel hardware, but it didn't cost 200.00 either. For the price YOU CANT GO WRONG

Thanks Tom for a great recommendation once again.

73 fer nw,
Bob AD5VJ(AAR6VM)
Visit My Ham Blog
http://www.ad5vj.com/

10X# 37210, FP#-1141, SMIRK#-5177
Code may be taking a back seat for now,
but the pioneering spirit that put the code
there in the first place is out front of it all.


KC5ZRQ Rating: 2006-04-27
Low price, good performance, poor quality. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Other antennas of this type are better constructed. The fitting where the two parts join together didn't seem to tighten down like it should. It actually wobbles some. I wrapped some self-fusing silicon tape around the fitting to help keep water out. The housing near the base is made of some kind of pigmented metal rather than forged aluminum, like other manufacturers use.

On 144.390 MHz the SWR is 1.4:1 @ 30 ohms. From 145.500 to 149.000 MHz the SWR drops way down to 1.1:1 @ 50 ohms. I don't have a SWR meter for the UHF band.

I rate it a 3 for performance, subtract 2 for construction quality, and add 3 for the low price of $50. If you want the same antenna but with better construction you will have to spend at least $100 more.
KE5ELU Rating: 2006-04-22
Great antenna for the price Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have owned my 1480 for almost a year now. Has worked flawlessly, mounted on a pole at about 30 feet. I have worked repeaters all across the state along with a lot of simplex work. Everyone I have talked to is impressed with how well this antenna works for me. I would not hesitate to buy another one!!
KB4YKJ Rating: 2006-04-18
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this antenna approximately a year. Purchased off E-bay and for the price was a little apprehensive. Since that time I have not been disappointed a bit. The antenna with 50 watts has no problem hitting repeaters 50-60 miles away at a height of 45 feet to the top.

Recently had an ice storm described as the worst in history. Spent a week without power but antenna survived with no damage.
AA5OP Rating: 2006-02-17
Not bad for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the TRAM 1480 at the Orange Hamfest a couple of years ago and have had good results with it. I did do a good RTV seal job on it before I mounted it at 22 feet. As a rule, living on the Texas Gulf Coast, it is a good idea to seal up where you can before mounting anything exposed to the elements. The SWR readings on both UHF and VHF are well within range and for less than $50 it is a hard deal to beat.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by AA5OP on 2004-03-08

I bought the TRAM 1480 at the Orange, Tx. Hamfest a couple of weekends ago for $40, put it up on a 21' pipe and have had very good results.All SWR readings across UHF and VHF bands were acceptable.I did a little extra sealing of the connections with RTV silicone before I put it up and I don't anticipate any water problems. I have been checking the SWR for the last few days as we have had some pretty good rains and so far, all is fine. This low cost antenna is working out well for me.
NH7XQ Rating: 2005-07-29
Can't Complain Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I too recentley bought this antenna from eBay @ $49.00, even after I read the bad reviews on this page. Hey, I'm a new Ham. Do we ever listen? "Your system is only as good as your antenna" we're told. (I do believe this)

Well, my dual band Icom mobile (my first radio) needed a base antenna. The 1480 went together in a few minutes with few tools. Using a painted wooden dowel rod as a mast, and a couple left over clamps from a window air conditioner, I placed it about 25 feet above the ground on my roof. With 5 watts I had no trouble hitting any of the repeaters scattered over the island several miles away. Simplex got really good reports. Not impressed? I live on beautiful Oahu, Hawaii. With all these tall mountains any time you can hit somebody on UHF/VHF it's a cause for celebration :)

To be fair, yes, we do not normally get bad weather here. However, I personally didn't think the construction of this product was really that bad.

If you were thinking about buying a really nice, name brand antenna, get a Comet or a Diamond dual-bander and spend another $70.00 -$100. When my Tram blows over, or freezes in the soft island breeze, I will too.

Seriously though, solid stainless is going to last longer than thin aluminum, right? Spending the extra money may really be the true value if the "good" antenna lasts and the Tram won't. However, if my Icom blows the transceiver I promise I will post here and eat crow. (not to mention purchase another radio)

73,
Dan.
VE1BXK Rating: 2005-07-15
Jury Still Out Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Neil VE1YZ has since taken this antenna and put it all back together. He sealed the joints with fiberglass and reinforced. It will be installed at another repeater (VE1SPR) later this year. Currently the site is using a Sinclair 210C2 2 pole VHF.

I will keep you posted as to it's capability and RF performance over the 2 ploe VHF antenna.



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Earlier 1-star review posted by VE1BXK on 2005-03-27

This antenna was installed at a repeater site 900 feet ASL VE1PAR. Coverage on VHF was excellent, but poor on UHF as compared to a GP-9. The first wind storm the first section broke the metal nut and antenna came apart.

Not happy with this antenna in terms of performance on UHF and could not survive the first wind and snow storm it was up against.

Your better off purchasing a Comet GP-9 antenna for over all performance and strength.

Lorne VE1BXK

KC4IH Rating: 2005-07-14
Whats the beef? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
From looking at the other reviews I was a little skeptical of this antenna but bought one off Ebay for about $41.00 + shipping. Assembly took about ten minutes, the instruction were clear and concise. It appears to be well built and the seal looks like it will last a good while. If I were using it for a mountain top location (but who would use a dual band antenna for a repeater?) I would make a standoff for the top section. We do this with our Phelps-Dodge Stationmaster and it has stood the test of time in all kinds of weather for 20 years.
The antenna was installed on 20 feet of mast which puts it about 10 feet above the roof. Preliminary checks were made using a Cushcraft Ringo Ranger ARX2B in the very same position prior to the installation of the Tram antenna. S meter readings were taken from local hams, several in close to line of sight and out about 20-30 miles with 2 watts. When the Tram antenna was installed none of the hams showed a decrease in signal strength, one showed about 6 db more.

SWR is amazining! It is no higher than 1.4:1 from 144.000 to 147.990 and the same for 438.000 to 449.995 mhz most readings were not enough to move the meter (this was using 40 watts I might add). I can easily work a 443 repeater that is about 40-45 miles away with 2 watts, full quieting and consistantly.

I could never get the Ringo to tune where the Icom 207 would not cut back power on one end of the band or other but with the Tram it is no problem, full power with no SWR power reduction. I tweaked and tuned on the Ringo but no matter what I did one end or the other of the 2 meter FM band was above 2:1 swr.

It may fail next week but right now I am proud of the Tram dual band antenna. I wish now I had bought the larger model!

As to the others who rated the antenna lower it may be that Tram had problems in the past but they are sure worked out at this date. Some of the bad reviews are several years old and most things improve with time. I can also understand why it wouldn't stand up on a mountain top, at least around here. Ice falling from a 150-200 ft tower can crush about anything around and the winds can also snap anything short of a 4X4. If this antenna was installed in the clear of ice falls and the top supported as suggested I feel like it would last well in a harsh environment.

If I have problems later, which I don't expect at this time, I will report back.
KD5ING Rating: 2005-03-07
Great antenna for a great price Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Easy to follow assembly instructions, mounting hardware good and beefy. I am down in a hole at my QTH and still have good signal reports from 50 miles away using only 5 watts on 70cm!!
KC9CGP Rating: 2004-06-12
Not bad for the price! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was the first antenna that I bought and I have to say that for the price I paid It does not do a bad job at 35 feet. I have talked on all kinds of band openings and so on. Actually ordered two more trams and will see how they work I needed them in a pinch for emergencies. The SWR was a little high toward the end of the band on 2m and 70 cm but its acceptable. But this is something that can usually be adjusted folks. Sealed it for Water also.