| VK5CZ |
Rating:  |
2013-01-19 | |
| Not as quick as end fed |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I found this antenna a time waster ,by the time its tuned up its time to go home. I ended up giving mine away could not take money for it. The only time I really was successful getting it resonate on 40m nobody could hear my signal very well. The mounting bracket claiming the multi mounting positions, failed I am afraid. Sorry I am an end fed convert now .
de Ian vk5cz .. |
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| KC7ZWG |
Rating:  |
2013-01-17 | |
| not user friendly |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Decided to try it after seeing how popular these things are, wish I had not.
Really does not tune very well on 40m at all, when changing bands can be tricky to get it right where it needs to be for effeciency.
When I called they told me that I needed to buy additional parts if I really wanted to have fun, so I did, now I have over $400 invested still not performing at the level of all the hype.
Called again and they advised I get an analyzer for another $200-$300..lol...really?
To sum it all up I ended up with a really neat bag of "stuff" for big $$$ that sits in my closet, my conciense will not allow me to sell it, so it is a total waste.
If you like to fiddle with taps, meters and ajustments all the time than this is the "antenna" for you, but don't expect superior performance!
For less than half as much of my hard earned money I now have a system that I actually enjoy making contacts with. |
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| KC2TKD |
Rating:    |
2013-01-17 | |
| Very marginal performance |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned the Buddipole for 4 years. It can be a decent antenna but is very difficult to tune. Yes, I have followed the directions and use and MFJ259 analyzer when setting the Buddipole up. I have found that the antenna is very sensitive to its surroundings. I can tune the antenna to 2:1 SWR or less and the minute I raise the antenna the settings change. Then down it comes and start to adjust from there. I have the 16'mast. The antenna is easy to transport and takes up little room but just does not live up to its reputation. Mine sits at home most of the time. |
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| KE2SX |
Rating:      |
2013-01-07 | |
| Outstanding product |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This product is versatile, well made, and the documentation is clear and accurate. I shouldn't have waited so long to use it. From my Soap Box comments for the 2013 ARRL RTTY Roundup:
Been at the new QTH for 6 months now with no shack. Set up my Buddipole Deluxe (first time used in 7 years of ownership) on the back lawn and put the IC-7600 on the kitchen table. Worked 78 stations and 37 multipliers including 12 DX in casual operating with between 25 and 60 watts and a short dipole that was 16' AGL. All I can say is, the Buddipole works! And I had a blast.
Highly recommended for portable, emergency, or temporary ops. Be sure to guy it when using the tall mast.
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| KC4RSN |
Rating:      |
2012-12-23 | |
| Buddipole for weak signal work, WSPR |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Recently started operating WSPR, Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, using my base inverted L antenna. Thought I would give the buddipole a try and set it up on the back deck as a vertical on 20 mtrs., one elevated radial and WOW!!, amazing reception!! Hearing and being heard in Europe with no problem! Going to Florida right after Christmas, will set up portable operation on WSPR down there and add a few radials, can't wait to see how it performs. A great portable antenna, TNX Budd. |
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| N6AZ |
Rating:      |
2012-08-20 | |
| Great Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have had this antenna for about 2 years and it is great. Very easy to tune and set up. |
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| W1TXT |
Rating:      |
2012-07-01 | |
| Impressive |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I can't add much here except that I've been very impressed with the design, materials and craftsmanship that have gone into the Buddipole.
Sitting in my backyard with a KX3 by my side and working Ireland on 5 watts with an solid S7...it doesn't get much better than that!
W1TXT
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| W5QC |
Rating:      |
2012-06-25 | |
| Great Product |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I received this antenna a month ago and set it up in the back yard, tuning was very simple and directions was very easy to follow, made several contacts on ssb 20 mtrs, recently got a palm mini paddle and have worked numorous cw qrp contacts with my 817 yaesu. I let the wind blow it over and broke a whip and ordered a replacement tho it had a spare with the antenna, recieved the replacement in less then a week. If you want a portable antenna to travel or take on the trail this is it, you are on the air in less then 10 minutes. |
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| K7RFW |
Rating:      |
2012-05-05 | |
| Still good after 5 years |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I wrote a review back on Aug 2, 2007. This is an update. I still have troubles setting up as an OCF antenna, but with the TRSB I have only a few issues and using an analyzer makes it a breeze. I now have extra arms, long whips, mostly have used 6 meter L, dipole, and 2 element yagi, 2 meter Jpole and L, various modes on HF, and even a 70 cm Jpole with an old cellphone whip.
My favorite HF setups are the Low V, the vertical with one 'radial' (really an "L" antenna), and sometimes the 'sideways Z' vertical.
Yes, I broke some whips, my fault for not paying attention to physics but I still have three of the original four long whips I got in late 2007, so they do last - if you are careful and do not treat them like MIL-SPEC grunt proof items.
I have helped teach several folks how to use the system, but I know of at least one person (very knowledgeable and a super elmer) who tried it a couple of times, and said (still says) it does not work, even though I was working Europe, the South Pacific, and South America back in 2008 and 2009.
As noted before, this is NOT a substitute for a real antenna, it is a portable, semi stealthy, multi-frequency/band, light weight, multi-configuration, compromise system which requires some care and patience, unlike a long hunk of wire strung between some tall trees or a tower. You do not need a tuner, although correctly used a tuner can make life easier for some operations.
I still rate it a five for its class, I still use it, it is still repeatable within 2:1 or better in almost every place I have been, and I hope to be at the 2012 Hamvention to get more components for experimenting.
Oh, and for those who want 1:1, sometimes 1.X:1 is better, it seems that you can get a broader 2:1 bandwidth at times with a bit of SWR at all frequencies.
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| VA3ZOL |
Rating:      |
2012-04-13 | |
| A great value |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I got this antenna not too long ago for my 817nd. I love going to the local park on the lake to play... I had a few QSO's with this antenna with my IC7000 but tonight was the the first time I used it with the 817. Managed to get 1:1 VSWR without a tuner and worked Venezuela running only 2.5W with AA batteries. This is a great antenna. My signal report was 55.
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