Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: GAP Titan

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : GAP Titan
Reviews: 192MSRP: titandx
Description:
Covers 10m 12m 15m 17m 20m 30m 40m and 100 KHz on 80m, & WARC
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.gapantenna.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
33.71924.4
WS7X Rating: 2020-10-09
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the gap now just a few weeks but so far I like it. It was relatively easy to assemble and install and it tunes up nicely on all the bands. The last multiband vertical I had lasted many years so I hope the Gap will also last a long time. I do have it guyed well and I'm making contacts on 20 and 40 meters. Have yet to use it on some of the other bands since propagation has been terrible. I will update this review after I've had it a bit longer but so far so good.

Updated: I still think the gap is a good antenna. Not great but good. 80 meters went kaput the first time I put a kilowatt into the antenna, so I'm pretty sure that cap unit for that band is shot. 20 through 40 have continued to work okay until recently when I had an issue with 40 meters where the SWR would skyrocket at about 1KW output. Long story short, the little pvc support holding the counterpoise had almost completely burned through. Also the 4 aluminum tubes holding the counterpoise wire was plugged with critters and where the counterpoise wire goes through it was pretty charred up. I cleaned things up and put it back together and the swr is back to a 1.2:1 on 40 meters. The gap seems to work best on 40 meters. It is a bit deaf on the higher bands (compared to my inverted V) but it does work. I removed 1 star because of the blown cap for 80 meters. The antenna is supposed to be rated for legal limit on all 8 bands. Well I seriously doubt that. Mine didn't last but a couple months before it quit working on 80 meters. Otherwise the Titan is a decent multi band antenna and will get you on the air. I think if you're running barefoot at 100 watts or so you may have better luck. My problem seems to always be when running a bit of power with the antenna.
WX4US Rating: 2020-04-21
Surprisingly strong and well made. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this Titan for more than 12 years. I took it down about 5years ago for general maintenance and all was good. We went thru a strong storm just the other night with heavy winds and unbelievable gusts. The Titan is mounted on a single leg of a 10' stick of Rohn tower buried 2' down in concrete. It is un-guyed. During the storm I watched as the antenna bent in the wind and I was sure I was going to loose it. The next morning I found the steel tower leg had bent about 20 degrees, but not the antenna! I put an analyzer on it and found it as before, all bands with in specs. I am amazed!

I also have a Voyager ground mounted and about 30' away to the west, but it has the recommend guys at the recommend distances. It also survived perfectly. Yes, GAP is proud of their antennas and for a good reason.
K4UFB Rating: 2019-11-15
Best vertical antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my GAP Titan several years ago when I got back into ham radio after a 43 year hiatus. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on an antenna so looked at the verticals that were being offered. Selected the Titan and could not be more satisfied. Have moved it two times before settling on one of the pilings at my dock. Have had about 1000 QSOs and have worked over 140 countries. I recently had a technical problem and called GAP, got Rich and he led me through a series of questions and it turned out to be I had hit the wrong switch on the transceiver. Great support and super antenna. Have found I can work a rare DX station surprisingly well considering the pileups and only 100w output. The only other antennas I have used were a dipole, and a 3 element beam and that was back in the 70's.
KQ4EM Rating: 2019-11-03
Best Vertical Ever !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned many antennas over the years, tribanders, wires and many antenna projects. I always liked 40 meters and could never work much DX on 40. Bought a used Gap Titan DX from a friend. It was like a miracle. I worked many many countries. Best antenna experience I ever had. Could work 10 - 80 meters and hardly even needed a tuner.
NY2KW Rating: 2019-04-23
Pleasantly Surprised - Works Great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the GAP Titan reluctantly despite a lot of negative press on the web. It sounded like the worst vertical performer for the footprint. I lost my 80’ dipoles to a lightning strike Dec 2018 and could not replace them before winter set in but I could dig a hole and set up a vertical without radials very quickly. Being on a hilltop, in Westchester County, NY, I wanted to limit direct lightning hits so I placed the GAP UNDER the canopy of a large cluster of 80-100’ high Black Locust trees with the lowest branches still higher than the GAP. The Titan is about 100’ from the shack with GAP base and coax shield grounded to several 8’ rods (these were already in place from my dipoles & all rods bonded to service entry panel). My hilltop is in a wind tunnel so I double - guyed the GAP on top and mid sections. We had several 60+ mph gust storms this winter and the GAP never budged. The 40m radial arms have sagged a bit but not affecting performance. I plan to to raise these up with nylon rope and stainless clamps this Spring. After installation, the VSWR for each of the bands were pretty much what GAP stated but I use a remote mounted antenna tuner (also left over from my dipole days) to keep SWR below 1.5. The tuner is positioned about halfway between shack and GAP… I know not ideal but I needed to get everything setup in freezing weather in Dec 2018. I can usually work whoever I can hear though I need to QRO. Works very good on 40m-15m in SSB or digital. I routinely have been running WSJT-X each late afternoon or evening and to work DX reliably I must run 500-600w BUT I make contacts. Over the winter I have already made >100 DXCC contacts with FT8 across 20m,30m,40m and 80m. I routinely work all states including KH and KL plus all European and Western Asian entities. VK and ZL on 14.074MHZ around dusk and ZS almost anytime have become routine. Recently, band conditions must be better because I have frequently heard China and Japan on 20m & 40m and have had digital QSOs. Compared to my dipoles, the sensitivity is different but I cannot make direct comparisons. My reports on SSB have been less impressive than the dipole but I make the contacts even in pile-ups. The GAP is more sensitive to nearby QRM.. I live adjacent to a 50 acre farm with an electric deer fence and I never noticed the 1 sec clicks with my dipoles but they are very apparent with the GAP. Fortunately, the clicks do not interfere with WSJT-X and my Flex 6700 blanker geets rid of the clicks very nicely on SSB. Now for 80m – I thought I would be using the GAP mainly for SSB as a NVIS so I selected the 3.7 capacitor option. I work QRO up to 1200W and again if I hear them they can hear me. Surprisingly with my remote tuner down on 3.573 I can work West Coast, South America and Europe running 500-600W. Gap says not to run more power on the band ends to limit voltage on the top capapcitor. I do notice that fewer stations respond to me on 80m WSJTX than the the higher bands. So it looks like my quick setup gamble has paid off… the GAP Titan is not as good as my multiband dipoles but it seems to get the job done for most things as long as you can run 500+ watts. I had some questions during installation and a call to GAP was always quickly answered by Rich, overall install was moderately easy even for one person. I plan to add a hexbeam next month and I will make some side by side comparisons during the next months.
N0YG Rating: 2019-04-12
Fantastic even after Tornado Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We had a tornado come through in 2017 though the weather service called it STRAIGHT LINE WINDS of 90 mph. That's a story all by it self.I had my Titan guyed in 2 places because we do get a lot of wind. After the Straight Line Wind my Gap was Bent over and over, basically junk. My guy wires held on though, lol. I sent Richard pics and we both had a laugh. I bought a new Titan and never looked back. This is a very good product and Richard and the gang at Gap Antenna Products are very knowledgeable and have a NO BS ATTITUDE just the facts. All total I have been using Gap Antennas for 15-18 yrs with no problems ever. Keep Up The Good Work!!!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N0YG on 2008-12-12

This antenna has worked great right out of the box. I took the time to READ the instructions and then assemble. I did not have to CUT or ADD anything. This is One of the BEST verticals around if not the best.I am not saying you can't get a bad antenna shipped to you but it is rare. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ! PERIOD !
KC3JV Rating: 2019-04-12
Corrosion at Cu & Al Junction Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Galvanic corrosion at junction between Copper and Aluminum. I have mentioned this to GAP and they haven't done a thing. There is a Kit on EBAY to replace all jumpers with aluminum of the correct length. My antenna is about 18 years old and still works. If you live in an area of ice inserting fiberglass rods in the 40 M counterpoise arms keeps them from getting a permanent droop.

Mark KC3JV

----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KC3JV on 2014-04-24

I agree with one of the other people about mixed metals. With acid rain in Philly I replaced all of the jumpers with aluminum flashing strips and new SS. screws. One of the crimped staykon connectors was so badly corroded that it became an insulator. Hey GAP GUYS SWITCH TO ALUMINUM JUMPERS Already! Aluminum is cheaper anyway!

Mark
KC3JV
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KC3JV on 2013-09-13

I have had the Titan for 18 years. The only problem is some of the shorting jumpers between the elements opened due to GALVANIC Corrosion. I called GAP and tolled them about the problem and how I replaced the jumpers with jumpers made from aluminum flashing. IT IS ALWAYS BAD PRACTICE TO MIX METALS SUCH AS COPPER AND ALUMINUM. The use of all aluminum plus stainless screws and washers. The antenna has continued to work well for all of these years. The bottom loading elements droop due to ice but I reenforced them with fiberglass poles.
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KC3JV on 2010-10-14

I have had a GAP Titan for many years but like VE1WCP I have had trouble with the counterpoise rods bending. We have our share of ice and icy snow here in Philly, PA.

I have had trouble with the plastic cap that covers the 75 M loading coil at the top of the antenna. The cap does not stay on well and had to hunt around for somthing that was plastic and UV stable. I finally settled on a PVC cap with electrical tape to hold it on but the cap is not UV stable.

The antenna performs very well on all bands. The counterpoise rods should be "T" or "I" beam material to take the ice and snow loading.

N1JAO Rating: 2019-04-11
Fantastic Vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just put this up 15 feet away from my aluminum house on a tilt-over mast cemented 36" down. Tunes great and really gets out on 40. I have it guyed in two places and it looks solid. I needed something for my restricted space and this antenna is working out perfectly. Richard at Gap took my several calls directly with patience and knowledge that answered any questions I had.

-Great product.
-Great company.
-Great customer service

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N1JAO on 2013-10-02

I had the r9 up and it was a disaster (see my review of that if you like) Traded it through hro and the Titan tunes great and radiates very well. Very quiet antenna. I am happy with every aspect of it and recommend it without reservation.

Robert
N1JAO
KK4MS Rating: 2018-06-22
Titan Rejuvenation Project Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just recently rejuvenated a Titan DX that was retrieved from a silent key Ham. The antenna was sitting for about 8 years. It was under a tree that was growing into it, it was heavily oxidated and covered with tree sap. I took down it without pulling it completely apart in 3 sections with coax still inside. The ring terminals were corroded and connecting wires deep down past the connectors also. I replaced all connecting wires with new 10 gauge insulated wire, new ring terminals were soldered this time. I replaced the ring terminals at the yellow gap center section also. I washed the antenna down with concentrated lime juice and baking soda mix to restore the luster and shine. Two of the counterpoise insulated ends were missing, went to Lowes and purchased a $1.39 piece of scheduled 80 pvc 1\2 pipe and created 2 new insulated ends. I re-strung the counterpoise wire with 12 gauge solid core insulated wire and my swr on 40 meters is 1.5 from 7.100 to 7.300mhz. The main coax seemed to be in good shape accept the bad solder job on it, the pl-239 was replaced. It is guyed in 3 places only up 10 feet off the ground. After reading many posts about these antennas, I'm convinced that replacing and soldering the contacts will solve most of the bad results ham's are experiencing. I also dabbed each screw contact connection with heavy lithium clear grease.
KD5YVY Rating: 2018-04-30
Very pleased Time Owned: more than 12 months.
An Elmer gave me this antenna before he went SK, the Gap Titan Dx has allowed me to log 100 countries an have over 2000 contacts logged mostly with the GAP. I really enjoy that fact I didn't have to run ground radials all over the place and the antenna is mounted with the tilt kit and the base is 8' from the ground. I do have this antenna supported with paracord rope after seeing if bend pretty bad in a few wind gust. Hope to use it for many more years.