| VK6APK |
Rating:      |
2004-10-17 | |
| Tremendous Performance |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've been hf mobiling for about 15 years now with all sorts of antennas home brew and commercial.
3 weeks ago I got the High Sierra HS-1800/Pro Platinum Package. It was dead easy to install and the manual covers the installation process extremely well. It covers all possible scenarios and pitfalls.
The ease of use and the on air performance of the antenna are just superb. I have just completed a 10 day, 4700km tour of Western Australia. The antenna was virtually in constant use each day on all bands 10m - 80m. I have never before had so much success and derived so much pleasure from operating hf mobile.
The antenna is also extremely robust. I travelled some extremely rough and dusty outback roads. The antenna worked flawlessly throughout.
I found Jim from High Sierra antennas to be very approachable and this greatly influenced my decision to go ahead with the purchase of the antenna. Also the local agent in Australia, Andrews Communications, looked after me every step of the way.
I believe that this antenna is the Rolls Royce of motorised antennas and I am confident that it will give excellent service for many years to come.
73, Alek. VK6APK |
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| W7SVP |
Rating:      |
2004-10-12 | |
| Fantastic Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I'd been running mobile only a short time, when I made a trip to So. Calif. to visit family, when I ran across an old Ham buddy.I'd been using the Comet HF mobile mounted to the door of my diesel p.u. He showed me his Sigh Sierra antenna mounted on his SUV, and had nothing but praise for it. As soon as I returned to Oregon, I purchased the 1800 PRO, Bullseye counter and I-Box for my 706MKIIG, and was off and running. Nothing but Q-5 reports from Canadian border down to my buddy in Redondo Bch Calif. I had a few questions about the system and installation, and all were answered quickly and curtiously by Jim @ HS. I could'nt be any happier with this antenna system and it's performance. Great qualiy in construction. Should last a long time up here in the Oregon winters.
73,
Dick W7SVP |
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| GI0HWO |
Rating:      |
2004-07-29 | |
| WOW !!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Just finished installing this aerial onto my Citroen Xsara Picasso.
Words fail me. It is absolutely BRILLIANT.
The only thing to remember is to earth it - earth it and earth it again. I used copper strips from the tow hitch to the base of the aerial.
This is some baby I can tell you.
73 de John - GI0HWO/GI8IZB/EI7JO |
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| K4KAL |
Rating:      |
2004-05-31 | |
| Quality Product, and Great Support. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I attended Hamvention 2004, and one of the items on my list to bring home was a screwdriver antenna. I went to the various vendors offering products and High Sierra looked to be the better choice for me. I purchased the 1800 Pro with the I-Box Controller, for my Icom 706MKiiG. I used Hustler 1KW Resonators for years, so I was a tuff sell. With any antenna of this type there is maintenance that needs to be performed as time goes on. The Quality of this product is superior to its competition, and the maintenance on the antenna can be done by yourself when required at a much lower cost. I feel High Sierra will remain the standard for the development of new products to automate tuning in the future. So that is why I am running one now on my truck. |
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| VE3HI |
Rating:      |
2004-05-19 | |
| Unbelievable Performance and Quality - Handles Canadian Winters |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I love the quick mount and disconnect system that they use. The antenna is off and on the vehicle in under 10 seconds with a screwdriver. I have mine installed on a Ford Windstar - with IC706MkIIg. The foldover trailer hitch mount is a dream. Incredible and convenient. The jet black powdercoat is invisible after dark - I park in downtown areas at night and never have a problem. I have had the whip stolen in broad daylight in a busy shopping mall and have stopped using the rapid disconnect for the whip. No more problems. The antenna comes off and goes into the Windstar in 10 seconds.
Simply the best. I could write volumes but what can I say that has not already been said? After 35 years on the air and mobiling - 20 years in the ham radio business - I have found nothing that works better than the High Sierra HS1500 and now the 1800. Period. Takes a hell of a beating. Takes Canadian winters with road slush and salt brine. I have worked 150 countries mobile. Pileups. Am often asked "Are you sure you're mobile?". If I didn't actually see it myself I would have trouble believing the performance. We have a TH7DXX at 80 Feet on top of the hill in Richmond Hill, so we are spoiled rotten. The 706 works beautifully in the house on the TH7 and in the car on the High Sierra HS1800. One thing I can guarantee.... you will NOT be disappointed. Guaranteed. You can go cheap or you can go quality. THIS is quality. And performance second to none. (I am rambling... 'nuff said) de VE3HI |
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| WN7V |
Rating:      |
2004-04-14 | |
| An excellent antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I installed the Hi Sierra 1800 Pro on a 98 Windstar van in June of 2003, just prior to a extended trip.
This was the first HF antenna on the van, and I of course had to do all required bonding of the van. The antenna replaced the Hustler system of antenna's, which I had used on 3 previous cars, and a pickup.
I have a 2x2 receiver hitch on the van, so I chose the tilt over, for access to the back of the van. This works great, and is very simple to tilt the antenna out of the way.
I followed all of the excellent installation instructions in their manual, and added some extra bonding straps for 10 meters.
I highly recommend Hi Sierra's bonding straps for this.
During the first part of the travels, I worked the second half of field day, with excellent reports. If I could hear it, I could work it. The radio was as TS440SAT. I did put a SWR meter in line with the antenna (cross-needle type), but I found that the SWR meter in the radio was acccurate enough for my needs.
During the 4th of July, in Idaho, I had many contacts, and I found the antenna to tune very easy. Before the trip, I tuned up on 10 thru 75, and marked the spot on the antenna sheath with tape. I then put a piece of tape on the inside of the rear window of the van. With this, I could get the antenna tuned by visually raising or lowering it to the mark, and then checking the SWR. This worked great.
Overall, I give the antenna, and Hi Sierra a rousing 5, for quality and workmanship.
I do appreciate Hi Sierra's comments and directions for the annual maintenance. This is the best way to treat a quality antenna.
Bob Rogers, WN7V |
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| KG6UAX |
Rating:      |
2004-04-02 | |
| Good experience |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Firstly, ditto on everything I have read in this review thread, and Jim has been extreamely responsive to all of my dumb user questions either by phone or e-mail. This is a terrific antenna and a great company.
I am using the HS1800/Pro with an IC-706MarkIIG as several of you all are.
Typical SWR (using RG213 and an MFJ-269 over the range of the antenna height) is from 2:1 to 1:1, averaging around 1.3:1.
It's mounted using the receiver hitch on an Acura MDX, with a 16" 1.25" gas pipe lag bolted to where the ball would be, and grounded using Jim's strapping to the ground point for the hitch wiring (about 6" of strap). The factory receiver hitch is bolted within a few inches of the ground to the frame at a point where the skin is welded to the frame. This ground seems to be working well. The clearance height of the antenna when fully extended is just under 12 feet.
The antenna is resonant from 3.47Mhz - 29.71Mhz, and the need to adjust seems to be as expected, with a tighter window on the longer bands than the shorter bands. It is resonant from 3.47Mhz-5.0Mhz between the top limit and about half way down, then from 5.0Mhz-9.0Mhz from half to 3/4 down, then from 9.0Mhz-15.0Mhz in the next 1/8, and 15.0Mhz-29.70Mhz on the last 1/8th.
Best regards,
Joe
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| WA6BOB |
Rating:      |
2004-03-20 | |
| The Best |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Have compared with others, Sold on the High Sierra
HS-1800/Pro Platinum package.
Works great on my Ford F-350 truck, rear mounted on a 2x2 hitch. I commend HS on their preventive maintainance instructions and ease of operation.
Would purchase another one for the second auto. |
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| KG7DX |
Rating:      |
2004-01-03 | |
| Wow! Get one !! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| Changed rigs from FT-857 and ATAS-120 to Icom 706Mk2G and HS-1800/PRO .. easy install, stronger signal and less noise, and WHAT A MOBILE SIGNAL !! Jim and his crew deserve praise for an excellent product, well-documented, easily installed, that works-works-works! If you're looking here for information to decide whether or not to get one of these antennas, rest assured that there's a good reason why it's rated ALL 5's !!! de KG7DX |
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| WA6TLG |
Rating:      |
2003-12-16 | |
| Great Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I purchased the HS/1800pro two weeks ago to mount on our 2004 travel trailer, it was easy to mount. It took about an hour to run the cables and hook up. turn the radio on and tune to several different bands and checked the swr,the suggested measurements are in the manual.my swr's on all bands can get as low as 1.1:1
This antenna seems to be the easiest and best mobile antenna i have ever worked with, the instruction manaul tells you everything you need to know. Bravo to High Sierra for a Great antenna. |
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