Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: High Sierra Sidekick

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : High Sierra Sidekick
Reviews: 77MSRP: $400
Description:
The smallest HF motorized antenna.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cq73.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00774.9
M0GNA Rating: 2010-09-20
Unbeatable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got mine off e-bay and i can only add further praise for this terrific antenna.The build quality is outstanding,the performance is remarkable,its easy to get it up and running and it looks good.Its no wonder they sell like hot cakes.
KJ4DKT Rating: 2010-08-23
MY FRIENDS ARE AMAZED Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
About 9 reviews down I posted in Dec. 09..I moved antenna to a new Nissan Frontier with a metal toolbox and mounted the S/Kick on the front of the box. I talked S9 to New York yesterday w/the 3ft whip at 100w on my 857d. My ham buddy w/me couldnt believe it. He had been trying all morning to reach him wbase unit at 50ft. THIS ANTENNA IS A MIRACLE FOR ITS SIZE. I AM IMPRESSED !!!!!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KJ4DKT on 2009-12-03

Put the s/k on the roof of my extended cab on a 3mag mount. My ffirst contact on 20m was to virgin islands from Pensacola, Florida. Clear as glass. Now, i have a 62in. Wilson 1000 whip on a spring. this made a big difference. With the 3ft. whip i had no trouble talking to S. Dakota and Wash. state. Maine. Canada and all points between. This antenna talks. Biloxi, Miss. is having an antenna shootout this summer. BE THERE!!!!!
N7ZM Rating: 2010-06-15
Best Mobile I have had Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am still amazed at my little Sidekick antenna. I bought one of Jim's original Protocols when he first went into production. This antenna is still amazing to me. I went from his HS-1500 to a Sidekick and to me the added convenience of it's smaller size and handling was well worth the purchase. Have had this for many years without any problems and will continue using it for many more. High Sierra sure did a FB job on this one, keep up the good work Jim!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N7ZM on 2008-11-13

After five years, still great antenna and performs without any problems. Using a tri mag mount with the BetteRF tune control. Even with all the snow & ice in Northern Nevada, it keeps on working. Have never had to clean it's coil or take apart. Jim's idea of a stainless spring instead of finger stock sure makes a difference. Would I buy it again, you betcha ! I have had 3 others before this one and this has been the best, so why change? For a small antenna with bigger action, the High Sierra Sidekick is the answer.
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by N7ZM on 2003-08-04

Just got my High Sierra Sidekick antenna installed and it works great for it's size. First CQ on 40 got me from No. Nevada, a K6 in LA, plus Idaho, and Utah. Very impressive for it's size. Be sure to follow Jim's grounding strap idea's in manual. I also have a HS-1500 screwdriver, but for the size compromise, the sidekick is FB.
I mounted the sidekick using a Hustler GD-2 quick disconnect onto a IH4501 Iron Horse mag mount.
This small screwdriver also cover 75- 80 meters.
73 Ron N7ZM
N5DLM Rating: 2010-06-15
Great Antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I struggled with a ATAS-120A for a year. I decided to try the Sidekick and I was not disapointed. It works great and I always get reports that it does sound lake a mobil!!
2E1RDX Rating: 2010-03-28
excellent antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the Sidekick on a triple mag on the car roof and use a 9ft whip in place of the 3ft whip when operating static Mobile this tunes 80m to 12m
I worked WH2X today on 15m and he was 5/9 genuine signal also Z21BC, A71CT, A41KJ,W7IEW and KW7Y both Washington state all on 17m with the Sidekick and a TS-570S couldn't ask for more very happy I bought it £325 new here in the UK is a lot of money but it's money well spent I am having a ball
rgds Ian
AH6TA Rating: 2010-03-26
Excellent value and performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Did a lot of research before deciding on this antenna. The car is small (90 Camry) and the size was appropriate. I needed all band coverage except for 2 meters, for which I have a separate Wilson. I'm glad I did it. Jim at Heath Tech was exceptionally helpful. I've got a Yaesu FT-857D, and High Sierra's controller works perfectly with the radio. Tuning is "sharp" but easy and only takes a few seconds. My first QSO on the Hawaiian 40 meter net produced excellent reports; my second QSO was a bit later...to New Zealand. I'm using the High Sierra tri-mag mount, which I think makes a difference as I'm getting a good ground. My only suggestion is the controller pigtail at the antenna should be a few inches longer, so that if you're using a mag mount on the trunk, the butt connector isn't out in the weather. Overall a great value and outstanding performance. Very well built.
WC0R Rating: 2009-10-10
Works great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the sidekick installed high on the lift gate of my'98 4Runner. I bought the BestRF controller and it works through the tune button on my IC-7000. I have not analyzed the performance with an analyzer, but I have had no trouble working east and west coast stations on 20m from the roads around my home in Boulder, CO. I still have a lot to learn and will be working other bands as I gain more experience. I would definitely check out K0BG web site and spend some time grounding your vehicle as recommended. Had some questions for High Sierra and got prompt responses.
KI6FQR Rating: 2009-07-15
Perfect Match Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have 2009 Dodge Hemi Challenger but I wanted HF in my sports car without modifying the car. I chose a sidekick but I did make some changes. I knew the aluminum base was weak and I needed a longer stinger. So I attached the screwdriver to a MFJ tri mag mount with a 3/8 x 24 stud and placed it on the trunk deck after applying a lot of wax! Then I changed the stinger to a 62 inch Wilson 1000 CB stinger I had. I did this because it is long, light and very very flexible! Low stress on the mount. Then I ran a ground strap to the inside of the trunk. Now my car has the battery in the trunk which is very Ham friendly! So I placed my 200 watt Kenwood TS-480HX below the rug and hooked directly to the battery. Then I grounded the body of the Radio and the Strap from the mount to the same place the car battery grounds directly to the frame! Nice! Final I ran the control wires to the center dash and the job was done. Performance is out of this world S-0 to S-1 noise level on 80 meters and full 10 meter to 80 meter performance. This radio is loud and quiet!. So thats it in ending I will say three words. Grounding, Grounding and more Grounding.Be good to your car electronics. I learned that at Engineers college at U. C. Berkeley

73

Greg
K2ID Rating: 2009-03-13
Buy it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the SideKick for two years and have heard comments ranging from disbelief that I was using a mobile to one old timer telling me that I was the best sounding mobile he every heard and he had a lot of years on the air. I do not even have it mounted well as it is mounted in the middle of the rear door on my van. I sometimes think I do better with it than my base antenna. Get one and you will not have any regrets. No need to go crazy thinking about which one to buy. There is a reason why there are more High Sierra antennas out there than many other popular brands combined. Buy it!
KA5QNS Rating: 2008-11-21
Even better with 102" whip! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Just tried a 102" whip with the Sidekick. I purchased the whip from my local Radio Shack for about 25 bucks. My gosh after replacing the the 36" whip with the 102" this thing gets better sig reports on ALL bands and I can hear MUCH better. 102" is very tall (top of Sidekick is at 5 feet above pavement)so I may need to tie the tip like the army hummer guys do when underway. This is a very fine antenna for the money. The materials and workmanship are top notch. I guess bigger is better!