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Reviews For: High Sierra Sidekick

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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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
VK4VP Rating: 2008-10-30
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my sidekick for over a year now and it still performs very well. I am going to get a lobger whip for it to improve its low band performance but on 40m most are surprised I am mobile.
M5DZH Rating: 2008-10-07
The best thing since sliced bread Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Does exactly what it says it will, 6mtrs to 80 mtrs, I placed a longer whip on mine and it tunes up 1.5.1 all over.
Many contacts into europe etc on LF in the night and heard plenty of USA as well, with the odd skip over the pond into USA on 12,17 & 20mtrs and a couple of quick contacts on 6mtrs,not bad as I only run an old mk1 706 and about 80 watts pep while I run to and from work about 3 miles each way ,so any contact are brief but very enjoyable.
KC9LCC Rating: 2008-10-07
Big Bang for the $ Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased a sidekick antenna system for my Yaesu FT-897D. I run it at 100 watts. I installed this antenna on my apartment balcony due to space. Being in Wisconsin I have have contacted stations ranging from Alaska, California, Main, Texas, Floria to St. Petersburg Russia, Slovenia and locations in between via USB. For the money and space this is one fine antenna.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC9LCC on 2008-01-09

Just purchased and installed the system on my 2nd floor apartment deck. The deck is wood and I installed the counterpoise as instructed. Tuned right down on 10 meters and I made contacts in Ct and WV from WI., even withe the bands being bad. Great Antenna for the money for someone who needs a portable/mobile system
VE9KK Rating: 2008-07-07
Works BETTER than High sierra says Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The main reason I got the side kick was because I live in a townhouse condo and antennas are an absolute no no!!!!!! Mine is mounted outside (only during contests) at ground level and right beside the stairs on the deck. That makes it very hard to see and out of the way of most the other condo's view. Having said that it is not in the best place for getting out on the air...well so I thought. I have now used the side kick in 5 contests and with being at the bottom of the cycle I was not expecting much. I was very impressed with the band width of the antenna, I was prepared to re tune the antenna 2 or 3 times over the CW and RTTY segments of 10, 15, 20, and 40. To my surprise and High Sierras credit I never had to return the antenna once I tuned it on the band I was on and that was it. That is a big bonus in contesting for sure. On 10, 15 and 20 the SWR was more or less flat across the CW or RTTY segments and on 40 it went up to 1.5. Now 80 meters is another story but heck this is a 4 foot antenna and I only re tune twice on 80...fantastic!!!!
Once you get the hang of tuning the Side kick it takes a very short time to re tune the antenna (as the manual says) when you jump from 20 to 40 meters. It would be great if High Sierra came out with a memory tuner like the Ameritron or MFJ memory units...but really it only took me 20 seconds to return the antenna from band to band. So how is it on the air....being at the bottom of the cycle I have been able to get into Europe and Africa running 100 watts. To be honest it at times has not been easy but hey look at the setup I am running. How about the support at High Sierra...out of 10....I give them a 20. Yes I know some have said that they where given a one word answer at times but heck if that is what it takes and it gets you the answer your looking for and solves the problem so be it !!!!! There are just to many companies that give you an email addresses and never respond...the guys and gals at High Sierra have answered all.........and I mean ALL my email questions. I emailed on weekends and got an answer sometimes in 5 minutes. I emailed during the evening hours expecting something the next day...no it was there that evening in my hotmail box. They were very understanding with me before I purchased the antenna as I wanted to make sure the antenna was right for the situation I was in. As well as after the money was laid out and I had setup questions.
In the near future I am going to take some pictures of the antenna setup and send them to High Sierra if they put them on the site they will be the ones beside the steps of the deck....look for them and see an antenna that is mounted in way less than ideal conditions but is getting my call out in contests.
Mike
VE3WDM
N9YHW Rating: 2008-07-02
Wouldn't buy ANYTHING else!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am sooooooo pleased with my sidekick!!! It is everything that I expected & even more!!! Jim was so helpful & knowledgeable. I needed the antenna for a camping trip that I was going on & needed it in a week. Jim worked with me & I was able to receive it in time to install before my trip. I installed the antenna exactly as instructed using a maldol hatch mount on my xterra & immediately tuned 20m with near perfect swr & made 2 contacts in neighboring states.

The Manufacturing & engineering of this antenna is by far 1st class!!! everything is milled & tolerances are tight!! You can totally tell that this antenna was engineered & made in the good ole USA!!!

I RECOMMEND THIS ANTENNA TO ANYONE WHO HAS HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS & DEMANDS PERFECT PERFORMANCE!!!

The only negative thing that I can possibly say is that the cord for the controller may not be long enough for some remote head installs with the radio being mounted in the trunk.

Other than that, I recommend this antenna to ALL mobile HF'ers!!!

N9YHW
N4MGR Rating: 2008-05-04
Great Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased this antenna from AES in Orlando,FL. I installed it on the truck as soon as I got to the house and immediately started making contacts on 20 and 40 meters. I am impressed with both the ease of tuning as well as the ease of installation with this antenna. I will repost in about 6 months as to he ruggedness of the antenna as it is being used on a tractor trailer and 60,000 miles should be plenty to determine how well it is built.
W0RIC Rating: 2008-04-28
GREAT ANTENNA Bad Coax Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have to say that this antenna is very well built. Tunes fine, works fine and it seems to have been a good decision.

The only problem is the cheap coax connection at the antenna. After fixing the broken center lead 4 times at the antenna, that coax went into the garbage. Making a homemade coax and power lead was very easy to do. Maybe the problem is the trunk mount but since this was a trunk mount package, the company should have designed a better antenna connector. BTW, the company claims I am the only person to have had this issue. Seems hard to believe!

Anyway, I do have to give the antenna a 5 rating for good performance and I give the coax design engineer a "1" for not coming up with a better connection.

I also purchased the BetterRF tuning products for the IC-7000 and am very glad I did. One push of the tune button on the rig and in a few seconds the antenna is set to the correct SWR. Nice product!

73 & Good DX
Rick
WØRIC
www.w0ric.com


K3CLT Rating: 2008-04-16
Just a great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna for about a year now and have it mounted on a F-150 pick up truck. I work around the NE most of the time but just came down to Mississippi for a new project. I usually check in to the Graveyard Net on 3.967 every morning on the way to work. I didn't think I would be able to do this from Ms considering the way the bands are. Boy was I wrong. I have been able to get into the net every morning. I have a 6' whip for it and put that on and got even better results. I am getting 10-15 over 9 signal reports from stations in Pa and NJ and got a report back from a Canadian station. I work 60-40-20 meters in the afternoon when I get the chance with good results.
I have an 8' whip that I might try next. I contacted High Sierra and they said that the body of the antenna can handle the long antenna. It will be just a height concern at this time for me.
I recommend this antenna highly.
Just remember to install plenty of ground STRAPS for good performance.
KILO4UUG Rating: 2008-04-12
WELL MADE ANTENNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The antenna works nice and I am very pleased with it.But customer service at high sierra gets a big fat ZERO ! Smart azz short quips to questions via e-mail and un answered responces to e-mail questions.No one answers the phone and calls are unanswered.
WB7TXG Rating: 2008-03-07
Excellent mobile antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the Sidekick installed now for a year in my GMC diesel truck and it is just great! I also purchased the turbo tuner and installed both at the same time. The antenna has performed well, swr is flat, and I can work anyone I can hear.

I'm pleased with the ruggedness and ease of installation. This is my second mobile HF installation in 30 years and this blows away what I used before.. The antenna is being used with a little Icom 706mIIG and it is an excellent combination.

Very pleased

73's Chuck