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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
AB0SF Rating: 2004-11-29
Incredible product! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed this antenna on the trunk of my Buick Park Ave. for a trip to the east coast (4,300 miles total). It took everything the lousy weather dished out. Rain, sleet and snow weren't even issues. It took 80 mph driving conditions without issue, and withstood the Kansas cross-winds without complaint. I've lost Hamsticks on that drive, so that's saying something in my book.

Performance? About 2-10 dB better than the 102" whip/Icom AH-4 autocoupler combo.it replaced. I can actually transmit a signal on 80 meters now. Granted, it's no barn-burner, but it does get a signal out.
W6LAR Rating: 2004-09-05
Works Well! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After chasing around looking for something that would do the job of covering 80M-6M in one antenna you don't have to change elements on I think I found it.

I read the previous reviews here and gave the Sidekick a try. Its small enough to roof or door mount. I have a Bandhopper screwdriver that worked very well but it was not going to go on my new truck. High Sierra does it right with a motor that can take 12VDC and more. The new Sidekick is mounted on the rear suicide door on my 2004 F-150 on a lip mount. Wind does not bother it and first contact I made was with a JA on 20M, then last night worked Route 66 special events stations in the midwest on 80M. Tunes 80M thru 6M without a sweat.

Great antenna.
M0HDX Rating: 2004-03-28
GREAT SO FAR Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned the high sierra sidekick just over one month and i am very pleased with the performance of the antenna both on recieve and transmit.This antenna is so easy to tune using the remote switch inside the car and beats changing whips every 5 minutes when you want to change bands,I have done tests and i have found it takes me on average 10 -15 seconds to tune the antenna changing from one band to another depending which bands im changing to and from, I can easily achieve an swr 1:2:1 on all the bands just by pressing a switch in the comfort of my car.I worked 3B9C driving down the motorway using my sidekick antenna and the build quality is very good.The price here in England was a bit steep £259.00 but up to now it has been £259.00 well spent.I use my sidekick on a triple mag mount on the roof of the car with a icom 706mk2g

jim, M0HDX
K7JQ Rating: 2003-09-11
Built like a tank Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the Sidekick for about a month and am very pleased with it. Tunes to 1.2:1 on all bands 80-6 meters with no inconsistencies noticed. I have it mounted about half way up the side of the hatchback of my Nissan Xterra on a Diamond K-400 3/8 C mount. I took off the double female 3/8 nut and screwed the antenna directly onto the resulting bolt- very sturdy even at freeway speeds. I got the semi-automatic control box with it which turns on the CW carrier simultaneously as you push the up-down rocker switch to watch for the lowest SWR (on my IC-706MKIIG). With the small coil on the Sidekick, resonance is sharp and quick between bands. With the semi-auto controller, the carrier doesn't stay on long enough to get a "bead" on lowest SWR- it's easy to overrun the sweet spot back and forth. Jim Heath of Hi Sierra is coming up with a solution to that quirk. He has been very helpful both on the phone and with e-mails- welcomes customer input and strives to constantly improve and update his products.

I previously had a Yaesu ATAS-100, which worked OK, but was concerned about its' long term longevity and reliability, as it seemed real flimsy. The Sidekick is built like a tank- well machined and beefy.

Performance and on the air reports? With the bands being so lousy the past month, its tough to work anybody, even from the home QTH. I'm sure the reports will improve with better band conditions. The SWR readings show that it works just fine.

Highly recommended for a low profile, easy to mount screwdriver antenna. 73, Bob K7JQ
PS: GROUND...GROUND...GROUND!
W4SAM Rating: 2003-09-03
Best Mobile Antenna I have ever owned Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought this antenna. I ordered it on Wednesday and it was here on Friday. I am really pleased with the performance. It covers 80 to 6 meters. I have almost gotten it to tune down to 160 meters. The Sidekick has the Black Hawk Motor, great machining, high quality parts and a professional appearance. This is the antenna to buy. Don't waste your money on a cheap copy!
N8SZF Rating: 2003-06-13
GREAT MOBILE ANTENNA! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a member of Army MARS, and have to go outside of the normal HAM bands. We use several frequencies during the day, and retuning and changing hamsticks all of the time was a pain. Jim answered my questions at Dayton, and I got the unit within 1-1/2 weeks. It works as advertised, and I get better signal reports with it than with my hamstick setup. It is VERY well built and I have mounted it on a trunk lip mount with good grounding. It holds its settings in spite of the car being bounced around by the highway construction I have to commute through daily. I will post further reviews later.
W4LOUIS Rating: 2003-05-19
Very small, very light and it works! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
At Dayton I bought the new High Sierra Sidekick. It weighs about 2 pounds and covers 80 to 6 meters in just 15 inches. It has the High Sierra Black Hawk Motor. I have had two other High Sierras and this one has the same high quality. Tune is fast and easy. I have mag mounted mine on the roof of my wife's car. I have the HS-1800/pro on my truck. Performance is good. I was able to check into my 40 meter net. The whip is just 3 feet. If you are looking for a small HF mobile antenna that is motorized and actually works, this is one to get. The quality and service of the people at High Sierra is just great. I use the Sidekick with my FT100. The Atas 120 never did work right. And, the Sidekick covers 80 meters. I also like the idea that is does not have fingerstock. The motor is warranteed for 10 years. Can't beat that.