Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: PAR Electronics SM-50 6M Stressed Moxon

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Directional (Yagi, quad, etc.)

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : PAR Electronics SM-50 6M Stressed Moxon
Reviews: 74MSRP: 109. USD
Description:
SM-50 Stressed Moxon 6M Antenna Occupies approximately 1/2 the footprint of traditional two element
yagis, yet has nearly identical electrical specifications. The radiator material selection results in a further reduction in size and weight over classical Moxons. Once the coupling unit is installed onto the main radiator using two #10-32 screws, assembling the rest of the antenna, including mast mounting and tuning, requires no tools. Ideal for mountain topping, roving and stealth operation. � Horizontal polarity � Forward Gain:
5.8 dBi � F/B Ratio: 17 dB � Design Z: 50. unbalanced ï ¿½ V.S.W.R. BW: 1.5MHz between 1.5:1 points � 1kW power handling � 6061-T6 aluminum, fiberglass, genuine Flex Weave wire, stainless steel � Rectangular 84 x31", 3lbs
Product is in production
More Info: http://parelectronics.com/stress_moxon.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00745
KC3JV Rating: 2019-07-16
Outstanding Constuction Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well built and made! Went together in about 10 minutes. Great instructions. It was easy to adjust for 1.2 : 1 SWR in one try. following the instructions for testing.

All parts fit together smoothly with NO sloppy fits and holes were perfectly aligned.

PAR even took special care to make the copper Flexweave about as anti corrosion as possible with soldered joints covered with heatshrink tubing.

You can see why this company builds antennas for the military.
Mark KC3JV
WB0FTY Rating: 2019-07-09
Excellent Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a excellent antenna SM-50 Moxon that is directional and has gain to it. Assembly was easy and I had it together and tuned in 15 minutes. 1.1 to 1 where I operate. It is flat across the band. Along with the OA-50 I can work pretty much all signals on 6 m. For the money I don't think you can find better plus Dale is a gem to deal with.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by WB0FTY on 2016-08-16

Bought the OA-50 first and liked it so well decided to add the SM-50. Again Dale was extremely helpful and gave top notch service. I put this antenna up in a temp position at about 18'. It works and gets out well even at that height. I will be putting it up at about 32' later. Again you won't be sorry if you buy one.
KE8VU Rating: 2019-06-27
An excellent product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the SM-60. Emails asking about the product were promptly and courteously answered. The antenna itself is very well designed and built, top quality components. Assembly instructions are well written and easy to follow. Following the instructions, the initial tuning was so good that I didn't need to trim it. I wish I could include SWR graphs: 1.1:1 at 50.6 and 1.5 or less across the entire band - and within a few ohms of 50.

I highly recommend this antenna, as well as the support from Dale and his team.
W5BT Rating: 2019-06-27
Excellent 6M antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After several emails with Dale, I purchased the Stressed Moxon. I had read a couple of reviews about how easy the antenna was to put together and tune. Without a doubt the easiest antenna to put together I've ever dealt with. Even after reading the reviews, I kept thinking something was wrong because it was way to easy and I don't have that type of luck. Turned out that tuning the Moxon was even easier. I don't think the tuning even took two minutes. Last year was the first time I had even tried 6M and really didn't have much luck with the vertical I was using. Wow what a difference this antenna has made. I haven't had the time to put the rotor on yet, but that really hasn't been a problem. I've been able to work 99% of what I've been able to hear. I went from working half a dozen states last year to 38 in the last week and a half; and I've been on the radio less then an hour. If your wanting to try 6M this is the perfect antenna. The price can't be beat either. Dale is extremely responsive to questions to boot.
KB1NO Rating: 2019-06-26
Tom Notch 6M Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Clever design that is very easy to assemble and tune up with close to 1:1 SWR at whatever frequency you choose in the 6m band. We used mine for field day with great performance results. It's so light and has such low wind resistance that you can use a basic mast and mounting scheme. We used the "armstrong" method of rotation, but for my home installation I use an inexpensive TV rotator. The front to back ratio is amazing. Dale is very responsive, answering questions both before and after purchase.
ON6AB Rating: 2019-04-21
Can be a smart solution Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Although my positive remarks (review in 2013) were not really appreciated by Dale, here's another update and some results that might be interesting to some.
The Moxon is still doing great after 6 years.
I did extensive comparisons between the Moxon at 18m AGL reaching over the nearby trees and a 6 el DJ9BV yagi at 10m AGL below the tree tops.
It's a close call but the Moxon wins most of the time.
The moxon is so light it can be easily mounted on top of your antenna mast without any risk of overloading your tower.
In this set-up it works better than a lower "big" yagi without a free view over the horizon.
Also, pushing +500W, it's no problem to make transatlantic QSO's when conditions are favorable.
KR5J Rating: 2018-11-16
Super Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The SM-50 is my current 6 meter antenna. Although it is mounted only 8 feet or so above the ground to keep the HOA happy, I have used it to make contacts with Scotland and the Canary Islands! Both were made using digital modes and the rig is an Icom 7300 which outputs 90 watts on 6 meters.I also use the antenna for meteor scatter contacts, the farthest was in western Michigan, a little over a 1000 miles from the QTH. I would recommend it for home or rover use.
KK9H Rating: 2018-08-02
Great for portable use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my antenna a few years ago to use while on vacation in northeast Wisconsin. We go to Washington Island which is right in the middle of grid EN65. I’ve been bringing a radio with me for many years, but I wanted to try 6M from this fairly rare and unpopulated grid square. I put the Moxon on a 20 ft. push-up mast which I turn by hand. FT8 has brought wonderful new life to 6M and the Moxon works beautifully. It was easy to tune after assembly and I have gotten excellent signal reports from up there. It’s also easy to dismantle for transporting too. With FT8 I look where the bulk of the signals are coming from then I turn the Mixon in that general direction and away I go. This is a great antenna that works well and is easy to use.
K4KDR Rating: 2018-06-21
Very pleased - smart buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm in Virginia & the SM-50 is my first dedicated 6m antenna. I had been using a MyAntennas 130' long wire which isn't advertised for 6m but tuned up fine and brought in a LOT of FT8 signals on 6m. At least I "thought" I was hearing a lot... to say the SM-50 makes a night/day difference would be an understatement. Looking at the other reviews, I an only echo all the same comments. My first-ever 6m SSB contact was halfway across the country and my first FT8 contact was to the Canary Islands! Tonight I had clear SSB contact with a guy working portable in Canada. The number and strength of the signals I'm receiving with the SM-50 is just ridiculous. Definitely a smart purchase!
K7VNE Rating: 2018-06-19
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this item last week and it arrived sooner than I expected. Just finished the install and I was totally amazed at the improved 6m performance. I only have it at 20' and my first contact was on ssb to Rhode Island, not to shabby from Arizona on 6m. This was my first ssb qso with Rhode Island, I never would have thought that it would occur on 6m.

Excellent workmanship and build quality, very detailed/easy instructions. Customer service was also great. Any questions I had were answered
on the first call. Special thanks to Dale for his
assistance on both the purchase and the questions I had about the item. Looking forward to many years of use out of this jewel.

SWR was fine across the entire 6m band, no need to make any adjustments beyond the initial installation instructions.

No regrets and highly recommended.