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

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

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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
KX5F Rating: 2008-09-16
Great 6 meter antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had one for several years now, worked all over the country up 28ft on a push-up pole and a channel master rotator. Had a question for Par abt spacing next to a 2 meter ant, sent an e-mail on sunday expecting an answer the following week, and within the hour on sunday had an answer. Outstanding customer service in MHO. Try it you can't go wrong. 73 Patrick

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KX5F on 2005-06-15

Picked one up at the Dallas Hamfest this month, put it up and started working stations,easy to install, swr, no problem, Very satified so far with it. I have a small lot, so could not go with a larger antenna but the Moxon is abt right for smaller lots. Try it you will like it. 73s Pat kx5f
AC0DS Rating: 2008-09-16
the perfect portable 6M gain antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can highly recommend this product as a small and easily portable gain antenna for 6 meters. The Moxon design allows for useful gain and excellent front-to-back ratio in a lightweight package with a smaller turning radius than a simple dipole. Like all PAR products, this antenna has excellent mechanical design, materials and machine work, making it a joy to assemble, install and tune. I used the simple current balun recommended by PAR, making mine from RG-8X. Tuning went very smoothly and predictably, and can be accomplished with no tools, thanks to the clever mechanical design. I set the resonant frequency at 50.13 MHz, where the SWR measures 1.06:1 with my AIM 4170 Antenna Analyzer. Very broad SWR curve with less than 1.5:1 up to above 51 MHz, and 2:1 over most of the entire band.

Mounted at only 24 ft on a temporary mast, I made several contacts over 100 miles from my non-ideal location during the Sept VHF contest. If you mark the driven element with your desired tuning point, the mechanical design allows for rapid (less than a minute!) assembly and disassembly into a slim vertical 7 ft package using no tools. This is very convenient for carrying in the car for hill-topping or for easy storage when using the antenna on a temporary basis.

… Craig AC0DS
K4GUN Rating: 2008-06-19
Great for rovers Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
What an amazing product! I bought a Stressed Moxon back in January 2008 for the VHF contest and used it on my rover station. It did well, but there wasn't a huge amount of activity. The June contest on the other hand, was remarkable. The band opened up and the Moxon worked extremely well. For the contest, I used both this and a loop antenna for 6 meters and using them side by side, on the same radio really highlighted the Moxon's benefits.

Because the beam pattern of the Moxon is so wide, you really don't have to worry about aiming directly at the other station. Even still, you get good rejection off the back. You get a very quiet antenna where the only thing you hear is the other stations. Other stations have no problems hearing you either.

The antenna is small enough that you can run with it up, on a rover vehicle. Its well under the legal limit for the width of the road. Its also light enough that you can secure it to a mast and drive down the road with it installed. The only thing to be aware of is overhanging branches.

About those branches... The Stressed Moxon has one rather interesting feature. If you do clip a tree, it is possible to pull the reflector and side arms out of the driven element. I actually consider this to be a safety feature. If this didn't happen, it might be possible to snag a limb hard enough to pull the mast out of its support. If you're going to use this as a rover antenna, you would be wise to tie a non-conducing cord to the reflector so you don't loose it on the side of the road. Yes, I learned this lesson the hard way, but Dale at Par was very quick to get replacement parts to me. I will not be without this antenna in any VHF contest.
N6ORB Rating: 2007-09-30
Great 6 Meter Antenna for Portable and Semi-Portable Use Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My VUCC 6M award certificate arrived in yesterday's mail (with a sharp crease in it). Anyway, most of the 111 confirmed contacts were made this Es season, using the Par Electronics Stressed-Moxon. Last year was my first on 6M and I used the Par Omniangle loop for 6 meters at my antenna-restricted SF-Bay area QTH. I was quite happy with my results with the loop. Hearing the entire US east coast come alive with signals during the June 2006 VHF contest was a revelation. The only problem was that I managed to work only a couple of them.

For this year, I wanted something with a little more gain but that could still be put up and taken down easily. The Par Electronics Stressed Moxon seemed to be the best option, although I wasn't sure that an extra 3db would make much difference. It turned out to make quite a difference indeed.

I assembled the antenna and tried tuning it. I became concerned when the Moxon showed a nearly constant low SWR on my tranceiver's SWR meter as I moved the aluminum tubes back and forth in the driven element. It turned out that, unlike the loop, the Moxon has a very wide bandwidth, something I could see clearly once I applied an antenna analyzer to it.

With the Moxon mounted on 12ft of PVC pipe in my back yard, working six meters became a much better experience for me this year. From Puerto Rico to Maine, and many points in-between, double-hop contacts became almost routine.

For back-yard portable use, I think the Moxon is ideal. Partly disassembled, it fits easily in the trunk of my car for operation away from home. Since most people don't associate its shape with an antenna, it's almost hidden in plain sight.

It's not a long-boom Yagi, so you can't use it to create your own propagation. However, if the band is open, you can make lots of contacts without being one of the big guns. (Now, if that guy in Rhode Island would just respond to my QSL card...)
KB3LFD Rating: 2007-07-22
Well made, rugged!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When first licensed this was my first
antenna for six meters. A very well made,
easy to build and install antenna. Ideal
for apartment,hill-toping,etc. Will work
fine with a light weight "tv" type rotor.
Quality parts,rugged design! A good choice
for a person on a budget just starting in
the hobby. Worked Canada to Florida and
Putero Rico from a not so good location in
Ne Pa.
K8CXM Rating: 2006-07-20
Wonderful small antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been a very satisfied OA-50 user for about a year, and decided to 'upgrade' to something directional with a little gain. I went with the SM-50 because of it's size, cost, manufacturer's support and the quality of the design and materials. I got it up in an afternoon (90+ temps and humidity) but am glad I did. I am seeing 1-2 S-units over the loop, and the weaker stations on 6 are finally now Q5. Tuning and construction were a snap. Performance is what I expected and it looks nice up on that 27' foot pole along side the chimney. I've seen bigger TV antennas in the neighborhood. The neighbors haven't even noticed. Great little antenna at a great price!
K8UPA Rating: 2005-03-06
Does what it says Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have to admit I only owned this for a very short period of time but that said, it performs as described. Excellent f/b ratio and will pull out weak signals. Have this one mounted but will definately pick one up for portable ops. Easily goes together within minutes. Highly recommend.
KC9DOW Rating: 2005-01-10
STEALTHY Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I haven't worked any DX with it, in fact it was bought more for local use to pull the weak signals out of the noise and keep me from having to run a lot of power. Performance wise it was exactly what I needed and it really doesn't draw a lot of attention to itself on the roof which is always a good thing as far as the neighbors go. And it goes together in minutes
K4MSG Rating: 2004-08-26
Great value, superb construction Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After using an attic dipole and 8 watts for a couple of years in my latest excursion back onto 6 meters, I decided to upgrade both the radio and the antenna. The radio is now an IC-706MkIIG and for an antenna I chose the Par Stressed Moxon based partly on price, partly on size, and partly on previous reviews. I was not disappointed! Assembly is very simple and adjustment is the same. What is most impressive is the construction, which is well thought out and IMO unbelievably clever. Even though mine is more-or-less permanently mounted below my 2-meter yagi - a simple installation because the antenna is so lightweight - this is a *GREAT* antenna from the standpoint of portability and I'll probably buy another one just for "mountain-topping." As for operation - well, it is just a 2-element beam and one cannot expect it to perform like a wide-spaced 6-element at 100'. That said, I am able to work out to 150 miles to similarly-equipped stations (I run 100w and the antenna is at about 24') and have worked out to 200+ miles to bigger stations - and this was when the band wasn't open! I can't wait for the next Es opening!!! VSWR was less than 1.5 with no adjustments. Par has done an exceptional job with this antenna from the standpoint of design, construction & performance and I only wish they made multiple-element VHF/UHF yagis or Quagis!
N4MJG Rating: 2004-06-27
super antenna !!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Durning,the field day my best friend told me to try this antenna his call is w4owx.is the one told me to try it,i can't belived ! it i made round 33 contacts on 6 meters .i know i'm going to buy it,atfer i try it on field day.best moxon antenna ever use on field day !!!! and it's light weight too i'll put it on top of my tower this year if nothing happen...
73's
Jackie
KG4ORX