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Reviews For: OptiBeam OB17-4 fourbander 40-20-15-10

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

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Review Summary For : OptiBeam OB17-4 fourbander 40-20-15-10
Reviews: 24MSRP: 3,875
Description:
Description: Extremely efficient trapless Yagi for 40-20-15-10m.
3el on 40 / 4el on 20 / 4el on 15 / 6el on 10.
An absolute "killer beam" !!!
Lossfree shortened 40m elements by computer designed high Q air coils.
40m elements decoupled from other bands by the "OptiBeam decoupling stub technique".
Broadband single 50 Ohm coax cable feed system by the patented "OptiBeam direct coupled driver feed system"
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.optibeam.de
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00245
W1AJT Rating: 2009-06-18
None Better - Period!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It has now been 2 years since putting up Tom’s masterpiece (my previous review June, 2007). I am an active contester using my VE3UTT call. I can say without doubt that it is the best 4-band antenna period. At my latitude, I consistently perform as well as or better than stacks and monobanders on 20m and 15m in signal strength. I work anything I hear on 10m but the band has not been open enough up here for any real data. Stacks may have a listening advantage but I cannot confirm or deny that. There is no comparison against any antenna or system at my latitude on 40m. This includes the ultra expensive wide spaced 40m monobanders whose build quality is not remotely close to the Optibeam. The antenna is 150 miles Northeast of Toronto so the climate is quite harsh. In two years I had one loose screw on one element tip, that’s it. That was most likely my fault in construction. I constantly get “loudest” signal reports and people breaking in when rag chewing to comment on how strong my signal is. If you have the room and want 4 bands on one boom this is the best option. If you live in a harsh climate, this is the only option. If you like maintenance get an “adjustable” yagi, it will give you lots to do.
GOKXV Rating: 2009-06-06
Simply the best! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have no complaints about this antenna. It has provided the most outstanding results....

Whenever I turn the radio on signals come in from far and wide.

It has been up on the tower for over 12 months and still looks like new.

Not for the person who plays at being a radio ham...its for the real operator.

Tom, please can you make me a loaded 80m beam your curent models are just tooo big.

I cannot recomend this antenna highly enough...

It opens up a new world and as for operation on 20m and 10m its fantastic.

You will never replace it... an absolute Killer Beam... I break the pile ps with my first call every time..

Keep up the good work tom and make some 2m beams for us!!!!

Gary
WB4SLM Rating: 2008-11-21
German engineering & craftsmanship at it's best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OptiBeam 17-4

One antenna -- Four amateur bands -- 40;20;15;10 -- 17 elements ...

This is a very large antenna and not for the faint of heart ... having said that, if you want to hear & be heard you will not be disappointed .. German engineering & craftsmanship at it's best ... every piece fits, all stainless steel hardware, all dimensions are spot on per drawing, if it doesn't come into the published SWR curves, then you did something wrong ....

I got my OB17-4 used ... I wanted to restore the antenna to like new condition .. at this point I must say when it comes to customer support, Thomas, DF2BO, is one of the BEST I've ever had the pleasure of working with ... Thomas treated me as if I was the original buyer of the antenna ... as far as I'm concerned, Thomas went the "extra mile" to get me the new hardware and parts I needed to put the antenna together correctly .. when I had a question there was never an email that went unanswered ... I laud his patience with my seemingly endless questions to him ... try that with some other manufactures of amateur equipment ..

I installed the antenna at 28 meters on the side of a rotating 55 series tower -- Jay, WX0B, Array Solutions, supplied me with a W1JR balun made specifically for the OptiBeam, the feedline is Eupen 50-5A ... the rig, an old IC-761 ..

So how does it work ??? Ironically, the first contact I made on the antenna was Thomas, DF2BO, on 20 meters with 59 report .. perhaps a random contact with the owner of the company as my first "Q" is sign of good things to come .. I don't have a lot of spare time to operate, having said that, anything I hear, I work with 100 watts .. yes most has been cw, and all reports are very good ... time will tell in the pileups, but so far, all is good ... as an example I worked A61Q with one call 599 in the pileup on 20 meters ...

40 meters is impressive ... I've never owned a rotating gain antenna for 40m ...all my years as a ham I've used fixed antennas like curtains, verticals, Franklin's, dipoles, random wire, gutters or whatever on 40 .... most noticeable item --- the OptiBeam is "quiet" on 40 -- the difference is noticeable immediately when switching between my HB Collinear Dipole and the OB17 .. the collinear has a higher noise level than the OptiBeam .. signals from East Africa were just above or in the noise on the collinear, whereas on the OptiBeam those same signals were "in the clear" ... VK's & JA's normally are in the noise, not so with this antenna ... so far I've seen at the least a 2 to 3 "S" unit above the noise improvement using the OptiBeam on 40 meters .. comparing the U.S. east coast signals between the two antennas yield an "in the red" report with the OB ...

15 meters -- while the band has not been "hot" -- anything I hear I work --

10 meters -- since the solar activity is down at the present the only comparison I can offer is ground wave -- I typically can work stations on 10m that I work on 6 meters .. I have a circa 1970 TA-33 at 8 meters, but lets be fair, that is not much of a comparison .. I'll say the signals on 10m are comparable to the reports I get on 6 meters ... the OptiBeam also seems to perform as well as any long boom mono-band antenna I've ever had up for 10m ....

Weather related item -- five days after the antenna was installed on the tower, my community had a tornado warning -- while no one can say for sure as to the cause, an area about 300 meters south from my tower suffered some significant wind damage -- the debris pattern was similar to straight line winds in excess of 70 to 80 mph ... while I don't know what the wind speed was at my exact location, I can say the OptiBeam never fluttered ... I just hope we don't face a similar situation again as I don't want to test the "max wind rating" ... but there is no doubt this antenna is built very strong !!

These are my observations of performance of the OptiBeam -- I'm completing my first month of operation with the antenna and my expectations of the product have not been swayed anyway what so ever -- the quality of the manufacturing is impeccable -- the antenna takes up a lot of real estate in the sky and the operation is as impressive as the looks --- will I buy another OptiBeam?? Yes !! --- I give it a 5 star rating for performance, quality, and an "extra" star for customer support --

Cheers de Vic WB4SLM //
9M8DB Rating: 2007-01-01
Excellent ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
More than two years ago, while shopping for a really great antenna (as I was soon moving to our new QTH),my search on the Internet led me Tom's website which was then promoting the OB21-4! Together with a good friend (V85BA), we ordered two of this antenna but after many months, Tom came back and told us that due to design and technical problems, it was revised and it had become the OB17-4. We stuck with our orders and after a while, we finally received our antennas. My friend Abu put up his antenna very soon thereafter and had been enjoying the great improvement in his station's performance on all 4 bands. I recently obtained the green light to put up my tower and antenna after almost two years' delay and since then, about 3 months ago, have also been enjoying this excellent antenna!

I will gladly stand by Tom's great antenna in design and quality and recommend it to anyone who has the space for it - it's really a great performer!

Well done, Tom, and my congratulations to you on the excellent workmanship too!
IZ5GST Rating: 2006-07-01
Great Antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have bought the antenna directly from Tom DF2BO. By the first contacts that I have had I understand the professionality and the availability of the company. When I have received direct to my home the antenna I have seen the qulity of the materials used and the care with was written the assembly handbook. The performances of the antenna after a month of use are exceptional! I was able to contact stations without amplifier that with the previous antenna were not possible. Unfortunately they are not mounted a lot up: it is 20 meters over the ground and only 4 meters over the roof but the performances are always excellets expecially in 40 and 15 meters. I recomand this antenna to anyone wants excellent performances of 4 different monobands on a single boom. Thanks Tom for Optibeam
ZR3OBE Rating: 2006-05-15
Excellent Quality and Service! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the OB17-4 directly from Old Man Thomas (DF2BO) and received only the best service from day one!! He also assisted with a rotator and some cabling and plugs!!! The antenna was professionally packed and well marked for easy assembly!! The odd phone call and e-mail to Thomas was handled promptly, professionally and in a friendly fashion!

The built quality was obviously of the best possible standards and material I have seen in a long time! The assembly was easy because of excellent markings on the boom and a descent manual. Everything fitted perfectly because of the quality material and drillings and the antenna looked professional on the ground. This was noticed by all who saw the antenna on the ground and positively commented upon. All the measurements on the elements were perfect.

After the installation the antenna tested one-hundred-percent and resonated on the appropriate frequencies with the SWR’s as low as advertised! I will be start using it soon for DX but my limited experience with the designer and the quality of the product I’m convinced it is one of the best buys I made in the amateur antenna world!!! I can only highly recommend the product from a service and quality point of view! It looks good int the air! Everything is square, tight and neat - just the way it should and better!

Thanks Thomas for a great product!
YL3DQ Rating: 2006-05-02
Very impressive! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm really happy to have this excellent fourbander on the top of my tower. It is not a cheap project but after the first night on the air with this powerful beam .. wow. All last major DXpeditions and lot of rare stations (YX0, 5W, VU4s, S0, JD and many others) were worked from the first call. Very solid mechanical construction, no problems to put together 2 boxes of aluminium tubes. Manual explains everything you need. No adjustments necessary - SWR better on all bands than in specifications. This spring is very windy here in Riga, antenna stands together with PROSISTEL rotator safely and proudly.
73! and thanks a lot, Tom.
Normunds
YL3DQ
F5HPY Rating: 2006-04-05
Excellente Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Qui n'a pas révé un jour d'avoir une seule antenne couvrant les principales bandes radioamateur et ce de façon hyperefficace ,Tom DF2BO l'a réalisée.Le fonctionnement et les résultats sont conformes voir supérieurs aux attentes.Un vrai "big gun" sur les 4 bandes avec des résultats stupéfiants sur 40 et 15 metres,excellents sur 20 metres.La propagation actuelle au plus bas sur 28 ne m'a pas permis de tester son efficacité sur cette bande mais nul doute qu'ils doivent être égalements trés bons au regard du reste.La solidité mécanique est aussi un plus,confortant l'expression "Quality made in Germany" Le montage est simple,tous les éléments repérés et préassemblés,même les outils(clés Allen )fournis avec la documentation riche en photos et plans...De toute façon Tom est disponible pour répondre aux interrogations,le Service Aprés Vente bien réel avec une relation amicale et de confiance avec le fabriquant toujours prêt à solutionner les différents problèmes.
En résumé pour moi,probablement la meilleure antenne sans compromis,de fabrication semblant devoir être indestructible.....Un grand merci Tom
IK3UMT Rating: 2005-12-02
Very Good antenna ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was looking for a 40mt monobander to stack over my klm kt34xa but its weight and thin mast makes me unhappy.
Browsing web in several antena producer sites, comes in my mind "Optibeam" name and.....an antenna with 4 band in a single boom glows : OB 17-4....I NEED IT !
There are 4 monoband yagi interlaced on same boom, considering every single band, it is a normal antenna , nothig miracolous, but placing all four on same boom and feeding them simultaneously with that gain , f/b and swr was Tom DF2BO's skill !!!
Mechanically, antenna is very good, assembly takes its time cause of element number rather than complexity , all is marked and mistakes are surely avoided.
Electrically, OB17-4 is a good performer, surely not like a 6 or 7 el. long boom yagi but remember this is an extraordinary compromise of number of bands, performances and dimensions !
And...don't forget you have a 3 element on 40mt , if you haven't tried before..what a satisfaction to pick a overseas dx at first call in 7MHz pile-up !!
Thomas DF2BO is always ready to clarify every doubt in specification, assembly and installation with a quick e-mail answer.
Antenna is not cheap , instead it costs many times its pure aluminium value but it worth the result !!
Highly reccomended !
SV9CVY Rating: 2005-05-07
Excellent construction with super performance and service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent construction with super performance and service

I have been searching for some time now for a multiband antenna that includes 40m plus the 20-15-10m bands on the same boom to replace my big 2 elem on 40m quad ant. plus the 20-17-15-10m which did not survive the VERY HIGH winds on my QTH which is on the top of the hill overlooking the Mediterranean .Finally I saw the Optibeam site and after a few email with Tom DF2BO I placed the order.

The antenna came in 2 boxes (about 100kg) ,and everything was packed very neat . When I opened the boxes I saw that all screws were stainless steal the boom which is 4 pieces of 3m long square tube (8cm x 8cm }with 3mm walls it is like a Tank , would survive my high winds QTH.
Each of the elem. Consists of several lengths of alum. tubing and are individually packed for easy identification and they are assembled using stainless steal allen type screws .Many of the parts (the 40m band Q coils) are preassembled and that helps putting the antenna all together very easily.

Finally the antenna went up the tower, a shelf supported 24 m high tower (a commercial cellular tower 1.40m x 1.40m) and the rotator prosistel 71 .
After checking the SWR on all bands the antenna was ready for the test.
I start calling CQ and my second qso was with a pedestrian mobile W0RW with 10ft whip in Colorado. And after that many comments like “what are u running there?” ,”what a big signal”, ”how many KWs are you running there?” etc. I knew that the antenna was kicking really good.

On 10m I haven’t spend that much time due to lack of propagation.
On 15m the 4 wide spaced elem. Is like a razor .very sharp lobe with great F/B and the SWR is almost 1.1 in the whole band.(the SWR on the edges I have 1.2 on 21200 and 1.2 on 21400 everywhere else is a nice 1.1)
On 20m the 4 elem. are performing very well .The lobe is not so sharp like on 15m band which is good since when I beam the states I don’t have to move the beam from the west coast to the east coast about 40 degrees (like on 15m band where it has very SHARP LOBE) and the F/B is great.(SWR 14100 1.2 , 14260 1.1, 14350 1.2) with the predrilled holes on SSB setup)
Finally on 40m band, my favored band , the 3 elem. on the 12m long boom are very nice and it compares to my 2 elem. Full size quad that I used to have .(SWR 7040 1.2, 7060 1.1 , 7100 1.2 ) with the predrilled holes on SSB setup.

The antenna mechanically speaking gets a high 5 .
Tom DF2BO the owner of optibeam gets a high 5 since he responded to my all emails the same day providing the right answer to my questions during the assembly time.
Concerning the survivability the antenna gets a high 5 too since a month ago 90km winds (sand storm from Africa) were taking down trees , electric polls etc.
Just keep in mind that you should point the tips of the elem. Towards the wind.

In a few words when I had the BIG quad I always had nightmares because the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is to get out of the house and look up the tower and see if all the wires and fiberglass arms are still in one piece..
With the OB17-4 things are much more secure and the first thing I do when I get up in the morning is to go outside , hag my dog and then look up……..the tower and admire the state of art design.

No more nightmares and absolutely a terrific performer on 40-20-15-10 m bands.

(I also tried the 6m band and I do have swr 1.1 on 50.100 ,I don’t know the F/B or the gain on this band but on Apr 26 2005 I was working Europeans for more than 4 hours with the OB17-4 100w and the JRC 245)
Previous antennas at my qth was the Force 12 C31XR a nice ant. but no 40m band and CUBEX mantis quad a nice antenna but no good for my VERY HIGH winds location , the 2 elem. on 40m put a big stress on the whole assembly.

73 SV9CVY Michael from the island of Crete
See you in the pile-ups