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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
DJ3FS Rating: 2004-10-27
THE BEST Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
When I was looking for a high efficient antenna for the conventional bands 40-20-15-10m I pretty soon knew it had to be an OptiBeam Yagi due to the great reputation these Yagis have gained and because of a very decent and excellent consulting by Tom, DF2BO, the owner of OptiBeam.
Though the next smaller version, the OB12-4, is an attractive antenna which interested me as well I finally decided for the OB17-4 as the three elements on 40 are a very attractive parameter. And who would mind to have four full sized elements on 20m, four wide spaced full sized elements on 15m and six full sized elements on 10m in addition?
When the OB17-4 arrived in two boxes and my friends and I had unpacked it we saw three things: a. the antenna consists of many parts, b. it really is a big antenna and c. everything is of outstanding quality.
By assembling the antenna we really enjoyed the well preparation, done at the OptiBeam factory. Many parts are pre assembled and all pieces are perfectly sorted and well labelled.
As soon as the OB17-4 was up on my tower I definitely saw that it was just a beautiful looking antenna, real majestic.
So I said to myself: if it now would even meet the electrical specifications, man, what an antenna I had!
I have to add, due to restrictions by the local authorities I have the antenna up on a tower at only 11 meters (35 feet). My location is pretty much in the free (except to North and North East), but even here a height of only 11 meters is not very promising.
The first check was the SWR on all four bands, and especially on 40m I did not expect to be able to operate without a tuner, because of the low height. How amazed I was to see even on 40m an SWR which was extremely close to the published values which are leaned against a height of 20 meters (68 feet). The other three bands were even better than the published values, I almost couldn’t believe it.
In the next moment I tuned around a bit on 20, 15 and 10m, listened to some pile ups on dx stations and tried to get through. Trying it barefoot (100 W) I often made it with the first or second call. Putting the amplifier on (500 W honestly) all the dx stations asked me „what antenna are you running, you are so extremely loud over here“.
In the same night, being so excited, I played around on 40m, and instead of going to bed around midnight like I had in mind first I stayed up until the sun rose. Whatever I heard I worked by the first call, an calling cq dx myself I quickly had a pile up of JAs, Ws and VEs, South Americans and what not.
And after using the OB17-4 for more than 6 months now all the first positive impressions simply have stabalized.
Electrically and mechanically the OB17-4 is the best antenna you can buy for your money!
GM4YSN Rating: 2004-10-20
17-4 4 BAND YAGI Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
i PURCHASED THE 17-4 FROM FROM TOM (DF2BO) 6 MONTHS AGO AFTER MANY EMAILS ENQUIRING ABOUT THE 17-4 YAGI. TOM ANSWERED ALL THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS INCLUDING WAYS OF ERECTING THE BEAST ONTO A TILT-OVER TOWER.
I CAN ONLY MIRROR THE COMMENTS OF PREVIOUS REVIEWS IN THAT THE BUILD QUALITY AND MATERIALS ARE EXCELLENT. I HAVE BUILT MANY YAGI, QUAGI'S AND QUADS IN THE PAST BUT MUST SAY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OPTIBEAM SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS. I FEEL THAT THE PERFORMANCE WAS EQUALLY AS GOOD AS THE BIG MONOBANDERS I USED TO USE.IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IT IS EASILY OUTWAYED BY THE FACT YOUR ONLY HAVE ONE ANTENNAE ON THE TOWER. THIS CAN BE IMPORTANT WHEN YOU GET THE 100MPH WINDS THAT CAN AND DO GO THROUGH SCOTLAND IN THE WINTER.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS IMPORTANT WHEN BUILDING AN ANTENNAE AND THE WAY THE ELEMENTS PARTS ARE CONSTRUCTED AND PLACED TOGETHER ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO THE USUAL RIVETS AND CLIPS THAT ALLOW THE ELEMENTS TO EVENTUALLY MOVE AND FALL APART.
FIRST CLASS PRODUCT TOM
ON4JZ Rating: 2004-09-21
Simply the best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently (4 days ago) joined the club of Optibeam OB17-4 owners.

I changed my X-9, which worked well for the last 5 years, for the OB17-4.

When the 2 boxes were delivered at my QTH, you could already notice how well all parts were packed. The material used is very robust and is ment to last for years.

About the performance I can be brief: OUTSTANDING!!!
The 3el on 40 / 4el on 20 / 4el wide spaced on 15 and 6el on 10 are an absolute "killer beam" and all this with a single 50 Ohm coax cable feed system.

Tom and his wife Diana are very professional and friendly people. No question is too much and the replies by mail does not take days. It's just a matter of minutes.

This antenna is definitely not cheap compaired to others, but on the long run, it pays itself.

For now I even enjoy more DX-ing with my new OB17-4
OE3CBA Rating: 2004-09-06
OUTSTANDING Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Replaced four monobanders (HyGain 5 element Long Johns for 10/15/20 and 3 element Discoverer for 40) by the OB 17-4. No difference in performance can be made out. The OB 17-4 shines with a clean pattern, excellent F/B ratio and due to the decoupling stubs on the 40 meter elements there is no interaction between bands. This was not the case with my monobanders on a single mast.

If you cannot afford the luxury of separate towers for different bands, the OB 17-4 is a superb choice giving you monobander performance on a single boom. Optibeam’s craftsmanship is legendary. By the looks of the antenna you trust that it is built to last.

The gained space on my mast allows the addition of an OB 9-2 for 12/17 meters, and there remains capacity for an OB 2-80 2 element 80 meter beam which will top off the set-up as soon as available.