| WA9AFM |
Rating:      |
2002-04-12 | |
| Great Performer For The Money! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| About two years ago, with a brand new Icom IC-706MKIIG in hand, I reentered HF operations. My interest was in digi (PSK 31 & RTTY). I didn't want to go the tower/rotor/beam route as that equates to maintenance. I began to explore verticals and kept coming back to the GAP Challenger. Based on recommendations from local amateurs who ran both Challengers and Titans, I had Texas Towers ship one to me. I spend a pleasant hour on a Saturday afternoon in my driveway assembling the Challenger. Although the manual is a bit crude, the antenna went together quite nicely. Carrying it to the backyard was a bit of a thrill; wrestling 31" of aluminum pipe requires close attention. Mounting and setup were uneventful. I won't get into technical discussions on performance, but suffice it to say, the Challenger is a solid performer. You definitely needs guys; a simple system of rope and tent stakes works quite well. One of the great advantages is the low (narrow?) profile. Although I don't suffer under any antenna restrictions, low visibility is certainly an advantage to keeping the XYL happy. The only problem so far was with an errant dirt bike rider who didn't see the antenna (it's mounted off my property in a small clearing) and took out the guys and folded the antenna over. He agreed to pay for replacing the lower mounting section and I agreed not to call the police and charge him with trespass. Bottom line; this isn't a beam at 70', but for the money, ease of installation and reliability, the Challenger is a definite player! |
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| K8IA |
Rating:      |
2002-04-10 | |
| Decent! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I have been licensed since 1957 and was very active thru about 1986. I just returned from this inactivity in late November 2001 and acquired a GAP Challenger.
In my own, prior,situation I had towers measuring from 70' thru 140' in 3 separate locations with monoband yagis 10-40 so I was used to fairly good antenna peformance. Since I am moving from Michigan to Arizona later this year, I decided to do it simple before getting more tower(s) up in AZ.
This antenna has been an eye opener! Many times I have commented to others how well it works. No, its not a killer, compared to what I used to use, and its performance on 80m leaves lots to be desired but other than those shortcomings its been great!
In 18 weeks of operating, using only my barefoot IC-765 at 100w, I have worked 190 countires. My band country totals 10m=124, 12m=46, 15m=108, 20m=131, 40m=112, 80m=13. Some of the more exotic stuff from here have been YB1A on 40m, TL8DV, 9N7RB, both VP8 expeditions, PW0T, VP6DI, XW0X, FR5FD, 3B8FG,4S7DA, A61AJ, 7Q7LW, VK9NS, DU1ZV (also 40m), TA3DD and many more semi-rare DX.
Structurally, with one set of light rope guys just above the feedpoint it has withstood two 60mph windstorms. It moved around, but never faltered.
I'd recommend this as a temporary antenna for someone in a situation like mine, or a permanent antenna for those with space or limits.
73, Bob K8IA
Michigan USA
BobK8IA@aol.com |
|
| K6XR |
Rating:      |
2002-01-15 | |
| excellent antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| my challenger worked superbly on 75/80 with over 170 khz bw. I was able to bust dx pile ups on 75 meters easily with 100 watts. It is an excellent performer on the other bands as well. In 47 years of hamming, the challenger was the best performing vertical that I had ever used. |
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| N9ZLE |
Rating:  |
2002-01-15 | |
| Junk |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I had one of these antennas. It never worked right since I got it. 80 meters never worked. the rest of the bands were very poor. A piece of wire works ten times better. I tried it with an Icom 735 and an Icom 738, would not work with either one. It is just a big DUMMY load for most bands.
It will not support itself you will need guy wires(ropes) and counterpois the thing ends up being a very ugly thing in your back yard. I sold it for $100 bucks and felt bad about ripping the poor guy off. |
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| W2VS |
Rating:      |
2002-01-12 | |
| Great Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This has been a great antenna. Although any vertical offers compromises, it has worked as advertised and has now survived intact for two winters. I have it guyed but it actually did stand by itself without support. I used it for ARRL sweepstakes (CW and phone) in 2000 (not 2001) and it worked fine. Great signal reports. I would advise NOT using a tuner with it except on the band segments for which it is rated. For an all purpose antenna I would highly recommend it. |
|
| KE2VN |
Rating:      |
2001-11-07 | |
| Works great for me |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had this antenna for a couple of years now, and I've got it in just about the worst place that could be, but the only spot that would work in my limited-space property. It runs between two cable and phone lines to both my neighbor's house and my own, AND it goes right up through the branches of a couple of big trees.
However, I've worked over 150 countries with it, and it has withstood wind of 70+ mph on two seperate occasions, in addition to driving hail and plenty of snow. I only run 100w and mostly on phone, but it gets out well enough for me on all parts of all resonant bands.
It's shown itself to be a good, tough, durable product that has performed as advertised. On top of that, their customer service has been excellent when I've called about various issues from technical to mechanical. I'd buy another for a limited-space application in a heartbeat. |
|
| KG6CDR |
Rating:     |
2001-08-20 | |
| Quality Product |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
First let me say that my thanks go to all of those users that took the time to write a review. I read them all.
While I have not had my DX VIII very long (2 weeks), I felt it would be good to add my comments now. I will do a follow-up later.
I took my time putting it together. It took me 2 hours from start to finish. It took me 3 days to dig the foundation mounting hole... Hard ground in August in the foothills where I live.
I followed the directions, and had no trouble at all. Since it took me so long to dig the hole, it sat on the sawhorses for a day or so. I couldn't resist hooking up to my Icom 706IIG. Lying horizontally on the sawhorses (3 feet) I did NO transmitting, but was receiving a clear comunication between an operator in Israel and the U.S. on the 20 meter band. S=5/8
I have had good communication on the 10 meter band from central California where I am, to Seattle, WA and Wynnewood, PA. S= 5/8 and 5/9.
I also have a G5RV (80-10 Meter) set at 36 feet high. Switching back and forth, I notice that while the G5RV gets and extra S1, the NOISE almost disapears switching to the DX VIII.
Raising the antenna was the most fun. Number one wife at the foot. Two granddaughters holding 2 of the 3 rope supports, and me walking it up to a verticle position, just like the directions said. It was very easy for me to pop it in the ground sleeve.
For the price, it is a good antenna. Only time will tell if it becomes a great antenna. |
|
| WD4FGH |
Rating:     |
2001-05-28 | |
| Working Great! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is an update to my 5/10 review now that I've had some time on the air with it. I'm still rating a "4".
Propagation has improved and I've worked DX and domestic stations on 10, 15, 20, and 40. 80 has been clobbered with spring thunderstorm noise the times I've tried there. I've tried a couple of contacts on 12 but they were very weak to start with. I hear a lot of activity on 17 (any time 15 is active) but can't work it since the SWR is about 5:1 (some users report being able to use 17 with a tuner).
Three more installation comments:
1. Use direct burial coax if you ground mount. RG8 won't cut it and wet coax is useless.
2. Use Coax-Seal to wrap the connection (PL259s and barrel connector), again to avoid wet coax.
3. Use a lightning arrestor! This antenna is not at ground potential. Its also a good idea to disconnect it during thunderstorms (good idea for any outdoor antenna).
I'm still very pleased with results and performance. For the money, especially. Remember, put it up right (don't be bashful about calling GAP for help)and you'll be rewarded with one of the best verticals available. It works a lot better than all the dipoles I could rig! |
|
| KD7JKU |
Rating:      |
2001-05-28 | |
| Good small lot solution! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| After seeing the last comment, (the only negative one's here being from the same ham?)I thought I would add my experience. I have had my Challenger up for almost 2 years now and it does a very good job! It is not a beam, but then again, this is not the beam review section is it? I have tried many different wire antennas here to no aval. Yes they tune, but they are deaf as a door nail for anything that resembles an RF siganl at the height I can attain. After reseaching different options here in the reviews I ordered a Challanger. The assembly process was quick and un-eventful. I mounted the PVC pipe in the corner of the yard by feeding a waterhose to the bottom of it and displacing the dirt back up through the top resulting in a tight & secure grip on the base. Standing the antenna up was a challenge, butting the very bottom of the tube against a block garden wall while walking the mast into the air. Get help here and save your back as picking it up to drop into the mounting tube results in an uncontollable wobble that can easily get away from you! I tied the guys off to the surrounding fence and attached the three radials to the base. When I sat down and switched on the rig I was greeted with a very pleasant surprise, it had ears! There are power lines running through the backyard easment that have always given me static grief with anything else I have tried. No such noise here with the Gap! In fact, rain noise is non-existent as well, very important here in Seattle. The low radiation angle works great on all bands, but may be the reason some feel it is deaf on 80 meters as I often cannot hear the locals while the DX bangs in! In fact, when I do get to a larger lot with the desired aluminum farm potential, I will retain the Gap as well for this low angle radiation on the lower bands. So my recommendation here is if you have the small city lot blues, the powerline noise has got your ear and you can't raise a wire to any respectable heights, try one of these. It has done well by me! |
|
| KA1RI |
Rating:  |
2001-05-27 | |
| Don't Bother |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Thought I'd try the GAP again after a move to a new QTH to see if it worked any better. Unusable SWR on 6 meters and 10 meters, reasonable SWRs on other bands, but poor performance on transmit. WEAK signals on 2 meters and VHF weather, etc. My Yaesu VX-5 HT actually beat the GAP receiving wx stations in the basement! Once again, the GAP proves to be an incredibly expensive aluminum scrap pile. Don't waste your hard-earned money on this loser like I did. |
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