| KO1C |
Rating:  |
2019-12-21 | |
| No 160 :-( |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Put mine up today. It replaced a home-brew cobra-style dipole. The old antenna wouldn't do 160, but it was resonant on some of the bands and resonant on parts of other bands. It would easily tune on 6-80 meters. I had it up about 6 feet.
The new antenna is up about 30-35 feet. Both legs are parallel with the ground, but the configuration when viewed from directly above would look like a "V".
The new antenna seems to tune about as well as the old. It isn't supposed to do 6 meters, but it tunes and I get full power.
I guess it's not up high enough for me to tune 160 meters. My SWR meter stops at 3:1 and it won't tune below that. Output is about 5-10 watts on my 100 watt transmitter. I don't want to hurt my radio, so 160 meters is out for now.
I was kinda hoping to get top band, but with my lousy location I won't be getting the antenna up any higher. Hope others have better luck.
David |
|
| NZ5L |
Rating: |
2018-09-27 | |
| Can use it on TOP BAND. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is an update on my earlier review.
Very useful on 80, the whole band, despite being up only 25', but ineffective on 40M, as at least one other reviewer has mentioned. It can tune the upper bands, but I haven't had to use it there. The big news is that it can tune the 160M band - from one end to the other! This is possible ONLY with parallel line type feeder, otherwise the high SWR makes it unusable on this band. I should add that I have a very wide range auto-tuner, the MFJ 993B, and for power levels up to 100W I've not had a problem.. For high power, obviously a huskier unit would be required.
I don't know how this would compare with a dipole at the same height, my guess is that it would be some Db down, but this antenna provides those of us with more limited real estate a way to enjoy Top Band. |
|
| WB4TJH |
Rating: |
2015-07-22 | |
| I rebuilt it and improved it and it works fine. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
After my frustration with this antenna some years ago, I decided to dig it out of storage and give it a closer look. I started by rebuilding it, replacing the factory flimsy 16 gauge stranded bare copper wire with quality hard drawn 12 gauge insulated solid copper wire. I also made sure all points on the two 80 meter loading coils were well waterproofed. I then installed a commercial Ladder-Lock center connector in place of the cheaply made original feed point connection, which only used an insulator and the 450 line soldered to each side. The Ladder Lock is made for 450 ohm balanced feedline and I soldered all connections at the feed point. The stiff 12 gauge wire was a bit harder to manipulate but I got the antenna up 50 feet as an inverted V. I don't know what the cause of the problems I had some years ago, but with the rebuild and feed point improvement, the antenna seems to be performing just fine and now 40 meters is just what you would expect from a 70 foot dipole, fed with balanced feed line. The real test was on 75 meters, and the antenna does quite well for a half sized dipole with lading coils. I can load it on all bands thru 6 meters as well using a Palstar tuner with 4:1 internal balun. People who said it would not work on 160 do not understand that for 160 meters, an antenna like this must be used as an end fed, top hat antenna, with the shack ends of the balanced feed line shorted together, and the antenna worked against ground as an end fed wire. Otherwise, it will be basically useless on 160 meters. Spiro made NO mention of this in the poor instructions that came with the antenna and undoubtedly, this is the reason so many of the reviewers here said they could not get it to work on 160. I believe using the antenna as I have described on 160 it would be called a Marconi type antenna. Tests on 160 will have to wait until later in the year when the band noise of summer subsides a bit. If you have one of these antennas, and the flimsy factory wire has failed, try rebuilding it like I did, using all the original demensions, and if the loading coils are OK, it should do you a good job for a space saving, 70 foot antenna for 80 thru 6 meters. With that, I will give it a 5. Yes, it will be down a couple of Db on 80/75, but generally signals on that band are strong, and it won't be noticed for most rag chewing like I enjoy doing. I'm just sorry Spiro is no longer in business, as they were a good source of loading coils and traps for wire antennas.
----------------------
Earlier 2-star review posted by WB4TJH on 2009-05-23
This antenna works well on 80 thru 10, but is deaf as a brick on 40 meters . I use a very wide banded outboard tuner, so matching it to 1:1 is no problem, even on 40. But on 40 meters, I suspect the loading coils, which are located half way along each 35 foot element, must act as RF chokes on 40 meters. That means you only have about 15 feet or so wire on each element between the feed point and the coil that will actually tune on 40 meters. That's the only explanation I can come up as to why the antenna works so poorly on 40 meters out of the box. I bypassed both coils with a short wire that directly connected both parts of each element and the antenna now performs just fine on 40 and also still tunes the rest of the bands just as well. For those complaining on the poor performance on 160, if you would read the ARRL antenna book, you would know that the only real way to make this shortened type antenna work very well on 160 is to electrically short both ends of the 450 feedline together at the tuner end, and use the antenna plus feedline as a top loaded, endfed wire. As for the problem on 40 meters, I think the loading coils should be placed at the ends of each element like the Alpha Delta 80-40 combination dipole. I have fed that antenna with balanced feed line, and it works superbly on 80 thru 10 with no problems. The full sized version of this antenna is a fine, by the book, balanced dipole, which at 130 feet of length, and will tune 80 thru 10 with NO problems. That's why I suspect the location of the loading coils on the shortened version is the problem with it not working very well on 40. Spiro needs to redesign the locaton of the loading coils, and seriously needs to upgrade their instruction sheet to explain this antenna for those who do not understand how to use it, especially on 160. The sheet that comes with it is VERY inadequate and little more than a poor joke. Mechanically, the antenna is well made;I just don't think it's very well designed. |
|
| KD8DEY |
Rating:  |
2008-05-17 | |
| Dont Bother |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Put one up as an Inverted V. Used a 4:1 ladder line balun since Spi-ro offers it in a deal with a antenna tuner with internal 4:1 Balun.
Hooked it into my AT897/Ft-897D. Even with the tuner I was getting high swr readings on 160m. "Tuned up" through the tuner on 80m.
Tried contacting a buddy on 80m about 50 mi away with 100w (I can hit his local repeater on 2m with 50w) and he could barely hear me above the noise floor (S8). Limited documentation.
Didnt know if the ladder line was used as part of the radiator like on a G5RV. doesnt say in the docs. Only states to adjust the ends of the wires on the outside of the traps not to make adjustments between the traps and the center connection.
Went to Hamvention today and Bought the MFJ-259 analyser. It shows the swr match to be OFF THE SCALE across the whole HF band except in the 14mhz range where the lowest it drops is around 2.5:1.
With such a bad match across the board no wonders I cant get out I'm loosing the majority of my TX power from the high swr. At least it seems to RX ok...... |
|
| 9Z4FZ |
Rating: |
2007-03-26 | |
| Great Antenna 291 Prefix |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
For the last three years i have been using SPI-RO AS-2 i haved used all type of antenna including quads,but i have come to my conclusion after my own experience ,when comminmg to SPI-RO antennas they work i have work 291 Prefix today 9 short OF 300 with these antennas.
The white box which is this model HAM AMATEUR RADIO ALL BAND ANTENNA Continuous Cov .i have work station on 160 meters with this antenna,on digital modes the clusters will tell it all the white box antenna works great.
The trick with these antennas you need to set them up right once you have done this the world is yours i have several hy bred quads like the MQ SR 36 6 BANDER BY TMG CANADA,I have made comparison what i am hearing on these wire antennas from SPI-RO ,i am not hearing it on the quad my greatest success from amateur radio is using the white box antenna HAM AMATEUR RADIO ALL BAND ANTENNA Continuous Cov .
this antenna is boss ,rtty,psk31,sstv,cw,hell,name the modes i have work them with this wire antenna,i have learn a lot that once the adjustment is correct you are good to go i have now 5 SPI-RO hook up on my shack i have now become a true lover of wire antenna ,you cannot work what you not hear only what you hear see how many looks i have from qrz.com on station i have work 14.000.00 working these antennas .But also these antenna is not to be taken lightly especialy these model Ham Amateur Radio Multiband Antenna -80-10Mtr
Ham Amateur Radio Multiband Antenna - 40-10Mtr
HAM - DIPOLE - ANTENNA - 60 Meters - NEW!!
HAM - DIPOLE - ANTENNA - 6 Meters - NEW!!
I HAVE TRIED THEM I AM STILL WORKING THEM AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO 391 PREFIX THIS IS GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ON WIRE |
|
| W7IBI |
Rating: |
2006-12-13 | |
| So-So |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I gave it an OK but that is generous.
Made the purchase because I have moved into an HOA situation, and had to go stealth.
It does tune up dead flat on all bands except 20 meters, and on 20 it tunes no better than 3:1. That is with either the internal tuner in the IC-765 or the MFJ 941-E. I have written to Spi-Ro, but got no reply . I have installed the AS-2 avoiding all metal and other obstructions, I can say no more except I miss the tower and Mosley! |
|
| WB4TGT |
Rating: |
2005-02-20 | |
| dont need anything more |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
sorry i dont have the as2 model but i still got my spiro 110 ft antenna. had it for 14 years and had one trap replaced. free of charge after 3 years use. cant beat spiro antennas for wire antennas to work all bands. .oh yes mine works 160 great with tuner.
irecommend spiro if you a old ham or new.
wb4tgt i used other wire antennas and made a few my self but this one beats them all i had.
|
|
| N4FPS |
Rating: |
2005-02-20 | |
| Very Satisfied |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I put up the AS-2 replacing my home brew 40 meter dipole of about the same length. The same day I made contacts in europe on 15 and 20 meters. Specifically Italy and England with 5x8 and 5x9 reports. The antenna claims 10 through 160 but I cannot tune mine on 160(I probably have it intalled too low for this band to tune properly)and 10 is 1.5:1. All other bands tune up flat across the band. I am running mine as a flattop at 35 feet. Overall this is antenna is ideal for me and the construction is excellent. |
|
| KG6R |
Rating: |
2004-12-27 | |
| Pretty Darn Good |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| The Spi-Ro AS-2 is a wire antenna 70 ft long with two coils that enable it to be used as a multiband HF antenna 160-10 meters. It comes with 100 feet of 450 ohm feedline. It is neatly packaged making for an easy setup. No wire spewing everywhere like a slinky. The SWR is manageable with a tuner. I used a balun connected to a short piece of coax to get it into my shack . According to the manfacturer it can handle 1500 watts, since I run barefoot I cannot comment on that. The 14 gauge copper wire is very sturdy. From ordering to delivery it took less than a week. Nice folks too. I have mine up around 30 feet and it works well . Does it work like a yagi? No sir, but I have worked 3000 miles plus in poor conditions. |
|
