| G8YTZ |
Rating:      |
2021-06-02 | |
| Excellent all-rounder! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
For the life of me I cannot understand why hams dislike LPDA’s I’ve heard all sorts of nonsense, like “they radiate more harmonics” for your information almost any antenna is resonant on odd harmonics! Anyway I purchased the 105-1300MHz version of the Create LPDA as I wanted a general purpose antenna that would cover multiple bands for transmitting as well as receiving.
Performance is as expected for this type of antenna, no its never going to out-perform a single band multi-element antenna, but it is compact, indeed smaller than many TV antennas so it won’t offend the neighbours , it performs well, its very well made and has an excellent SWR across all the bands and more than meets my expectations. Mine is mounted above a Vine 6M 3-ely Yagi on a Yaesu G450c rotator.
I have worked Poland on 70cm and Russia on 2M with this antenna in the early summer of 2011 so no performance concerns here! My only regret is that I did not buy the 50-1300MHz version which would have brought 6M and 4M to the party.
In a nutshell I would highly recommend this product for people who want a multi-band VHF/UHF antenna.
2021 update:
This log periodic has now been up or 10 years and still it performs perfectly, but there are two BIG advantages over traditional antennas:
1. Size and wind loading; the antenna is small so can be mounted high without any worries with wind loading on a chimney. The additional height more than offsets the lower gain. I use mine to access the GH3HV and GB3EN TV Repeaters on 70cm and 23cm (DVB-S2). 45 miles on 70cm from Petts Wood into GB3HV and I get a signal with an 18dB fade margin. I have aslo many simplex TV contacts using DVB-S2 and DVB-T.
2. Bandwidth: I plan to buy the 50-1300 MHz version for TV operation on 6m and 4m as well as SSB. Yagi antennas struggle to meet the bandwidth required for TV operation whilst still performing adequately on the SSB parts of the bands. The antenna will replace my 3-Element Vine 6m Yagi and has similar gain to the Yagi, so I'll only win with more bands, and meet the bandwidth requirements for TV operation at 333kS/s, especially in the UK 4m NoV band extension.
The single feed point also simplifies the installation on my Yaesu G-450c rotator.
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| G8FEK |
Rating:      |
2020-09-23 | |
| Exceeded expectations |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
House move dictated a VHF/UHF antenna solution with less visual impact than a multiple yagi approach. The VHF LPDA is of course a significant compromise in terms of gain, but with 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm on one coax it's a winner for my application.
With about 5dBD gain (free space) on the higher bands, less on 6 and 4m, it's around 5 to 10dB down on a medium sized single band yagi. BUT it gets you on 5 bands and with one coax.
23cm gain is a long way down on a typical single band antenna, but fine for local work.
Design, build quality and presentation is of a professional standard, way better than many ham antennas I've seen. VSWR 50MHz through 23cm measures |
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| K6TDI |
Rating:      |
2018-06-11 | |
| Great for my QTH |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| When we moved to a townhouse (HOA) I needed to simplfy the antenna farm, and be stealthy. The Create CLP5130-1 fits the bill and exceeds my performance expectations. On a TV antenna rotor and barely above the roofline I acheived VUCC on 6 meters from DM13. It performs well on 1.2 GHz, 432, 222 as well. The SWR on the weak signal portion of the 2 meter band is rather high, but I still use it there. The build quality is top notch, I expect it to outlast me. If you can put up yagis for every band then do that. If you are like me and that is just not possible, get one of these and you should not be dissapointed! |
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| WB2VVV |
Rating:      |
2016-06-19 | |
| Nice Wideband LPDA |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have the 105 - 1300 MHz model and it works well for hill topping, portable operation, and as a far end antenna during range testing. These applications generally are made easier with a single wide band antenna and a single feed line, and when you consider it covers 144, 222, 432, 903, and 1296 MHz it sure simplifies these applications.
Being an LPDA only part of its boom length and a subset of its elements are active (have RF current) depending upon which band/frequency you're operating. Accordingly, its gain cannot be compared to other similar boom length antennas that are NOT as wide band, and do not cover these full five (5) bands. For what it is, as a broadband horizontal polarization solution with a reasonable pattern, it is an excellent example of this sort of antenna and works as it should. It will keep working for a long time since it is very well engineered mechanically. I still occasionally break out mine, and used it originally back in 1993 for Portable Contest Operation. It certainly has withstood the test of time! |
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| WD4AB |
Rating:   |
2011-02-03 | |
| Gain not even close to advertised |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought this antenna based on the reviews for weak signal work, assembly was ok and structural soundness not as solid as other lpda antennas such as KMA or Terradyne. Claimed gain figures are grossly exagerrated. The antenna is 2 s units weaker on both transmit and receive on 144hz and 432mhz compared to my relatively tiny 5 element Elk lpda. For the money you are better off with a much better built and better performing KMA LPDA which blows this thing away.
This antenna works but for the money you can get a much better perfoming lpda from other manufacturers. |
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| W4AMP |
Rating:      |
2009-07-13 | |
| Good engineering! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I have the 5130-2N, which covers 105-1300 mhz. Bought it from Grove, shipped quickly. Assembly takes a while, some small screws, but sturdy when complete. Using a single run of LMR600 for all mode 144,432, and 1296 all together. Very inexpensive way to get in the game vs. mono banders and multiple feedlines. Gain is huge, as claimed. Nice front to back as well. Very lightweight, well designed antenna. Very pleased with this product. See you soon from EM74. |
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| W9JAB |
Rating:      |
2009-01-15 | |
| Nice |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have this antenna at 50 feet and it works great, use it on 2 and 6 meter, not too pin pointy, was impressed with the quality and ease of assembly, I put it together in the garage, because of all the little nut and bolts. The only drawback is the price it is a bit "spendy" but compared to Cushcraft it was well worth it.
JOE
W9JAB |
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| WA7SCH |
Rating:      |
2006-07-31 | |
| Great little Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Had mine up for about a month.
Assembly was not hard, except for my big fingers. Sometimes working between the elements was difficult but that is because of spacing for this frequency.
Antenna is very light and I turn it with a TV antenna Tunder. I have done a little week signal work and it isn't as good as a long beam but as a small LPA it is terrific.
SWR is flat on 6,2,440, and 1.2 Ghz. Didn't test anywhere else. It's a nice addition to a VHF station. |
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| KC5R |
Rating:      |
2006-06-23 | |
| Good all-around |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Have it up at 85'. Been really great on 6 and 2 meters. Good directivity and gain. If you want a multiband antenna for VHF/UHF weak signal, and cannot get up stacks for 2/440/etc, this antenna is perfect. Fairly straightforward to assemble and good quality. Customer service from Create prior to sale was great - no windload listed, but assume at or below 3 sq. ft.
Be careful - the hardware is all metric in size (including the tiny nuts), so you may need to look around to get spares should you drop one in the grass... |
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| G0ISW |
Rating:      |
2006-02-28 | |
| A very good compromise |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have used this aerial for many years now and the first big advantage is its small size, just 3m x 3m.
The SWR is a perfect 1:1 from 50MHz to 1300MHz.
I have used my aerial to good effect on 50, 144 & 432MHz in particular when chasing DX on SSB.
I have worked North Africa (EA9) with just 25 watts on USB and Estonia (ES) with just 50 watts on 144MHz USB.
Good antenna for Meteor Scatter as it is not overly directional.
Despite only being equivalent to a 5 ele beam on 144MHz I have still worked all over Europe.
No down sides that I have discovered.
http://www.qsl.net/g0isw
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