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Reviews For: PAR Electronics, Inc EF-10/20/40

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : PAR Electronics, Inc EF-10/20/40
Reviews: 92MSRP: 59
Description:
The EF-10/20/40 replaces the EF-20/40. Physically identical to the EF-20/40 (39' overall) it adds 10M operation. 25W power limit. No tuner is required.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.LnRprecision.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15925
AC0DS Rating: 2008-08-10
Easy and Flexible Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This product is a great portable antenna for low power work. I use it mostly in a sloper or vertical configuration so only need one support point and no radial system. Feeding at the end reduces the amount of coax and the complexity of getting coax to the mid-point. This antenna is more flexible than a quick glance at its name (EF 10/20/40) would indicate. The wire above the loading coil can be replaced with a shorter one to make an efficient 30 meter antenna. The entire wire can be replaced with a full sized half wave wire to make end-fed antennas for 12, 15 and 17 meters. I use this capability often for 15, 17 and 30. Instructions for these changes are included in the instruction manual. Just go down to your local hardware store and get a couple of SS wingnuts so that the wires can be changed quickly and conveniently. Given that this system will cover all bands from 40 through 10, I can't imagine a better value for a portable QRP antenna!
.... Craig AC0DS
G8ITB Rating: 2008-08-10
Excellent with FT-817ND - For Summer Holidays! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the EF-40/20/10 with a Yaesu FT-817ND whilst on the usual family summer holidays to the Canary & Balearic Islands! (EA8 & EA6).
The antennas work (once you 'line them up' at home first) reasonably well - considering the restraints of hotel and villa set-ups! They are lightweight to transport and easy to set up in most situations.
I have found that use as a 'sloper' gives the best performance, even with such low power!
It must be remembered that these antennas will normally be in a 'compromise' situation and should not be equated even to a large, high up dipole.
I am extremely pleased with PAR and Dale's service - especially as many US outlets refuse to sell anything outside the USA and still label themselves 'world' dealers!
I have PAR single banders for use in temporary situations with a 50 Watt HF rig back in the UK -they work very well!
WB0MZT Rating: 2008-08-05
Nice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wondered why this would be such a great antenna, after all, it is just another wire antenna, right? But it works better than just a wire, and construction is very good. I put it out a second story window, and sloped it down to a corner fence post. I live in a covenant controlled neighborhood, so I needed a stealthy antenna...this one is difficult to see from the front yard (it is black, and blends in well).
I've been off the air for many years, and last night worked a Ve2 from Denver, with 5 watts...this antenna works great!
KB3OMJ Rating: 2008-07-17
Superb antenna! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
To me what is important is not only how well the antenna works, but customer support. Par Electronics rates a superior when it comes to support and buyer satisfaction. Out of the box 10M checked a 1.5:1 swr with 20M 1.0:1. Being a ham with only one and a half years experience I wasn't sure abt pruning for 40M (which you'll have to do) so a quick email to Dale at Par Electronics was all that was needed to clarify a question I had. Response time was an hour or so. Dale also invited further emails from me should I require more infomation. He takes care of his customers. If you are into qrp and looking for a multiband, I highly recommend the folks at Par Electronics for your needs. I can assure you satisfaction not only with the product, but also after the sale support.

73

Dick Williams KB3OMJ
WB6I Rating: 2008-07-04
Great portable multiband antenna for QRP!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very easy to tune (no tuner required nor should one be used) and low SWR across much of the band. I run QRP and own several portable antennas (Buddipole, Buddistick, MP-2, Diamond BB-7V, etc.) it beats the others hands down(provided you have a way to get some height). I use it as a sloper with the high end at 20 ft and matchbox at 6 ft. You can move it around too without having to re-tune. Antenna is very lightweight and the end fed connection for the coax makes for a much easier deployment than with a center fed dipole. My experience is all you need is a collaspable pole or tree to throw one end up into and the other end with the matchbox can be loose at ground level or slightly above. NO RADIALS REQUIRED OR SHOULD BE USED. My 5 watts allows me to work pileups and I consistantly get strong signal reports. Tech support is also great!! An added plus is you can configure this model only as a single band end fed dipole (60M-10M) by replacing the wire with a half wavelength section for the desired band. If you need to run higher power check out the single band versions (see my EF-40 review in the Par Electronics End-Fed Half-Wave Wire Antennas section.
N2NEH Rating: 2008-04-19
Excellent antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I reviewed the EF 10-20-40 before in 10/07....and,I loved it then. Since then, I have cut separate 1/2 wave wires for 12M, 15M & 17M...just like the instructions said. Once I pruned the wires to resonance, I experienced the same great results using my mighty FT-817 as I did with the tri-band model. Dale, you're a genius!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2NEH on 2007-10-09

I have owned and used a PAR 6M Omniangle Loop for many years...with great results. When I learned about the PAR 10/20/40, 25 watt QRP end-fed antenna I went for it immediately. I used it with my FT-817 and an Elecraft T-1 auto tuner as soon as I received it. Sitting on my back deck with the coupler attached to the deck parasol support and the antenna thrown over some evergreens, I was able to check in to the ECARS net on 40M and the Airline Hams net on 20M...not too shabby!. 10M as usual lately was dead. However a fellow ham in town did hear me and we exchanged greetings on 10M. For ease of use while operating in portable mode, this antenna is great and I highly recommend it. In fact, it's going to France with me in April '08 just as it is..to operate 40M over there from my Hotel...
W7GFB Rating: 2008-04-13
Thumbs up for the EF-4-20-10 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I caught Dale at PAR when they were swamped with government work. Even so, he went out of his way to be helpful in providing the antenna.
Installation directions were very good. It tuned right up with only about 1 inch snipped off the end.
It is mounted off the garage peak, 20 ft. up and rises to a 30 ft. pole. It is set north south, so propagation is to the east and west. Running the maximum 25 watts allowed I have had excellent signal reports from here in Montana to Japan, both coasts, the mid west and deep south.
Now if it could just handle 100 watts......

KC0HKM Rating: 2008-04-07
Could not be better Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Installed 30 feet up and functions as designed. No need to use the internal tuner on my Icom 703 Plus. Follow the instructions and trim the two wire sections to resonance using your favorite brand of antenna analyzer. In my installation, the 10 and 20 meter band was as desired right out of the box and the 40 meter band was trimmed to resonance by clipping about 3 inches off the tip section.

Also, the instruction sheet mentions that this antenna can be configured for the 10/20/30 meter bands instead if the 40 meter tip section is replaced by only 25 inches of wire (rather than the supplied 74 inches needed to achieve resonance on 40 meters). Also, the instructions describe installation as a mono-bander by substituting the appropriate 1/2 wavelength of wire for any desired band.

If you want to mount this as a more or less permanent antenna in trees , take care to install an appropriate strain relief with weights and pulleys or shock cords to compensate for movement during winds

All in all, a very good product well suited for a low power operator.
WA3DNM Rating: 2008-03-19
Amazing Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I read the reviews and had to see for myself. The antenna arrived and was installed running from my ham shack's window to a nearby tree. 15 minutes later the antenna was resonant on 10, 20 and 40 meters for PSK31 operation (SWR easily less than 1.2:1). Living in a CCR community for the last 11 years, I had been using dipoles in my attic with good success. But within minutes of calling CQ on 20 meters with the PAR EF-10/20/40 (25 watts for PSK) I was trying to handle a pileup of European station waiting to QSO with ME!! Have not had that experience since my 3 element Quad at 65 ft days! What a kick. Now I remember why most antennas are outdoors...

Easy to install, easy to tune and works great - what more can we ask from an antenna??? And low profile keeps the CCR police at bay...

Get one, you will love it too!!!
W4SC Rating: 2008-03-16
GREAT Antenna!!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received one of the "prototypes" of this antenna and have found it works very well. I have used it with almost QRP (10Watt) from a K2 and now a K3.

The antenna is mounted in the peak of the roof of my single story home, orientated in a North-South direction. It works quite well for me on all bands 40 through 10, including the WARC Bands.

I have managed to work into Europe, NA, and SA. I even snagged VP6DX one morning on 40 meters. I also worked them on 17M and 15M. All on SSB.

This antenna does NOT have the performance of a 3 element beam. It is however a great performer considering the ease of installation and price.

de W4SC