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Reviews For: TGM comm MQ-1 hybrid quad beam antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

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Review Summary For : TGM comm MQ-1 hybrid quad beam antenna
Reviews: 3MSRP: >425.00
Description:
An earlier model of the hybrid quad antenna, 4 bands 20,15,10 and 6
Product is in production
More Info: http://www3.sympatico.ca/tgmc
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0035
LU5DDX Rating: 2010-08-27
incredible !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
hi, i am a happy owner of this antenna, I get my hands by chance, 25 years packed, and I discovered, truly amazing! so little space in four bands and earns at least 5dbd with repect to the dipole and the best is SUPER .. I would be wanting more clarity in the setting because I have no antenna analyzer. congratulations .. the box had the seal of the airline Pan Am .. a beauty ... thanks jorge lu5ddx
sorry for my english please ..

hola , yo soy un feliz poseedor de esta antena , llego a mis manos por casualidad , 25 años empacada , y yo la descubri , realmente sorprendente !!! en tan poco espacio 4 bandas y gana al menos 5dbd con repecto al dipolo y lo mejor es supersilenciosa .. me faltaria mas claridad en el ajuste porque no tengo analizador de antena . felicitaciones .. la caja tenia el sello de la compania aerea PANAM .. una belleza ... gracias jorge lu5ddx
NE0P Rating: 2006-03-10
Excellent for size Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the old mini products version of this antenna used in the summer of 2002, to replace a Cushcraft MA5B. Due to its light weight and size, I was able to mount it slightly higher than the MA5B, but probably not significantly. I had one of these antennas back in the mid 1980s, but honestly can't remember how it did back then.

How does it do now? In a word-excellent! Now it isn't going to outperform a full size tribander at 80 feet, or a series of monobanders, but for its size and weight, it really gets the job done. Mine is mounted at around 30 feet, using a roof tripod on the top of the house, and a radio shack TV rotor to turn it. I have a 10 element 2 meter beam mounted about 7 feet below it, and haven't noticed any interaction problems with it. It is a good, low profile antenna, although the quad reflector element does stand out a bit. The boom on the is antenna is 4.5 feet, and the elements are around 15 feet long. I did have to tune it a bit at first, but remember it was a used antenna when I got it, and was probably 10 years old at that time. Assembly is extremely easy. It is also much quieter than my G5RV dipole is in terms of picking up power line noise and other crud from living in an older residential neighborhood.

So how does it perform? Well, I have worked arond 275 countries with it, just running 100 watts. I did 845 QSOs in the 2002 Ten Meter Contest with it. I worked VK9XD with it in 2004, and that is a 10,000 plus mile path from here. Worked 3Y0X on 20 SSB, 20 CW, and 17m CW with it. It isn't rated for the WARC bands, but it will load up there with a tuner. However, the directionality of it gets a little screwy on the WARC bands. Just rotate it to peak the signal.

I am a 6 meter addict and it also plays great on 6 meters. I have worked all 50 states on 6 meters using it! I have worked LU, P40, V3, TI, HP, C6, CO, ZF, PJ2, FM, J3 and probably a few other DXCC on 6 using it. For a 2 element beam on 6 it can't be beat.

If you are limited in space for an antenna, this one can't be beat! It will also work on 2 meters with an antenna tuner.

73s John NE0P
WB2AZE Rating: 2005-06-26
excellent antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My wife bought this antenna for me as a Christmas present years ago. I used it for the first time on Field Day this past weekend.
The antenna is almost a carbon copy of a much older antenna called the Mini Products that was advertised in QST during the 1970's. It disappeared off the market when the owner of the company died.
It reappeard a few years ago, being manufactured in Canada by TGM Communications. The antenna was partially assembled when I opened the box. Unlike the origional mini quad, the construction is a little more sturdier. The thickness of the traps and some of the insulators drew my attention. The traps themselves are covered in silicon to protect them. The origionals were not. In addition, the spokes are not threaded like the original were. The TGM version has holes with set screws in them. Simply place the spokes in the holes and tighten the screws with a phillips head screw driver. When the spokes are put into the traps, a liquid oozes out of the holes, similar to Penetrox, a nice touch. Tuning of the coils were improved greatly by having one adjustable spoke with a metal sleave on it, alowing it to be shortened or lengthened. I did not have to tune the coil and used the factory settings.
The antenna can be turned using a small TV antenna rotator. For Field Day, I mounted my antenna on top of an old Radio Shack 19 foot collapsible tower. ( when the electricity was off, the tower/antenna was turned via the 'armstrong method')
This antenna is not a full sized beam, but it doesn't have to be. It works just as good as one, with less cost, less labor to install, and a smaller footprint. Years ago I had one mounted on my chimney.
You cannot go wrong with this antenna, unless you live in an area with extremely strong winds. I believe the wind survival rating is 75-80 MPH, and fortunately have not had to test it under those conditions.
Now that FD is over, the antenna has been packed back up, ready for the next event.

73 Dave WB2AZE