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Reviews For: Hy-Gain AV-620 Six-Band Vertical

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Hy-Gain AV-620 Six-Band Vertical
Reviews: 38MSRP: 599.95
Description:
Six-Band Vertical 20/17/15/12/10/6M, no traps, coils, radials, 1500W, 22.5 foot
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hy-gain.com/Product.php?productid=AV-620
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14383.9
N7OE Rating: 2008-03-16
Good antenna, terrible manual Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Wow, yet another 3/16 review! What are the odds?

Anyway, in short: I totally agree with the prior 3/16 review. In *long*:

Pros: Works as advertised, looks great too! I actually thought the parts were good-quality; certainly on par with Cushcrafts and other antennas I've assembled, if not *better* in some ways. The aluminum tubes all had beveled ends, the holes were all counter-sunk, etc. Few rough edges on some of the plastic parts, but nothing I really objected to.

Cons: Manual was AWFUL, and consequently assembly took a VERY long time. That's the main reason I'm giving it a 4/5 and not a 5/5. I think I spent at least seven hours building it!! The organization (or lack thereof) of the manual is particularly infuriating. Adding insult to injury are the many omissions and blatant errors, such as the positions of the stub insulators and the positions of the screw holes around the linear loading section, both of which required some disassembly/resassembly to get right. GRRR!!! Fortunately, it all pretty much goes together in only one way, so in hindsight I think it would have been hard to really screw it up. The process of figuring that out, however, is "an adventure".

BUT... I *am* genuinely pleased with the result. If Hy-Gain/MFJ could only be bothered to produce a better manual (i.e., one not written by somebody who clearly hates/hated their job), I would not hesitate to recommend this antenna to anyone in need of a good-performing, nice-looking, reasonably compact, trapless multi-bander. As it is, however, I can only recommend it to the handier folks with lots of tools and plenty of space to spread everything out and let the project take its course over several days or more.

73,
Aaron, N7OE
N4JMX Rating: 2008-01-22
So far, not that good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my AV620 and I'm in the assembly process. I discovered manufacturing issues right off and exchanged emails with Hy Gain but in my humble opinion got the old run a round. Slots cut where there shouldn't be slots and places where there needed to be slots, there wasn't any. Of course cutting slots is not a problem but I worry about the strength of this antenna after it's up 30 feet in the air. They claim a rating of 80 mph wind load. When you look at the plans that come with the antenna, they show bolts holding together the top sections. Well the one I received had slots cut on both ends that are supposedly to be bolted. They tell me that this is not a problem. I wonder!
When I get it up and working I will add a supplement to this review.
KI4QMR Rating: 2007-10-07
Good compromise Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
As others mentioned, a bit involved to put together, but no problems, just takes time and concentration. I put it on a 20' - 2 1/4 OD steel pipe as suggested, and I was very happy with immediate results, although it seems to shine on 20 meters. Still working on SWR, and MAN, does it sway in the wind! However, after several days of 20 knot + winds, it's still up there swaying.

I get consistently good reports from distant stations, and mostly, if I can hear them, I can work them.

It's a great antenna if you're limited to a vertical, as I am. I only wish I had bought the AV-640 for 40 meters.
K1FPV Rating: 2007-05-11
Dynamite Antenna ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have this antenna on a 30 foot tower which brings the base only about 5 feet above the peak of my house. The antenna went together without any problems and the SWR was right on with the dimensions given in the manual. Performance is great. No it isn’t a beam but for a non-directional antenna, it gets out. I highly recommend it!
WV4I Rating: 2007-04-24
Works as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I will give this antenna a 5 rating because it works as advertised. It will take 1500w key down and comes in at 1.5:1 or less on all intended bands. It talks and plays well, and is optimized for a 17 degree max takeoff angle by design. I will not numerically zing it due to construction quality, which reeks of MFJ.

First, this is a no trap vertical which is 3/8 wave on bands 6m-20m. It is similar to the AV-640, but that antenna employs traps, end loading, is heavier, especially at top. The AV-620 high feedpoint impedance is dealt with by a broadband matching network that also contains a current balun, and the antenna is at DC ground to boot. The 3/8 wave all bands is achieved with stubs except for 20m where the whole antenna radiates. There is no additional rf counterpoise required as the antenna has several 72" flexible whip radials. IMHO, this is an excellent antenna that is the best choice in a "no radial" vertical antenna. It is NOT as efficient as a Butternut, but it does not need radials either. If you have room for radials, the Butternut will outperform this antenna, all other verticals, especially if elevated. As to the AV-640 vs the AV-620, would own the former again, and would either put up a Butternut HF-2V with 30/40/80m capability, or better yet a high dipole, conditions permitting.

As to a reviewer's comment that this antenna was outperformed by a dipole at 40', he does not state the height of his AV-620. In general, a vertical will yield a lower max takeoff angle lobe than a dipole, with the FEEDPOINTS at the SAME height, i.e. vertical is better for DX. If one gets results to the contrary, there is probably something awry.

Construction and build quality of the AV-620. I recommend a 6" bench grinder with a 3M composite buffing wheel to clean up the edges of most of the aluminum parts, lest you cut the hell out of your self. The standoff spacers are crudely punched out. The top bracket holding the match box to the base was bent backwards, had to be flattened and rebent 180 degrees out, somehow did not snap the metal at original fold. The holes in the tubing look like they were made either with a unibit, or else someone over aggressively used a countersink to debur them, latter I doubt. The stubs leave threads exposed which present a long term corrosion problem. All in all, typical MFJ, where you have to finish building it.
F5RRS Rating: 2007-02-14
Surprising results Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna is at the top of my tower (15m above ground).
I have very surprising results with it with my 200 Watts. Breaking a Pile-up is not a problem.
SWR is unvariable under rain or sun.
Also very windy resistant without guying.
Great antenna.... A MUST !
Damien F5RRS
KA8DSS Rating: 2007-02-09
great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this due to local antenna restrictions. Mounted on a tripod on one story home. Works well on all bands and have worked 100+ countries on 17M in 30 days. Just broke the yw0dx pileup in one call with 100 watts, this has been the case in all tough conditions. Love the antenna! All parts were in the box and instructions easy to follow. Assembly time 5 hours. If you are restricted for a antenna this is the one!
N7GVV Rating: 2006-12-26
Great Start Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Installed on 10' pole on side of house. It replaced the GAP Titan which I had up for 5 yrs with constant shifting swr's, etc..
Right out of the box got swr's below 1.5 on all 5 bands ,20-10. I'm not using 6.
Has a pleasing appearence, ie XYL happy!
Looking forward to "beaming" ur way..
IW2CXJ Rating: 2006-10-27
Good five band vertical Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Good -no coil- vertical antenna! It work fine in 20,17,15,12 meter so and so in 10, and a lot of problem in 6 meter...
KJ1Z Rating: 2004-10-23
Very Good Vertical Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this antenna for a few short months and it works very well. If I can hear them I can work them for the most part. Everything went together as per the instructions and when I put it up on my 20 foot pole, the SWR was perfect all the way around. First antenna I have had that I did not have to goof around with to get it right. It is still at 20 foot of the ground, which was suppose to be temporary till I could get it on the roof, but it works well right where its at. I gave it a 4 because it does not hear as well on 6 meters as my Diamond V2000 triband vertical whether it is local SSB coms or DX SSB coms. When 6 meters opens up real good then there is no difference. Antenna transmits well regardless of the conditions locally or DX.
I have discovered a little plus to this antenna. It tunes up on 75/80 meters and actually works there. I experimented with it a bit and it hears well on these bands so I figured I would give it a shot. I use a MFJ 969 tuner it it does a pretty good job considering. I am no big gun on these bands but it does get a signal across to Europe. Of course a dipole cut for 75/80 would do a whole lot better but for right now I am happy.

Mike Cote, KJ1Z
North Anson, Maine