Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

Reviews For: OptiBeam OB16-5 (high performance 16el fivebander 20-17-15-12-10

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : OptiBeam OB16-5 (high performance 16el fivebander 20-17-15-12-10
Reviews: 15MSRP: 3274. USD
Description:
Description: The biggest Yagi in the family of the OptiBeam fivebanders.
Performant Yagi designed as interlaced monobanders for 20/15/10m plus high efficient "hidden sleeve element technique" for 17/12m.
Loss free broad band OptiBeam driver feed system reqires only one single 50 Ohm coax.
Optimized computer designed German Yagi without traps and with full size elements. High gain and f/b ratio on all bands.
The OB16-5 has 4el on 20, 4el on 17, 4el wide spaced on 15, 4el wide spaced on 12 and 8 el on 10 meters on a 10.10 meter boom.
No switching, no tuning, no flexible parts, an absolute trouble free performer !
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.optibeam.de
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00155
K5EJ Rating: 2022-01-01
Excellent! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The antenna has been up a 1 ½ years. My main interest is DXing so I was looking for high performing multiband beam. I am very pleased with antenna.
It is a heavy bulky antenna so prepare to have a crane available to mount on your tower. The antenna comes well marked and is easy but time consuming to put together simply because it has a lot going on.
Over a year’s time we have had a variety of awful weather but no severe ice storms so I cannot comment on ice but no weather-related issues
It is broad banded with good SWR across all the bands
So what about performance? I have it mounted at 100 feet. I have a second 140 foot tower with a Hy-Gain TH-11DX. The OptiBeam is consistently 1-2 S units better on reports. That is a comparison not a criticism of the TH-11DX which has been a good performer and robust antenna over the years.
Antenna was purchased from DX Engineering. I corresponded with them and Tom DF2BO at Optibeam and they provided prompt responses to my questions.
I would highly recommend. Good DX
EJ K5EJ
OR0A Rating: 2021-07-08
after 18 years still working great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
HI ! I was one of the very few running an OB16-5 back in 2003. The world opened for me. What an antenna. Recently I had troubles with the SWR on all bands. I mailed Optibeam - Tom DF2BO - is a wonderfull president who replied me within a few hours. He told me check all the connections between the drivers and sleeves. I did but there was no bad connection. He also adviced me too check the balun and coax. Thats what I did.... changed the balun in to a 10 kw ssb 5 kw cw 3,5 kw rtty balun and I also attached a new low loss coax. So nothing done on the antenna, just checked for bad connections, which have not appeared. After having changed the balun and coax running back to the shack ....... wow : 1.0 swr all band , entire bandwith , except 10 meter ( into 29 mhz it goes up to 2.0 ....but with ATU no problem). I'm so happy with this 18 years old workhorse that still holds on after very harsh winter and storms. What an antenna , what a performer. I'm often told being the strongest on the band. Optibeam is way the best you can get, maximum gain with optimized element spacing ! My next one will be optibeam again but the antenna probably will survive me :-)
VK3BDX Rating: 2020-03-08
Awesome quality and performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My OB16-5 has been up 5 weeks and I am super impressed with its performance. I chose this antenna because of its well documented quality and strength and I am not disappointing.

My QTH is a little windy at times and I need a very solid construction. I have had failures before with EA antenna products and even my UltraBeam on tower one has had reliability issues.

Right out of the box you can see the quality. The build is easy with detailed instructions, but i took my time and made sure it was correct. The quality of the components is second to none.

Once in the air the SWR and bandwidth were spot on, I was amazed that it was so correct, again a real testament to the quality of the construction.

I am simply amazed by the performance. I have a UB-6-40 Ultrabeam which is fantastic but this just blows it away from 20-10m.

Tom was a delight to work with and I asked a lot of questions - but he really looked after me. Great service and a quality product, I am happy to give this antenna 5 stars and I look forward to adding more Optibeams to my DX arsenal.
K2FW Rating: 2017-05-05
Wonderful Support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I recently brought down both of my Optibeam antennas for maintenance as well doing a conversion on one of them, changing it from a single band to a dual band Yagi. Looking over the 16-5 Yagi, I noticed two small parts that needed to be replace. The Yagi has been up on the tower for about 11 years. I got in touch with Tom about replacing the parts & asking what the price would be. After asking Tom what the best way to pay him he replied: "No charge, Consider it as a service to you from OptiBeam Antenna Technologies."
This is the sort of great service Tom supplies to Optibeam users.
Thanks You Tom!
Steve K2FW



----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K2FW on 2011-08-30

I’m writing this as a follow-up to my previous review. I’ve had this antenna on the air since November of 06. When I first had it up, I had a few problems that were directly related to assembly mistakes. After correcting them, the antenna performed flawlessly. Then last year we had a small F0 tornado bend 3 of the 4 20mtr elements. Tom (DF2BO) sent over new, reinforced elements (that are now standard) to me for no cost. He also supplied me with other new improved (and now standard) parts that I also installed. So with the new parts & elements installed, the antenna is extremely rugged. We just had hurricane Irene pass within 25 miles of my QTH here in southern NJ. The 16-5 was up on a 80 self supporting tower & came through without any problems. And performance wise, the 16-5 gives you the next best thing to having monobanders up on the tower! Having a very rugged 5 band yagi, that gives you tremendous performance, coupled with super support by the owner, Tom, what more could you ask for?
PY2JY Rating: 2014-08-07
The best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one Optibeam 16-5 in South América. This is one great antena for ham radio. i don´t have problem and put big signal in all the world.
DL9JON Rating: 2014-04-09
It is a weapon Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm using this antenna since february.
The assembly was very easy. All parts are labeled.
The quality is outstanding.

Unbelievable how i crack the biggest pile ups.
Worked TX6G from 20-10m in CW and SSB.
I call 2 to 3 times my call and I am in the log.
It works excellent, especially at large distances.
I hadn't so much fun, when i am hunting for DX.

Look at the pictures on my page at www.qrz.com.
I'm using 500-700 watts and the antenna is only 11m up on my tower.

Outstanding service and great job Thomas (DF2BlueOcean).

73 de Heiko, DL9JON
VK5BM Rating: 2013-11-09
Simply The Best, Well Done Tom!!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
So I bought this Optibeam over 2 years ago, and no report has been written as it has only finally just got up in the air at our new location in North Eastern Victoria in Australia. We moved from South Australia and all the towers, antennas and equipment went with us,including Toms new in the box Optibeam. What a job moving 1100kms!!!! So this week was finally the week that the world famous Optibeam antenna went up and all I can say is Wow!!!
It is an amazing antenna in so many ways and if your serious about an antenna for any band that is world class, Optibeam is really your only choice. (and believe me, I have tried them all and could list the failures but may be sued if I did publically.) Long after you forget the price, the antenna is still working and burning signals worldwide. After large arrays with round booms of other brands that cracked, and other issues that I have endured, I can see that the OB16-5 is incredible in just two days is fast superior and I have watched it in some horrendous winds. This antenna just performs incredibly and copes easily with the strong winds we regularly endure. Look at the Optibeam series of antennas very seriously as they are serious antennas...
We have the OB 2-80+ 80m 2 element and the OB 17-4 17 element going up next week at 100' so looking forward to writing reviews on both. I can say this, they are nearly finished being built and if you take the time to read the paperwork, you will find it very straight forward. Tom goes into incredible detail, but please focus on actually reading the paperwork in a quiet room first to familiarize yourself with the gameplan for your installation. I didn't on my first build and a very patient Tom helped me when I was confused but the next two optibeams have been built strictly to the manual and have gone without a hitch. Great instructions Tom!!!
Thank you Tom, especially for your patience with me, dont ever stop making antennas, the ham radio community world-wide needs you!!!
W7AV Rating: 2012-09-06
WOW Performance!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
All I can say is WOW(over my old XR-5)!! I've had this antenna up for only a few days but it's a whole new world on the ham bands for me. With conditions as poor as they are (ss 122 and K Index at 12) the OB16-5 really performs for me. I can work and hear just about everything that's posted on DX Watch. I live where working the Middle East was very difficult to even hear, no problem now. This antenna has made ham radio exciting for me again (been at it 55 years).

Well constructed, and I expect it will last years. Optibeam--JOB WELL DONE!!!

Rick, W7AV

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by W7AV on 2012-08-26

I'm posting some impressions of the OB16-5 after putting it together AND before I put it up. For quality of parts it's a 5/5, the very best. Parts marking for identification is a 5/5+, everything is well identified and grouped together, making the assembly much easier then other antennas I've owned. This antenna is big and takes time to build--get help if you can.

The construction manual is a 2/5, many pictures of antenna construction are other antennas and not the OB16-5, the manual is not clear at all and you must keep reading it over and over and that doesn't work sometimes, so it some trial and error, but does go together. Alot is due to translation from German to English (a quality antenna such as this should also be reflected in the manual preparation). Note that this is a German made antenna and every measurement is in meters/centimeters, so you do need a metric tape measure and tools.

I'm not at all happy with the U.S. dealer, no communications with me, they did not track the antenna, so it turned out it was never ordered and I had to wait an extra 6 weeks for it to arrive. Just got the idea they couldn't care less if I bought from them or not--poor customer service.

But, that said, this IS a quality antenna in everyway. Will post when it's up and running.

Rick, W7AV

K0KL Rating: 2011-04-12
Outstanding! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this antenna for 4 years now. It is an outstanding performer. Always get wonderful reports, built strong to take the winds that accompany the weather fronts here in the midwest. It's a big antenna, don't rush the construction. The construction alone was actually a lot of fun.
You will be rewarded with an antenna that needs no tuning, low VSWR on all 5 bands.I couldn't be more pleased with the results or factory support.
K4KL Rating: 2009-08-07
Great Beam Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned the OB16-5 for four years and have it on a 90 foot crank-up tower. Its performance has been outstanding no matter what height I have it cranked to on my tower. I have also been impressed with its construction and front to back performance. No traps, yet flipping from band to band is quick and easy. In a nutshell, it has made working my favorite bands of 20 & 15 meters and the WARC bands a joy to operate. I would purchase it again knowing that the support I have gotten from Tom/Optibeam has been outstanding.