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Reviews For: Hy-Gain VB-64DX

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Directional (Yagi, quad, etc.)

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Review Summary For : Hy-Gain VB-64DX
Reviews: 16MSRP: 145
Description:
The VB-64DX features a concept in beam construction that provides actual delivered performance equalling maximum theoretical gain. The 4-element VB-64DX generates an impressive 8.2 dBd gain.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?prodid=VB-64DX
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00163.4
WI6J Rating: 2010-01-22
Great for the money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased one of these from HRO Burbank. I bought this particular antenna because the price was right for it's specs. I took my time putting it together, measured everything out according to the directions. The antenna has a 1.5 swr at the highest point. I set mine for cw/ssb, but goes well into the FM portion of the band before really going up in swr. We recently had a weeks worth of rain and wind, high wind in the 65-70 mph range and the antenna did fine.

I think I made a good choice, I was trying to accomplish some directivity with decent gain, with out breaking my wallet "I have 4 kids at home". I was using a M2 HO-LOOP which is omni directional "worked good". I haven't heard any band opennings on 6 since I installed the antenna, but my signal reports have doubled locally since switching to the beam. I think it's of more than good quality, and a lot of antenna for the money.
WB0GAZ Rating: 2009-06-19
Atrocious junk mechanically Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Terrible terrible mechanical design - waaaaaay too many fasteners and bits-and-pieces so unnecessarily long assembly time, incompetent boom/mast (I won't call it a clamp - pressed thin metal easily deformed); once up had continuous annoying vibration in the wind; one element sheared off (metal fatigue I think) after only 3 weeks up.
EX_NI0L Rating: 2007-10-31
VB-64-DXI Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If it weren't for the end elements issue I would give this antenna a 4. After breaking 2 SS clamps
I gave up. Even at the tightest setting on these
clamps I could still roll the "stingers" with my
hands which are not that strong. I got 8 1/4"
ss sheet metal screws and the appropriate sized
small drill bit and installed same. They DON'T turn now ! The antenna performs per specs leaned against a tree. I found no issues with the rest of the hardware,good quality. The end element tubes are just night quite big enough.
More Later when antenna is in the air.
I would not say don't buy it,just be aware of its
limitations mechanically.
KB3LFD Rating: 2007-07-22
Works fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna up since 05. It has
weathered some very bad storms here in Ne Pa
and come through fine. I have it mounted on
stand-off's at the peak of the house roof at
about 40 foot. Worked the Canary Islands with it
this past June. I also have a hy-gain vb-66dx (6elm)which i plan on putting up on a tower in
the future. I bought my antenna's when they were
still Hy-Gain, and well made. Since Hy-Gain fell
into the clutches of MFJ i think the quality has
gone down drasticly. MFJ's q/c is all to well
known! If you can find a pre-MFJ antenna, it
should be a good choice to get on 6 meters. There are at least three vb-64dx's in my area and none have given any trouble at all.

Doug KB3LFD
K0TVD Rating: 2007-03-21
Not like those made in Lincoln Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've always loved HyGain antenna's and products. Living in the Midwest, not too far to their old assembly plant in Lincoln, Nebraska was nice. I got to visit their facility on many occasions so when I decided to get back into 6 meters, after a long absence, I immediately thought of putting up a HyGain 6M antenna, so I called Jim Smith at Burghardt's and he sent me one right down.

The antenna LOOKED just like the ones made in Lincoln so I proceeded with the assembly and installation. Many small parts and lots of measurements and adjustments later, I had the beam mounted atop my 100ft tower. The antenna performed as I expected a 4el beam to perform. SWR was reasonable.....for awhile.

Here on the plains of Western Iowa, we get frequent high winds and many storms. One day, I decided to get on 6 meters and make some contacts and my SWR was way out of whack. I went out back to the tower and saw that half of one of the elements was totally MISSING! I found it out in the corn field a little ways from my tower.

Unfortunately, after dropping the antenna down and replacing the element with one I had on-hand, we reinstalled it only to have a different element break off a couple weeks later! All in all, I lost 4 half elements in less than 6 months. We yanked it down, boxed it up and off it went back to Burghardt's! What a wonderful company! Jim credited me the full price towards a new 5 element M2 6M5X beam, which I installed in the spring. What a difference! The M2 antenna has been up for 4 years now and performs flawlessly!

Sorry MFJ. Your QC on your antennas just isn't what it was when HyGain was in Lincoln, Nebraska.
W1ZE Rating: 2006-11-25
Good value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the VB-64DX for 5 years at two different QTHs and it had preformed as advertised. Gain is what you would expect for a 4-element yagi. At 40+ feet it lets me work with the bid-boy DXers. I have earned 6M VUCC with it (115 grids 15 countries)...it works.