| N6AQ |
Rating:  |
2022-04-04 | |
| Tennedyne T8 Works very well. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
So here is the meat and potatoes of this antenna. I am glad I purchased this antenna, this design is a performer no doubt I have not needed my amp AT ALL for any of my 10-20 meter contacts, I enjoy DX and have made contacts globally with 100 watts usually on the first call with surprised responses when the DX stations finds out I am only running 100 watts.
You will have a 1.0 swr, all the bands are showing 1.0 to 1.4 other than 12 meters at a 2.0 swr, this is more than acceptable. The antenna looks very cool and is light weight enough for smaller rotors like the ham 4. It works really well and the specs seem to be in line with what I am seeing. I would definitely recommend this product and the customer support from Mark was superb, even above and beyond responding on Christmas day.
We had an out of the norm snow storm in Virginia that dumped almost 24 inches of a heavy wet snow in less than 24 hours. The snow damaged my GAP titan and the Tennedyne T8 came through it perfectly.
I did want to test the T8 with the booms covered in snow but my power was out for almost 5 days, I wanted to see how the snow would react while it was shorting the booms.
I rate this antenna 4.9 stars. I would have given it a 5 star rating were it not for the lacking manual and the 12 meter swr.
Bottom line is I would buy again, I am actually thinking of the 14 in a few years it works so good.
More information on my review can be found here: https://n6aq.com/tennadyne-t8-antenna-project/ |
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| N4DIA |
Rating: |
2021-12-13 | |
| Follow up after 3 years |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I noticed there were practically no up to date reviews on the Tennadyne T8 other that the 9/21 review below so I decided it was time to review my T8, acquired in July 2018.
I have owned and operated a plethora of HF antennas. My last directional beam antenna was a Cushcraft A4S with a A3S 12/17 under it on an 80 foot tower that the Gulf of Mexico was visible from the top. Hurricane Ivan took care of that for me. over 50 years of being a HAM I have operated a TH7DX, Mosley CL-33, KT34 (very disappointing with terrible support) and many homebrew wires. My homebrew 80m Windom is still one of the best 40-80 meter wire antennas I have ever used. With a new QTH and some restrictions I have on size and placement, I decided to install a Log Periodic, an antenna I have wanted since operating from one 40 years ago.
The T-10 was my 1st choice but again, size dictated I would settle for the T8. I have a Rohn 25 40' tower with a Razer (best hazer out there but order early as John, W8RAT takes his time) With a 15' thick wall 2' dia aluminum mast from Heights Tower, and a HyGain HAM IV rotor I had just rebuilt, the T-8 sits right at 52 feet. I have a homebrewed guy system that also adds strain relieve on the coax.
Having read all the reviews I could on the T-8, I had a good idea what I would need to have available to me to fix most of the complaints I read. Locking SS bolts for all the elements were #1 on that list. Like many others here, I agree the instructions need some work but once you have built one, it is pretty simple and straight forward.
I can see where operators who deal with heavy snow and ice storms may have issues, but the only weather concerns I have to deal with are winds. All parts fit nicely with no alterations needed to build it. All parts and hardware were packed nicely with no parts missing. The 2 calls I made to Tennadyne were answered quickly and my questions answered. I constructed the T-8 on a mast at head level on the ground by myself with no issues at all. It only took two people to install it on the tower due to its relatively light weight.
Real life testing with an Anritsu S331D showed an incredible range of available bandwidth with acceptable return losses. On 14.250, I had a 1:1 SWR. ( You have to stare at the inline SWR meter to see it move) The highest SWR is on 12 meters and it was 1:6. 15 meters is 1:3, 17M 1:3, with 10 meter 1:2 topping out at 1:4
After over 3 years of operating on the T-8, I give it 5 stars on performance. (real life tests show it to a couple of 10ths under published gain specs, which is amazing as factory claimed specs go) It is highly directional, more so than any other Yagis I have owned but the front to back is what you would expect from a Log. Side rejection is great. I give it 5 stars on fit and finish and ease of construction and materials but that was helped by my research and having everything on hand. It has survived some pretty strong winds and Hurricane Sally albeit during Sally, it was down a few feet off the rooftop as it is on a hazer. On aesthetics, I give it a 5 as it looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey as you drive up to the house if it is pointed in the right direction. Legal limit with no tuner is a dream.
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| WB6BA |
Rating:  |
2021-09-19 | |
| Bad time to buy a Tennadyne antenna. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Poor quality control and no support.
If you enjoy doing metalwork, buying extra aluminum tubing from DX engineering and don’t mind trying to read the worst instructions ever printed, this antennas for you.
I bought a T8 and a T 28 on the recommendation of a friend who had purchased both these of the antennas about five years ago. My friend did have a couple of small problems which Rog took care of after a couple of phone calls. Everything else went well for my friend except for trying to decipher the extremely poor instructions that my 13-year-old could’ve done a better job of writing. The pictures in the instructions are so washed out its hard to see any detail. But my friends antenna's worked real well and he’s had good luck with it. Also there were so many five-star reviews, how could I go wrong.
So I bought both antennas about six months ago. I should have known something was wrong because it took two weeks after making numerous phone calls and emails just to place my order with Rog. When Rog finally called me back he said that he had been in the hospital. I asked him if he’d had gotten the virus and he said no.
The antenna showed up about two weeks later and were well packaged. But upon reviewing the parts I found both antennas were missing some of the aluminum tubes. I left voicemails, emails and text messages for Rog. No response whatsoever. I ended up having to buy several tubes from DX engineering. Fortunately they had the correct size that I needed. As I put the antenna together I noticed that a few the tubes were the wrong length and that the holes for the screws were not centered. In other words I had to do a lot of metalwork to get everything to fit, both on the aluminum tubes and on the boom fixtures.
I’ve heard that Rog is trying to sell the company or maybe he is having health problems. I hope this Rog has overcome his health problems. But in my opinion the company is just trying unload the parts they had on hand and not making any new parts. I would hope that if there is a new owner that they will support the previous customers. At this point I wish I had but a log periodic from OptiBeam. I hear that they have really good support and excellent instructions.
Also I would be leery of buying a quad from Qubex as they are apparently the same company.
So again if you don’t mind being frustrated by no support and are good at doing metalwork and reading terrible instructions, this is the antenna for you. Also you might notice that the last EHam review for the T8 was back on March 5, 2016, that might tell you something.
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| KN0V |
Rating: |
2016-03-05 | |
| Not a good choice |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have not been happy with the T8. It replaced a Hy-Gain TH5MKII so I could get WARC band capability. Should have stuck with the TH5. Three elements on the T8 bent due to moderate icing and wind. I live in MN and we don't have the icing problems like other parts of the nation. One element tip fell off. The two longest elements broke off and are now on saw horses in the back yard. Performance is 'ok' It is 13 feet above my 40M yagi. This thing is going to be replaced ASAP. Pictures upon request. |
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| K1LNC |
Rating: |
2014-10-19 | |
| Great--but..... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| First LPDA ever was the T-8. It was only 40 feet up but worked quite well. I decided to go for the T-10 at 70 feet. Both of these antennas were the best rotatable antennae I ever had--but--the self tapping screws that hold the element sections together don't. In time they loosened enough to allow the elements to start coming apart. As to on-air performance--I have had quads, tri-band yagis and mono-band yagis and this T-8 and T-10 beats them all hands down. Traps suck both electrically and mechanically--the elements must be large diameter to support the traps. The traps themselves are a malfunction waiting to happen. Monoband yagis are great--for one band. As to the SteppIr antenna--while the concept of adjustable element length using conductive "tape" sounds like a great idea--anything that's 70 feet up with multiple motors--well--I hope you like climbing towers. The T-10 is significantly bigger than the T-8 (and significantly more expensive) without, as far as I can see, a corresponding increase in performance. If I had it to do over again I'd go with the T-8 and use lock-tite on every screw. |
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| NC3Z |
Rating: |
2014-04-18 | |
| Worked very well |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Sadly I just took down my tower and T-8 in preparation of moving in less than a year. The T-8 has survived 2 minor hurricanes (in this area) Irene and Sandy, as well as the Washington DC Derecho (70MPH straight line winds) without a single issue. The T8 replaced a 3 L SteppIR that failed after just 2 years. The T8 worked just as well as the SteppIR when it worked.
The T8 is going to a new home with the tower.
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| N5PHT |
Rating: |
2014-02-21 | |
| Very good |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
OK - had wanted this antenna years ago but "settled" for something less. Now I have the T8 up and been in general use for only 4 days. During that time I have made 126 contacts and DXCC total is 52 (12 on 10 mtrs, 15 on 12, 23 on 15, 13 on 17 and 19 on 20). I really like the antenna.
I have SWR as expected and promised. My ICOM746PRO folds back very, very aggressive - at about 1.5 and I can use the T8 without tuner on all but 12 meters and there I need tuner - swr is about 2 to 1 and 746PRO folds it back to 50 watts. The other 4 bands have 100 watts output on the 746PRO.
I would break it down this way:
1. Built Well - a 5
2. Manual - a 3 as many have commented
3. Customer Service - 2. As much as I enjoyed talking to Roger twice (and his wife once) he is very difficult (in my experience to get to return phone calls or answer the phone. He promised me he would carry the phone on my assembly day...well didn't happen).
4. Overall performance: 5
5. Ease of Assembly: 3 (could be 5 with well written manual). All parts were there and some extra. Assembly has a lot of 'common sense' and if Roger would write a one page addendum (in my view) of the no doubt common issues I think it would go a long way. It took me probably about 6 hours total spread over 2 days.
So, if you want a fine antenna for the price that covers 5 bands the T8 is great and I expect it to last a long time. If you expect to call the company and chat with a variety of questions - well, that is not their style. |
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| WD8DBY |
Rating: |
2013-10-30 | |
| Excellent Antenna |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I am extremely pleased with this antenna. The antenna is shipped in a single box much smaller than I was expecting. The inventory was 100% complete- everything there! Read through the instructions several times to be sure you understand how it goes together. I had a few holes that didn't align but a quick pass through with the drill corrected the problem. I did have a few elements that were not drilled. A call to the company corrected this problem...they were very helpful and agreed to pay for shipping to have this corrected. I use this antenna for MARS work and it does great. Definitely recommend this antenna! |
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| N0JR |
Rating: |
2013-10-05 | |
| Superb 5-Bander!!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| It is gilding the lily to give another "5" to the Tennadyne T8, but it is impossible for me not to rave a bit about this antenna. Its materials are superb. The manufacturing workmanship, involving drilling of dozens of holes that are very precise, is remarkable: not one out of place, missing, or incomplete. And the design, well, that is sheer sophisticated elegance. The square double boom, the through-boom mounting of the elements, elements that "feather" in the wind rather than fight it, and the most robust boom-to-mast system, using a Slip-Not to prevent spin on the mast, top anything else I've seen from any US manufacturer, and that's in 55 years of hamming and well over 50 antennas. The T8, at its very reasonable price, is surely a "Best Buy" among 5-band antennas, and at about 60 lbs, 8 sq. ft. of windload, and an 18' boom, is adaptable to almost any installation, even very modest ones. And make no mistake, IT WORKS. Purchase and enjoy! |
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| WA4B |
Rating: |
2012-06-07 | |
| Exceeds Expectations |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I purchased my Tennadyne T8 at the Dayton Hamfest in 2010. I live in Jacksonville, Florida and I have it mounted at about 103 feet with a T28 over it at 111 feet. Because of the trees and other obstructions, I had a crane lift the antennas. I have a run of about 175 feet of Belen RG-213 to my shack. The antenna works great. I replaced a Mosley Classis 36 with this antenna. It has a lot of gain, good front to back, and low SWR. I am very happy with the performance of this beam. It doesn’t seem to be affected by the T28 mounted 7 feet above it and vice versa. It has weathered some pretty bad storms with no damage. It is however not without problems. When the wind blows in excess of 10 or 15 knots, it is an awesome flute. Probably the T8 and the T28 are both flutes. It is kind of cool on Halloween when the wind is blowing because it sounds like my house is haunted. I’ve only had one complaint from my neighbor but he said that he can live with it. In Dayton this year, they told me at the Tennadyne booth that the holes on the boom (not at the ends) make it act like a flute. The fix is to cover the holes with tape. I wish they had said something in the instructions as it would be a problem to tape up the holes now. Just tape over the holes when you assemble yours and it will not be a problem. This is the only fault I can find with this antenna and it is not a big deal as I can’t hear it when I am inside. It still gets the best score I can give. You can purchase some Penetrox A from DX Engineering and other places to keep the elements conductive and from seizing in case you ever want to take it apart. It’s good stuff and it doesn’t take much as it goes a long way and cleans up nicely. I put this stuff on almost everything. Take your time assembling this antenna. The bottom line is that this is a well-designed and strong antenna that exceeds my expectations. |
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