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Reviews For: AR-270 Dual Band Ringo 2m/70cm

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : AR-270 Dual Band Ringo 2m/70cm
Reviews: 16MSRP: 95
Description:
http://www.texastowers.com/ar270b.htm
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.cushcraft.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25164.3
KE4SKY Rating: 2002-03-26
AR-270 is the small one Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There are two variations of this antenna. The AR-270 is a 39" high, compact antenna which is a full sized 5/8 wave on 2 meters and a collinear 5/8x5/8 vertical stack on UHF. A number of our RACES members use these for easily transported, portable base antennas, which fit in a vehicle trunk assembled. They are also great for attic installations.

The larger AR-270B is a 7 ft. high, 5/8x5/8 stacked collinear on 2 meters and 4x5/8 on UHF. I've had one of these as a base antenna for 7 years and it's held up very well.

Both are a good bang for the buck.
KB8QKW Rating: 2002-03-26
Solid Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this antenna all over the place in the 7 years I have owned it. I bought it for home base operation, which it did, and does great. I have also used it for 2m home packet, as a 2m packet node antenna on 40ft. of mast at a tower site, as a temporary Field Day setup, in my attic as a base, and now it is mounted on my eve being used solely as a 2 meter base. This has been one of the best investments I have made in Ham equipment. It's a solid, no nonsense, stand up to the weather, antenna.
N9XGZ Rating: 2001-02-13
surprising antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The AR-270 has been a great antenna. Mounted with an eave mount and 5 ft mast, I've used this antenna for communications with MIR and amateur satellites. More than once, when using the MIR UHF as a repeater, I've had conversations with other hams using beams with active tracking, and have had to forward photos of my setup to prove I wasn't joking about using an omnidirectional. The only "issue" was the loss of signal when MIR would go null when directly overhead (about 20 second signal loss).
This is the antenna I'm planning on using when Shep starts going CQ from the ISS. And it has been great at monitoring the ISS on both the VHF ham frequecies and NASA VHF on 143.625.

If you are looking for a good, all around antenna, give this one a look. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
W9JCM Rating: 2001-02-13
good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had this antenna for about 8 mo. its mounted on a 5 foot mast on my back fence about 10 feet up. Works good doenst detune in ice . Its better than a jpole.
KB9WPV Rating: 2000-09-18
Outstanding performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent performance for the price. Mine is on a gable mount and only on a 5 ft mast which takes the antenna only 4 ft above the roofline. Wow! I can key repeaters up in another state on only 10 watts! Highly recommend use of RG-8U coax for minimal signal loss. A great value for the money.
IK2SAI Rating: 2000-07-29
Great Packet and or Repeater antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
All antennas are designed with specifical compromises...
This Ringo is running with no fault since october 1992 and i found it's great for what it was designed for.
Do you need a rock-solid packet and or repeater antenna? Do you have wind problem? Are you looking for a VERY small dual band antenna?
This is ok for you.
It doesn't show a dramatic gain but it works great if you are in the range up to 75 miles from your correspondent.
I use it with a dualbander kenwood tm702 with 30 watt on both V/Uhf.
I know this antenna is extremely cheap in the US... not so in Italy (about 100-120 $ right now).
Easy to erect and good owners manual.
Very good swr ratio.
Absolutely no rain effect.
Just like a rock.