Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

Reviews For: TAK-tenna

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 : TAK-tenna
Reviews: 155MSRP: $278. USD
Description:
High-frequency antenna for 3 to 30 MHz., inclusive

TAK-tenna is Unique and has been awarded U.S. Patent.

Radiating elements use proprietary copper jacketed alloy

Rotatable - Portable - Stealth - Primary & Restricted Space

Very easy to assemble

Sturdy and well built with low wind load Weighs only 5 pounds Very small footprint >p>TAK-tenna 80 Multibander has a 48 inch boom All other models have a 30 inch boom.

Direct feed with 50 or 75 ohm coax on resonant band User chooses resonant frequency Use coax + antenna tuner...or twin lead + antenna tuner for off resonance operation

Power tested to 1000 CW watts at resonance Key down for 30 seconds and 1400 Watts PEP no heat sensed on antenna wire or coax feed point when touched by hand after power testing

High efficiency = NO lossy matching components anyplace in system Directivity = 10 to 14 dB signal increase in transmit with 90 degree rotation with horizontal orientation Vertical orientation provides omni-directional pattern

Shipping world wide

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tak-tenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
251554.5
KG6EIN Rating: 2008-01-27
OUTSTANDING Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received the Tak-Tenna 40M Suitcase model; had it built and Resonant on 7.150 in under three hours. Once hooked up to my radio I was astounded at the clearity from such a compact antenna. I am currently stationed in IRAQ and have very limited space for installation so it is 15' up from the ground but sits only 3 feet up from the top of my metal trailer, it works great. I have found this antenna to be extreamly directional and by turning the antenna can tune out most interfering signals. Bottom line, this antenna has OUTSTANDING performance for the price. I have used several half wave Dipoles before and this is on par with any of them that I have used and is much more directional. I would reccomend this antenna to any one, either as a stand alone or as a back up. I mostly run QRP and do allot of feild work and this antenna will be on every adventure. Great work Steve.
KB1PLN Rating: 2007-12-15
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am new to Ham radio and I live in an apartment. I didn't have room for a big antenna. This was the perfect solution. I've had it for 3 months, it's about 20ft high and I have made contacts all over the country and some DX. It works very well with my MFJ 993B antenna tuner.
XE3HOR Rating: 2007-12-09
Excelente antena Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Después de varios años de inactividad en las bandas, decidí nuevamente armar mi estación de HF. Por lo que me puse a la tarea de buscar antenas que fueran compactas por razón del espacio limitado que poseo en casa, muy en especial para las frecuencias bajas, fue entonces que me encontré con comentarios muy positivos de esta antena y por ello decidí adquirir la versión de 40 mts.
Mi primera impresión fue de una antena muy compacta, sencilla de armar y con materiales de buena calidad.
Siguiendo las instrucciones el ensamble es rápido y sencillo.
En mi caso utilicé coaxial, por lo que al principio experimente RF de retorno a la estación atravez de la malla del cable, por lo que tuve que instalar un balun 1:1, y con esto se eliminó el problema.
También descubrí que esta antena se desempeña mejor a una altura no menor de 9 metros sobre el nivel del piso.
En lo personal esperaba que resonara no más allá de unos 10 a 30 khz. Aproximadamente, similar a la de una antena de móvil, sorprendentemente esto no es así, su resonancia es tan amplia como una dipolo de ½ onda, en mi caso tengo 110 khz. De amplitud de banda 1:1 de estacionarias en 7075 y 2:1 en 7050 y 7130 khz.
Los reportes de señal han sido buenos, curiosamente tuve un breve contacto con una estación XE2 ubicada a casi 2000 Km. Y en la banda de 15 mts., la cual no es la banda para la cual fue diseñada esta antena.
En pocas palabras, esta antena se comporta muy bien considerando sus características físicas, es muy ligera y no llama la atención una vez instalada. También vale la pena mencionar que el soporte técnico es excelente.
Recomiendo esta antena ampliamente.
Saludos Oscar XE3HOR
EA7CN Rating: 2007-12-09
ES una buena antena, pequeña y eficaz. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Solo un breve comentario par decir mi opinion sobre la Tak-Tenna.
Compre la Tak-Tenna para 40 metros, hace unos meses y desde que la instale me viene dando muy buenos resultados.
La puse sobre un mastil de 10 metros de aloto y con un rotor.
Hice los primeros contactos con varias estaciones EA y todas me dieron 59.
En los dias posteriores realice varios contactos con estaciones de Europa, Africa, etc. todas con buenas señales entre 59 y 48.
Ademas, esta antena recibe las señales con muy poco ruido de banda.
Al ser "directiva" la puedo orientar hacia la direccion donde deseo que mi señal sea mas "penetrante".
Estoy muy satisfecho con ella.
Enhorabuena a Tak-Tenna, por esta antena y estoy a la espera de que saquen un modelo para 80 metros.







KD4HDH Rating: 2007-11-26
Best Value in Ham Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna is without a doubt the BEST VALUE in Ham Radio today! This product delivers as advertised. I was looking for a directional HF antenna with a small footprint that is stealth and would give great performance on 10-80 meters. Quality of materials is first rate. Construction was easy and straight forward with easy to understand directions. Here's the best part, Customer Service is OUTSTANDING! I had a question about tuning the antenna and Steve was quick with a return call to my home and he is very patient and willing to take time and explain all aspects, in short he is a great teacher! Got the TAK-tenna tuned in about 1 hour and made 40 meter contacts with signal reports of 5/9. The other hams were BLOWN AWAY when I told them I was using a 1/2 wave dipole for 40 meters up at 10 feet off the ground with a small 30 inch boom. Bottom line...great product and great customer service and a great price. If I could give Steve and his antenna a 10 I would. So far I am very impressed.
KB1POB Rating: 2007-11-05
darn Condo... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Steve, awesome job building this tenna. Really works as advertised...and then some.
When I ordered mine, per email, I told Steve I wanted to install it in my attict. Steve warned me about the RF. I ordered anyway, put it together in my Garage and on a sturdy Camera trypod tuned its resonants on 7.2 MHz to a perfect 1.1. It workes great on most other bands also (via my tuner). In my Shack (my Loft on 3rd floor) I can only use 20 m. The RF is taking it's toll on everything in my Shack. This "tenna" is very very quiet compared to my 23' GP vertical. I will install the "tenna" at my Dad's home and go there to chase DX. I would def. buy this Antenna again.
KE6VWN Rating: 2007-11-04
Works as advertized Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna suprised me to no end to say the least ! when i got it i noticed the booms where
held together with zipties and I thought i'd better beef this up with a set of bolts the predrilled holes made this a breeze!
Other than that this Antenna came shipped as Steve said it would all needed hardware included!
I used my girlfriends picnic table umbrella stand to hold the mast at 8 feet to tune this puppy!
I worked it at Steves starting points and tuned it with the built in swr bridge of my TS 930S with the built in auto tuner more on that to come .
and as with others I used center of the 40 meter band and with about two hours of moving the tuning points around on the spirals i got a 1.1 on 7200 and I got allmost the whole band(GENERAL BANDS as I don't have an extra to test it there) at less than a 1.7 no tuner on resonant band!
useing a chunk of lmr600 to feed the little gem!
Good job Steve!
Here are the bands I am able to tune with the 930's auto tuner to 1.5 or less 10.12.15.17.20.30.40.60.75!160 no go way too short!Make a 160 model Steve i'll buy one :-)!
I really didn't expect this to work as good as it does but if you need an easy to assemble and compact antenna this ones for you !
On last note i'm very suprised at the low noise floor as i have been blessed with a noise floor i can live with thanks again to steve for the effort because of this design my landlord is happy with it's footprint as well
and i allmost forgot all my qsos where at least 59 and i allways get good audio reports !
OK Now i'm done get one they work!
Norm Ball ke6vwn.
KE5MBW Rating: 2007-10-30
Superb-again Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I first purchased a TAK-20 and of course it worked great. I have a friend that works alot in Laredo and talks on 40 so I ordered a TAK-40. Put it together with the same ease as the 20 and tuned right up. No problem making making contact with my friend. Also coast to coast and Canada and once even Northern South America. Using 100 watts, Kenwood 570. Great help from Steve as always. A 5 is not a high enough rating. I say again, if you are even thinking about getting one of these antennas, go ahead and do it!
73
KE5MBW
WB2TUP Rating: 2007-10-30
Excelent antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got my TAK-tenna. Took about an hour to put it together. I mounted this thing on my work bench in the BASEMENT about 5 feet underground. I finished the hook up and Resonated the antenna according to the directions using my antenna analyser MFJ-259B. Got it at 7.196MHZ. I then hooked it up to my radio for grins and giggles. I heard a qso on 7.231 or there about. I worked two statione right away one in Buffalo NY and one in south Jersey....Later I worked another in Michigan. NOT BAD for an antenna in the cellar underground wouldn't you say. Can't wait to get it up 20 feet to see where else I can get into. I also have it tunning on 10, 17, 20, and 80 meters using my Heathkit SA 2060A with SWR at 1.5:1 or less. I also have built vertical and horizontal antennas for the past 20 or so years and use them on the air. Most of my contacts with the TAK-tenna have been barefoot with a ICOM IC 756 prepro at about 100 watts. I also say 5/5 is not high enough for this antenna.
KB4LGM Rating: 2007-10-22
An Awesome antenna ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently aquired this little gem myself and although I spend a lot more time assembling it than the instructions say it should take ( I spent a couple of weekends on it between honey dew projects ) it was a snap to get together. What a great antenna ! I have as yet had the time to make any contacts but I was able to load it on an old FT-101ZD I had and it hears great. I assembled it in my office in the house and was able to get it outside with no problems. I can't wait to see if he designs an 80meter version.