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Reviews For: Tonna 2m (144 - 146MHz) 17 el Yagi

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

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Review Summary For : Tonna 2m (144 - 146MHz) 17 el Yagi
Reviews: 4MSRP:
Description:
* Frequency 143.4 - 146.2MHz (2m) * Impedance match bandwidth @ SWR <1.2/1 * Elements 17 * Power 1kW * Forward gain 15.3dBi * Boom length 6.57m * Wind area 0.29m2 H, 0.25m2 V * Weight 6.5kg
Product is not in production
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# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0043.3
DL9BDM Rating: 2021-01-04
a good antenna for serious VHF DX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Fortunately, I cannot share the negative experiences from the other colleagues here. My 17 elements F9FT has been on my Versatower and the previous tower for round about 30 years and is doing its job without any complaint. Of course the elements are quite thin, but only once did I have the problem that a heavy raven bent a director. Also the hardware is only partially made from stainless steel. But the antenna survived all storms of that time without being damaged. Besides, I live near the northsea coast with often bad weather conditions.

Unfortunately, Frank Tonna, F9SE, the son of Marc Tonna, F9FT, who has long since passed away, also died in december 2017 and - to my knowledge - the company then ceased operation. Very sad...
G6PHH Rating: 2010-02-23
Mechanically weak. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my Tonna many years ago (1984) and it worked very well indeed.It was used regularly over a six year period at 35 feet agl,until I had to remove it from service because of structural failure.
The brackets were not long enough to spread the load and stiffen the boom sections.
And the boom section wall thickness is just not wide enough to ensure rigidity and strength.
It (ANT) now lays stacked against my shed as a spare-parts item.
Pity really,as it performed so well.
G7TPL Rating: 2008-02-12
flimsy Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
good gain,looks good on the mast,good SWR.
poor build quality,lightweight aluminium,stupid mast clamp.
mine snapped at only 6 months old.
OK,it WAS windy,but not that much!!
replaced with a 9ele tonna,same build issues,then replaced with a Cushcraft 13B2
GM6TVR Rating: 2007-09-04
Was good. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Antenna worked very well on 2mtrs ssb, worked the Eastern Mediterranean countries frequently, unfortunately, the winter storms at the end of 2006 saw its demise, it was completely wrecked. I previously took down a very long boom KLM antenna which was sometimes in the vertical polarized mode and survived many similar storms. Such a pity as the Tonna worked so well.

73's

John - gm6tvr

www.johnblack.org