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Reviews For: ICOM AH-710 - HF Folded Dipole Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : ICOM AH-710 - HF Folded Dipole Antenna
Reviews: 5MSRP: 259,95
Description:
The ICOM AH-710 is a complete preassembled multi-band, folded dipole. With 80.3 feet (24 m) long covers 1.9 to 30 MHz.
It is designed to work with any of the Icom Amateur HF transceivers including Marine transceivers.
The AH-710 can be installed as a Flat Top or an Inverted V configuration.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icom.co.jp/world/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0054.4
KB2EOQ Rating: 2023-06-02
Much better than I expected ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I eventually sold this , not as good as I thought initially. Although a "good" SWR on my desired 75M target , hardly anyone could hear me. It is not a very efficient antenna. I could only manage a sloping config and found it very heavy for a single person to manage in a backyard. I replaced it with loop that was not resonant on 75M, but with a tuner people could hear me that could not hear me with this AH-710. My neighbor has same antenna and said he gets good performance from his.


Old Review
This is a nice surprise! I have only owned the thing for 2 days but it actually "works" as advertised. I have a back yard that is only 70 feet long and have been trying to find some way to get active on 80m for hams bands and on 90M for MARS operation. I have NO tall trees . Since this antenna is advertised as 80ft I thought I would see if I could make it fit. Nothing I tried would fit if I attempted a slightly zig-zagged horizontal dipole. Although a light antenna, the forces on it are too strong to string it up on a few flimsy fiberglass masts or light-weight branches. I eventually settled for a rough Inverted V configuration . Using a tree that provided an apex of only 20ft. I was happy the coax included with this antenna was JUST long enough to reach my shack. I hooked it up to an antenna analyser that plotted the entire HF bands. I was shocked that it was below 2:1 the entire bandwidth of my plot. I expected it to require a tuner on some bands. I have used it on 90M, 80M, 49M, 40M and 160M without any problems. I mainly intend to use this antenna as a NVIS antenna for regional nets, so I am not expecting any major DX performance. Overall it is doing what I wanted, should have bought one a long time ago.
Andy K3UK (ex KB2EOQ)
KN6KDT Rating: 2021-10-28
Awesome, particularly for a beginner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was my first antenna once I became licensed in summer 2020. I have it up 50' in a flat configuration between Redwood trees, clear air between them. I have worked So.Africa via long path, all over Europe, and all over the Pacific with only 100 watts out of my ICOM 7300 from No California. Pretty quiet on all bands for me and I have worked every band but 10 and 30 ( I don't CW). I wondered for a while but now that cycle 25 appears to be opening things up I have no doubts about it. I have a G5R up at my remote site which is 2500' elevation and it does not perform as well. Other end fed and ofc units I have tried do not come close. Just wish it would handle some power so I could bust some of the pile ups I hear! I also had a Yaesu 991a and this antenna works much better on the 7300!
ZL1LK Rating: 2017-12-22
AWESOME!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've alway used G5RV antennas for the last 20 year and have tried replacing it from time to time by buying different antennas, but after disappointing results, the G5RV would go up again. Just lately I thought I'll give it another try, this time with an Icom AH-710. First thing I notice is that there was very little or no noise level, so the first thing I thought is that this antenna was deaf, for example on 80m my noise level with the G5RV was alway around S7 - 9, but with the AH-710 my noise level is around S2-3. As soon as I heard my first station, it was about 2 - 3dB stronger than the G5RV. My reported transmitted signal is as good if not better than the G5RV . This is some hot antenna I have purchased!!!

The AH-710 is designed to work from 160 to 10 meters and the highest SWR I get is 1.8:1.. no more antenna matching units needed. It also has an SWR of 1.5:1 on 6 meters.

My G5RV has finely gone in the trash.
W7LKR Rating: 2015-02-16
Exceptional Performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Each year I work the Eagle Cap Extreme (ECX) in Joseph Oregon as an EMT and radio operator in a remote location called Ollokot. Communications out of this area is vital both for passing standard messages and Staff and Musher safety. Each year we have been using a Barker and Williamson BWDS-90N Fold dipole antenna for HF communications. This is a very high performer (1.8-54Mhz) rated at 1 KW. But this year the gentleman who owned this antenna retired and was unable to return with his equipment. I had to scramble to locate a replacement antenna of similar design. I just could not afford the $825.00 to purchase Barker & Williamson antenna. Searching the WEB I ran into an ICOM AH-710 folded Dipole of about the same dimensions. It is rated at 150 watts and has a frequency range of 1.9-30 MHz which is all I needed for HF communications with Winlink. The cost was within my reach at $239.00. I made the purchase but had no time to fully test the performance of the antenna before I left for the Sled Dog races in Joseph, Or. As soon as I arrived in my remote camp, I strung the AH-710 in the exact location we had previously strung the Barker & Williamson Dipole. This remote location has very steep canyon walls on both sides with heavy timber. If the ICOM AH-710 antenna did not work, critical communications would have been sacrificed. When all the radio gear was attached to the antenna and the tuning was checked, it showed almost a perfect 1:1 match on 80 meters. The ICOM AH-710 made several solid contacts 400 miles away to the West coast and then Digi repeated it back to Joseph, Or. We used both 80 and 40 meters with this antenna. With all honesty, it performed as well as the $825.00 B&W. It broke out the canyon walls fantastically. ICOM did not skip corners constructing this little marvel. It is very well built. I have no problem recommending the antenna.
M3GNM Rating: 2012-04-24
Great antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned one of these for about 2 years and I can honestly say that it's been great. The antenna itself is very well made however you're going to need VERY strong mounting points either end as it's quite heavy. I've worked every band no problem at all both QRP and at full wack (100 watts) via a club callsign when I was using it on a field day. Got some great reports but like everything else, you have to remember that this antenna is a compromise i.e. it's ok at doing all the bands but its not brilliant, however if you're not worried about dropping 1 "S" point, this is the antenna for you. Ideal for built up areas as I have mine in an inverted V and haven't noticed any decernable difference in operational effectiveness. My rig(s) are FT2000D, Icom 706Mk2 D and a very old FRG7700 for listening around the bands. Overall a very good antenna, but expensive for what it is, however if you want a no nonsense easy to install and use antenna, its a no brainer