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Reviews For: Alpine screwdriver antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Alpine screwdriver antenna
Reviews: 50MSRP: 210.
Description:
HF mobile screwdriver antenna, 80-6 meters, with integrated matching coil.
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00504.9
VE7IG Rating: 2011-01-04
Very good antenna! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Last summer I bought the black 100BP model with the plexiglass cover-- more expensive but better
protection. I didnt want to cut any holes in my
new Honda CRV so I used a double trailer hitch
mount on the rear so I could easily pull the
antenna out and lay it down to access the rear hatch. Plenty of ferrite cores were used on the
coax and the power lead right at the antenna and a good braid ground was attached from the base to the frame of the car. This was all in preparation for a trip across Canada in early September. The pundits of mobile antennas are very down on trailer hitch mounts but if I were to choose between cutting a hole in a new car and no mobile at all I would choose the latter! During the trip I was able to talk for hours back home to my neighbor, work all over Europe and into Asia as well as all over North America with 100 watts. I was very happy with Alpine's screwdriver antenna to say the least! Mechanically and electrically it is very well constructed and really does the job well! Congratulations to Wes on a great product and the product support via email was great too.
WD5GWY Rating: 2010-08-01
Update using Turbo Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just an Update to my review prior to this one.
I really needed to say that Wesley's product
and Customer Service is a 5/5 instead of 4/5.
He cannot be beat price wise, and for good customer service. Quality of workmanship with the antenna is really good.
NOW, for the bad news, (don't worry, the antenna is fine) as for the N2VZ Turbo Tuner working with the Alpine Antenna (mine is the 100s) it worked for a while and now it does not. When it would tune the antenna for band changes it would go in the wrong direction. There is a dip switch inside that corrects this. I changed it and tried again and it would not work at all.
Even put it back to the original setting and it still would not work. Since my Turbo Tuner was bought used, I cannot fault the Turbo Tuner since it is possible it is in need of repair. And buying a used item of any kind is always a gamble.
(even could have been damaged in some way in shipping) So, with a new Turbo Tuner, it is possible the Alpine would work fine with it.
My antenna no longer draws 1.5amps when tuning like it did before the gear drive broke(and Wesley fixed).
So, I'm back to using a manual controller and the antenna is working fine. I have to stop to retune the antenna when changing bands, but, I've developed a better way to retune than just using marks on the mast. I now switch to the band I want,find any signal I can and tune the antenna
(even with the LOUD RFI) until I get the best possible received signal and once I do that, set my radio to AM and low power (around 5 watts) and key up and adjust to lowest SWR. Works good and have made some good contacts.
Overall, I am still very pleased with the Alpine Antenna.
james
WB6TWL Rating: 2010-07-22
Fantastic! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Alpine Screwdriver Antenna is my first foray into screwdriver antennas. I looked at several others and the cost always stopped me. Wes produces a well built and efficient antenna for a low price. Since I installed this antenna a week ago, I have had QSO's on 20 and 40 mtrs. with hams in Chicago, Eagle CO, near Bend OR and the Indianaoplis Motor Speedway Official Ham Station (W9IMS)! Most sig rpts were 5-8 and above. Wes gives excellent customer service and is easy to work with. I can't recommend this antenna enough!!!
NS5J Rating: 2010-07-04
Excellent product! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent product! This is my first screwdriver antenna and I love it. I've used it for about 2 months both mobile and as a portable. Wes provides great customer service, answered my "beginner" questions, and helped me get the mobile operation up & running with little effort. My first mobile QSOs from Texas on 20M included both coasts and Europe with good signal reports. I couldn't be more pleased. This antenna puts me on more bands, both low end and high end, than the same amount of money spent on a Hustler setup. I definately recommend this antenna for anyone considering a mobile operation.
KQ4PM Rating: 2010-06-24
Great Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Could not ask for a better antenna for the price,and the customer service(Wes) is even better.He stands behind his work and when you call, you talk to Wes.This is very rare in this day and time.Just order one and you won't be disappointed.
KC2BE Rating: 2010-06-15
Reliable and Rugged never let me down Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Alpine screwdriver Ant. is great I have been using one for over 2 years on my jeep through swamps and pine barrens never had a problem
I have talked with Wes on several occasions and he is very helpful and knowledgeable
K6IXB Rating: 2010-03-16
Worked Russia from California Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A follow-up from my original posting back in September. Spent a few minutes working the ARRL DX contest a week or so ago and heard a Russian signal. Within a few minutes, I was able to work him (RT0C) - made my day. I run with only 100 watts on a FT-840 so I was truly impressed with the antenna.

Was it propagation or was it the antenna? Obviously both, but I'm super pleased with the antenna!
N5EYS Rating: 2010-03-09
Great Buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Even though I haven't had the Alpine for a long time, I am very pleased with the quality of the unit and the concern Wes has for working with the ham community. The screwdriver antenna will never out perform a beam, but it is easy to install and use. It does what I want it to do.
NF4P Rating: 2010-01-25
satisfaction Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased from Wes great man much help the ears on this little antenna are exceptional I have a unibody car which was very hard to ground but that is not the fault of the antenna would buy again and once again I cannot tell you enough what a great man you are dealing with nf4p in Fla.Also there are not any other type mobil antennas I havent had Tarheel Hyq all this antenna for the money is in my opinion the best
KJ4IYK Rating: 2009-11-16
Follow up Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well after two months,I can find nothing to complain about. That's quite unusual for me. If anything could possibly be a draw back to Wes's antenna, it is a little narrow. That only comes in to play if adjusting while driving, like I do. I found that the container for carbon hunting arrows fits perfectly for a weather guard and allows for marking each band line. I also found that the momentary switch is by far a necessity.(As Suggested) It allows for bumping, where a standard switch does not. I mounted mine to the rear bumper with the heaviest regular CB mirror mount I could find (like the K40 mount)and the ground on my Dakota was supurb. No need for ground strap as suggested. With very little effort I can get SWRs on every band flat in the center and no worse then 2:1 at the ends. 75m and 6m of coarse require extra effort but are better than most others I've used. I use it with a 706MKII and with a duplexer receive on 2m is also acceptable. I do not have a meter that does 2m yet so I can not say what SWRs I have there.I do not know how you could find an antenna that is built and performs like this one for less money. Wes has hit a grand slam with this one! Thanks Wes. I am working on how to mount and use it for a base antenna.