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Reviews For: M2 2m12

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

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Review Summary For : M2 2m12
Reviews: 14MSRP: 165.00
Description:
Model 2M12 Frequency range 144 to 148 MHz Gain 12.8 dBd
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.m2inc.com/products/vhf/2m/2m12.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
12144.4
WY3X Rating: 2007-10-19
Only minor advice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just ordered a pair to replace an old Cushcraft 10 element Yagi. I also got the optional fiberglass cross-boom (it's SUPER heavy duty!) to mount them on. Assembly is about as easy as it gets! The price is no longer $165 per the heading, they're now $226 each, a net increase of 37%. They're not on the tower yet, but as with all M2 designs, there's nothing but quality here, and I have no doubt they'll perform as advertised. I only have two complaints, both minor. One was that the antennas had swaging lubricant residue all over all the parts which I had to clean off (because I'm going to paint mine with clear-coat so they'll hold up better in my salt-spray atmosphere). They should have been cleaned prior to packing at the factory. That was only a minor inconvenience. A major fault (to me) is that I wish they could have included stainless steel U-bolts instead of zinc plated. For $226 I expected all stainless hardware. An inquiry to the company received an explanation that the price of the antenna would have to go up if they switched to all stainless hardware. How much? About eight dollars? Checking at Home Depot I find zinc clamps for about $2 and stainless for about $4. There's four clamps, do the math. I didn't care for the element alignment instructions offered by M2. I used one element placed horizontally on my kitchen counter and balanced each element on it to find the center. Then I marked a circle around the balance spot with a sharpie magic marker. Looking inside each boom segment you can center the marks to get perfect alignment during assembly! I also bought their power divider so I won't have to fool with phasing harnesses. The quality of the power dividers is amazing! I gave the 2M12 a 5 because my issues are minor, and have nothing to do with how well the antennas perform.
G0TKJ Rating: 2003-10-01
Nice Antennas Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just put a pair of 12's up and WOW BIG DIFFERENCE over the old 18 ele 4218XL that I had up. They are very easy to build you just need to read the instructions and they will work first time every time. Just one of the antennas is better than the old 18 ele boomer. I have also used a 1/2 inch diameter coax from Germany called ECOFLEX 15. I would recomend the combination to anyone that is into serious VHF/UHF in Europe, read the review on the ECOFLEX cable. Will update the antenna review in a few months.
K9KJM Rating: 2002-03-27
THE BEST Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had a 2M12 up for over 3 years now, purchased it new, very easy assembly, And the highest quality material of any amateur grade antenna I have seen. A great performer for it's size, I have mine at 65 feet h. for 2m ssb, and have had great luck with it. Hope to purchase another to stack a pair.......
KA0JW Rating: 2001-07-01
Best antenna I've owned! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had my pair of 2M12 antennas for about 3 years and have had NO problems with them.They tune perfectly to the instructions 1.1 to 1 SWR on the first try.I live in MN and we get a real mix of weather ,high winds to 1 inch thick ice sticking to the antennas and have had zero problems with the antennas.I have owned the competition's antennas and they didnt fair as well.