| K2JNC |
Rating:      |
2011-05-18 | |
| Amazing craftsmanship. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Ordered the groundplane vertical less than one week ago, and it arrived today. This antenna is built like a tank. Great craftsmanship and attention to detail. Well worth the money. |
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| KX5JT |
Rating:      |
2011-04-21 | |
| Love it. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This antenna is built like a tank and performs beautifully. It was easy to install. The radiator sways a bit in the wind but always ends up perfectly vertical. Tom answers the phone or calls you right back and is helpful and friendly.
Great product. Great service. Highly recommended. That's all.
John KX5JT |
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| AK7P |
Rating:      |
2011-03-08 | |
| No longer a Skeptic! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I began looking into the Zero-Five line a couple years ago after one of our local elmers said he had been hearing good things. I was interested in the 43' vertical as it seemed to offer the most coverage but was unsure that my small lot would give me the right amount of room for a solid ground radial system. I then started emailing Tom questions regarding what other kinds of antenna Zero-Five had that might fit my QSO profile. I like to converse on 80 during the evenings (a little) but really like to chase DX on 20 and up. I also told Tom that living on the Oregon coast poses some unique challenges with stormy weather and wind storms that bring gusts up to and over 90 MPH. Tom was confident that his 10-40 ground plane antenna would survive 90 MPH winds and maybe even up to 100! I was surely skeptical in regards to any 24' aluminum antenna standing up to this kind of abuse! To date I have been thoroughly amazed at how well this antenna does hold up. All winter long my QTH has been hammered by the SW winds with local gusts well into the 70+ MPH range and although this antenna looks like an inverted L with a 90 degree change of direction, it has thus far always straightened out!!! I am no longer a skeptic as to the durability of this fine antenna.
As others have mentioned it came well packaged and marked where the sections are to connect. The bandwidth is amazing with an easy tune on all bands 10-40 and limited 80 with my Icom internal tuner and a very satisfactory 1.5:1 vswr or less.
Performance wise, Tom nailed this antenna on the head for my intended purposes. On 10-40 this antenna is a superb performer and has added a significant number of new countries to my list. My most recent conquest (contact) was VP8 land down in the Falkland Islands during a pile up. I'm not saying this antenna will do circles around my tri-band yagi but I now feel confident that I can leave this GP up in the air during the big winds and rest assured that it will be there the next day!
Food for thought for anyone buying one, cap the ground plane elements or tape them off so it doesn't sound like a harmonica during the strong winds.
73's and see you on the bands! |
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| KA7BWN |
Rating:      |
2011-03-05 | |
| Outstanding |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I decided to purchase this antenna based in no small part upon the comments I read here; I was not disappointed. I have used a 4BTV and a Gap Titan in the past, which performed well at other QTHs, but the Zero-Five is outstanding. The bottom line is I can work anyone I can hear, some great DX even before the recent increase in solar activity. What really stands out about the Zero-Five is the heavy duty construction, and the ease with which it went up. It has survived a handful of storms this winter where gusts exceeded 60 mph. My Titan was harder to assemble, then snapped clean through right above the mounting bracket the first time the wind exceeded 35 mph. |
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| WA7URV |
Rating:      |
2011-01-28 | |
| Excellent quality, design and performance |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This antenna uses very high quality materials, and is so much of a no-brainer to set up, you can do it without a manual! It took me about two hours total, and I was taking my time. Initial reports are very good. This is well worth the money spent, and based on the design, I am confident that if I move from my current QTH, I will be able to easily move this antenna with me! |
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| ZF2RN |
Rating:      |
2010-12-04 | |
| Nice antenna, great service |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Can't tell you anything negative about this antenna or about Tom. He really put together a stout piece of equipment here.
No, it is not a multi-element beam up on a huge tower. It isn't supposed to compete with those kinds of antennas.
It IS a fine multi-band ( with tuner ) antenna that will help you make contacts anywhere.
Not going to tell you that I worked DXCC in 20 minutes with this antenna. But I have worked lots of folks in lots of countries. I seem to have a really nice "pipeline" from my QTH in Texas into the Caribbean. And this antenna has made me lots of contacts down there.
It runs much quieter and almost the same receive levels as an OCFD up at 40ft.
It even tunes on 80! I am not sure how efficient it is down there though. hi hi
If you have room problems or just don't want to put down a lot of radials, consider this antenna. It is built like a tank, very easy to put together and performs well.
Call Tom, talk with him, he is a fine gentleman and will help answer any of your questions.
I have mine mounted on a mast with the radials at around 20ft and fed with 100ft of LM-400 coax. Works like a charm.
73s
AE7RN |
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| W3AGT |
Rating:      |
2010-11-30 | |
| Excellent Value |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I can't say enough good things about this antenna or Tom. Both exceeded my expectations.
Like most space was a consideration. We had no room for radials in the ground. This antenna was an excellent solution.
Tom had the patience of Job in answering the many questions of a new ham.
Assembly and installation was simple and easy. I do suggest you have two people put this up.
It has already survived 55 to 60 mph winds in Indiana. I am concerned about the coming winter storms we get here which almost always includes significant ice and winds.
I am planning on guying the mast just below the antenna itself as a precaution.
The mast and tip over base mount were likewise quality manufactured and easy to install.
For pictures visit my site at http://w3agt.com
Total costs were in the $850.00 range.
I have worked Japan, Tasmania, Saudi Arabia, Russia, all of Europe, South America, ships at sea, the Falklands, Alaska, Hawaii & the Caribbean using a Yaesu FT-950 on 100 Watts on 10,12,15,17,20,40, and 80 meters all SSB!
Great antenna, great service!
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| K8MSH |
Rating:      |
2010-11-24 | |
| Superb Quality--EZ Install |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| After narrowing down the candidates to 3 (Gap Eagle, Hygain AV-640 and this one) and talking with Tom, I ordered it. Well packed, materials and build are excellent. With pre-marked sections, assembly was a no-brainer. No tuning or adjustments required. Put it on a homebrew mini-tower up about 20 feet--very easy installation. Receive equivalent or better than 40/80 trap dipole at 40ft. Tuned up perfectly with MFJ 998 autotuner and K3 internal 10:1 autotuner. Generally 1.5:1 or better on 10-40. Yes, it does tune up on 75 at under 2:1 across the band. Great solution for small lots or those who hate burying radials |
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| K6JPA |
Rating:      |
2010-10-24 | |
| Awsome Solution |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I would give this a ten if I could! I have a 10-40 groundplane setup as well, and have it mounted on a Glen Martin roof tower.
I live in one of those non-antenna friendly areas, so I sprayed the roof tower and mast to match the tiles on my roof, and then sprayed the assembled antenna flat black. The whole setup is then mounted to the rear of my roof, with only the vertical portion protruding up past the eve (the horizontal ground plane is just slightly higher than the eve, but not seen from street level). With a backdrop of a couple of redwood trees, the antenna basically blends right in to the background. I have yet to hear a word about it from any of my neighbors.
Performance is outstanding for it's slightly compromised installation. While not a beam, if I can hear it (and I can!) I can work it.
Living on top of a hill, I tend to get some strong winds at times. The combination handles everything it has had thrown at it. In fact, with a 1/4 inch thick base and quality segments, short of thermal-nuclear warfare, I doubt anything would bring the antenna down. It is certainly more than just adequately built, and will last for years.
Thank you for making such a beautiful product. I spent a lot of time researching my available options, and would do it again in a heartbeat!
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| N9UQ |
Rating:      |
2010-10-24 | |
| Grate value, Built to last! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Engineered beyond its published specification and Built to last…(A+ grade build quality). -&- It’s on sale too. This Zero Five Ground plain is a 40m – 10m unit. I received my unit and I had it built and up in an hour and that includes brining my crank up tower back up. Many antennas on the market today require some tuning or even cutting. However, this Zero Five ground plain was pre- marked and went up the first time-no coils, pins, taps or caps to fuss with. The reception the first time was better than my windom (at 30ftcent and 15ft @ ends) and much better than my motorized side kick at which cost about $300 +. I had to attenuate my transceiver when I connected the zero five ground plane to reduce received signals. I made a few contacts just to test the antenna and received 59s with one contact at < 100w to Norway on 40m –Then I tried 80m -- well I made contact with WILLIAMSPORT, PA USA. On 80m and it is not a listed band on the specs on zero five ground plane. However, I made contacts anyway (with using my internal yaesu ft950 tuner). I took it to the max at 160m and yes II was able to receive stations 59, with my external tokyo hy power ant tuner in line; however I did not try make contact at that point because it was very late and I was ready for bed. May-be next time. In closing I tested on 10m – 40m + 80 all was well. I can see right off that I will be having fun with this very well built antenna for years to come. Thanks Tom from - N9UQ. |
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