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Reviews For: Alpha Antenna S9v31

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Alpha Antenna S9v31
Reviews: 68MSRP: 199 to 399.
Description:
The Alpha Antenna 10-80 meter S9v31 is a HF Vertical Antenna that can be deployed as a single band system or as a multiband system when the optional Alpha Match is installed.
Latest version of predecessor: S9 Antenna S9v
Product is in production
More Info: https://AlphaAntenna.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15684.9
NV3V Rating: 2010-01-23
Excellent customer service and manufacturing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchasing this vertical has been a great experience. Besides the outstanding customer service, excellent fiberglass manufacturing and reasonable pricing, I love the documentation they provided with the antenna. I hope John and his team offer Yagis at some point in the future (perhaps Hex Beam hi hi). 73, Martin/NV3V (ex-KB3PPY)
K4YYD Rating: 2009-12-23
Awesome Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just finished erecting my S9v 31' vertical antenna and installed 32 radials using S9's radial plate. I'm using a LDG AT-200Pro tuner. This is my first vertical antenna and is an upgrade from a homebrew inverted "V" cut to 20 meters. The assembly of the antenna itself was a snap and the instruction manual is very well written. I emailed John at S9 with a few questions both before and after my purchase and all were answered within a few hours. Outstanding customer service!! Hoisting the completed antenna was a piece of cake as it is so light. Once erected, the color blended in very well with trees in the natural area. Putting down the radials was a real pain but that has nothing to do with the antenna. At $19.95, the aluminum radial plate is a real bargain compared to the plate sold by another outfit for $35 more. John also sells other accessories at very reasonable prices.

As for performance, I'm getting outstandig signal reports on all QSOs and don't have to repeat my call multiple times like I did with the dipole.

The price is certainly right with this antenna...I got on the air for less than $200 which includes the S9v, radial plate, hardware and 1000' of 14 gauge wire for radials.
W5ROX Rating: 2009-12-06
Excellent antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First, I must state that I have never operated another vertical antenna. The S9 has been a fun project to get on the air. The installation of the antenna itself was very easy, but laying 52 ( mix of 30 ft-60ft) radials connected to the S9 radial plate was a chore. The real secret to good performance comes from a suggestion from John, and that was placing a remote tuner (in my case an LDG Z-11 Pro) at the base of the antenna. That is really what makes this a multi-band antenna. I have made a number of DX contacts receiving 5X5-9 reports on a 100 watts from my FT-950 rig. The antenna tunes up nicely on all bands (10,12,15,17,20,40, and 60) with little success on 80, but it is not recommended for that band. I did not operate on 30, but I would think that it would tune on that band easily. I used the 80 meter coil accessory and got nice 5X9 reports on 80 meters. This antenna has done a great job operationally and has great quality, The fiberglass construction has handled several storms containing 40 mph winds with no problems.
K2JF Rating: 2009-11-22
Love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live in NYC in an apartment building in the middle of Manhattan and have been experimenting with antennas for 40 meters for a couple of years. I'm not sure how I missed this one before but it's running rings around the other ones. I was able to gain access to my roof at about 100 feet without drawing attention to myself and put this antenna up on a 6 foot iron vent pipe and stapled 4 radials onto the roof surface -and I'm sure the length of the radials is not ideal. I've tried several other antennas up there to see if any could outperform my G5RVjr and none were able to - until I hooked this up. the directions are great, the design is utter simplicity and the email responses from John to my never ending questions was immediate and patient. It took no time to get it all together and on the air. I'm having a blast on 40 for the first time in a long time.
AH6ZZ Rating: 2009-10-02
Great Value Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
As others have said, this antenna is a great value. From my perspective it is also a better than average vertical despite its low price.

The antenna goes together easily -- and according to the provided instructions.

The requirements of a current choke and radials are absolute for 40m -- as is true of any 1/4 wave vertical. But it also works as a 20m 1/2 wave, and as a 3/4 wave on 15m.

Back to value -- with a few loops of coax for a choke and a reasonable number of radials this is an outstanding 40m antenna -- and you should be able to build it all for just a bit over $100.

WA6RZR Rating: 2009-09-23
Great Antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a great antenna. Running 100 watts thru
a MFJ-948 into it. Mine is attached to the side
of a metal storage shed at the 5' level (5'x12'x12'). No radials! Don't be afraid to
experiment. My first contact, with the sfi @ 67-2-2, was with EA6UN on 14.027. he gave me a 579.
According to the Elmers, the antenna as described,is in a ground plane configuration.
73's
Milo
KC2LSD Rating: 2009-08-27
this antenna fits the bill! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
5K5T
I needed a fast and very vertical antenna to use for portable operation in my travels. In April, I purchased the S-9v with the portable stand. AS suggested on the web site I used the 4:1 balun with my Elecraft KX1 along with my ICOM radios and tested the antenna in my backyard … boy does this antenna fit the bill.
I recently got back from SA-017 Gorgona Island {5K5T}. I set up the S-9v on the beach using the portable stand. Caution must be taken setting up the S-9v on a beach because when the tide came up it washed away the sand and it will fall over. However, when the antenna did fall and water entered, picking it up from the top allowed the water to drain out the bottom with no issue. Most parts of the beach in Gorgona are very rocky, so I move the stand to a rockier location. The antenna stood for three days. At high tide, the stand was sticking out of the water about four inches and showed no effect from being in the water for that long. I tied the balun above the stand, and used a plastic bag over the balun and wire connections to protect them from the salt water.
The antenna preformed great; I wish I could say the same about the band conditions. I worked 20, 30 and 40 meters both phone and CW.
A few tips on transporting the S-9 for international travel: I removed the top section of the S-9 with the wires, which was placed inside the stand to prevent damage. I packaged the S-9 using a 4”x48” cardboard tube purchased from Staples along with bubble wrap for cushion to prevent any motion and damage. I used string and tape to make a handle on outside of the tube for easier transport. The tube was then carried aboard the plane. When the antenna was scanned, it showed as a tube inside a tube.
I used a duffel bag with wheels for the stand, coax, filters and other radio gear. Keep your clothes and other personal items separate. Needless to say, the gear bag will be flagged and open, but who cares! I’m already lining up another IOTA trip in the U.S. and another overseas for 2010.
Bottom line is this antenna works well, it’s easy to get on a plane and sets up anywhere the stand can be staked. I totally recommend this antenna!

73! Cody Kc2lsd
K1GIG Rating: 2009-08-12
Great for DX Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My husband and I put up the S9V about 3 weeks ago: since then, I have worked Alaska, Hawaii, Estonia, Portugal, Lithuania, Finland and etc etc from my QTH in Tennessee. I only have 16 radials down right now, with 16 more waiting to be installed (looking for dryer weather!). The S9V is all it is cracked up to be: an easy to install, lightweight vertical that does the job!
Great product, great company, reasonable price.
K2JNC Rating: 2009-06-07
Good value, excellent portable. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased the antenna based on an ad seen on QRZ.com... The antenna is a snap to put up and is very solid. It does flex a lot in the wind, but it does not to seem to affect performance at all. I use a 1:1 unun for monoband 40 meters, and a 4:1 unun for use on bands from 40-10 with an autotuner. Performance as a 40m monoband was excellent. First call after setup got a response from a K7 station. 59 report after noting that I was using a new antenna.

Using with a tuner, 30 meters on PSK31 was a breeze. Contacts were easy to make, and first CQ's yielded a response. 20 meters worked well, but I only used CW and PSK31. Didn't dabble at all with phone.

Also, I purchased the S9 antenna mount. It is basically a piece of angle iron with a 2" pipe welded to it to form a solid mount. Honestly, it is a great addition to the antenna and is very well built.
K7FD Rating: 2009-06-01
S9 Vertical 5 Stars... http://webpages.charter.net/peanut/ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great bargain...and really fits the bill for a lightweight vertical. Quality construction. Excellent service, speedy delivery!

It's light as a feather, 4 pounds...thin profile, minimum wind drag. Each section is tapered...looks sleek. Stands tall and straight...

If you're looking for a portable vertical, it would be hard to beat the S9v...

We use ours mounted on an RV bumper, check it out:

http://webpages.charter.net/peanut/

73 John K7FD